The Greatest Show on Earth!

As any longtime MPB reader knows, I love the circus.  Maybe it's the elephants, maybe it's the midget clowns on tricycles, maybe it's all those men in tights, I don't know, it just excites me. 

Peeking under Cathy's dress

Readers, before I get too swept up in new projects, I wanted to take a closer look at Cathy's 1942 Hollywood frock, or as I've dubbed it over at Burdastyle, The Barbara Stanwyck dress.  Why Barbara Stanwyck, you ask?  Well, she did wear a lot of dresses that looked like Cathy's Hollywood dress... um....er....

"Notice Me - Don't Notice Me!"

 

Good morning, friends!

We're still in nag-free Monday mode here at MPB, at least until the weather feels more fall-like.

Today, I'd like to touch on something related to Friday's sagger pants saga and a reader comment that has been on my mind since.  Nancy K called the sagger pants look (as well as the Thom Browne highwater suit) "attention-getting" and that term really struck a nerve.

Cathy models the 1942 Hollywood Dress!

Friends, it's no secret that Cathy and I have been somewhat on the "outs" of late, especially now that I've insisted she start wearing her glasses instead of bumping into streetlamps and saying "Pardon me."

New Glasses for Cathy! Yea or Nay?

As anyone who has ever shared a meal with Cathy and wondered why she was eating off their plate soon realized, Cathy's eyesight is not one of her strengths.  Most of the time she's stumbling around in semi-darkness, poor thing.

Can you see my butt crack?

Readers, today I'm going to challenge your sense of decorum and tolerance.  The easily offended might want to come back tomorrow.

Learning to Sew: Peter's TOP TEN TIPS!

Increasingly I am asked how I learned to sew and what advice I would give beginners.  Since I only started a year ago this is easy -- it's all very fresh in my mind!  

So here, in no particular order, is my entirely subjective, highly biased top ten tips list:

May your days be merry and bright...

Kids, it's still 1942 at MPB for better or for worse.  So bring out the popcorn and let's watch "Holiday Inn,"  "For Me and My Gal, "You Were Never Lovelier" and "Casablanca" -- a quadruple feature.  Just stay home from work, OK?

Working on the 1942 Hollywood Dress

So, 1942 -- I remember it well!  Well, not really; my connection to it is mainly through Hollywood movies (actually, that's my connection to most things).   For much of the world there was a war on, and that's how many of us still define the period: The WWII Years.

Oh, Brother (LS-2125), not again!

Don't.  Even.  Say.  It.  I can hear your collective groan of disapproval from here.  I know, I know.  But it's not what you think.

I did not purchase another sewing machine.  Nor was this a gift.  I found it yesterday, friends, in the trash -- the trash!  Here's the story:

kathy girdle fun

Friends, I rarely make reference to the behind-the-scenes world of Male Pattern Boldness or its upkeep.  It seems, I don't know, unseemly, like pointing out that Baryshnikov sweats, and it spoils the illusion of effortlessness.  In Show Business -- and that's what I consider this blog you realize -- one wants to focus on the Show and not the Business.

Is there a Fabric Expert in the house?

So.  Down to business.  What IS this floral print?

Peter's (near) perfect summer shirt!

Thanks for dropping by, Jude.  We'll call you.

So remember how I kvetched on Wednesday about style versus comfort on these balmy summer days?  And remember that I showed you this fabric I bought -- sort of a lawn-weight, eggshell white, loose cotton weave?

Modesty: This Man's Perspective

Have you heard?  It's modesty week on the blogs.  Well OK, here and here; are there others?

I wanted to say a few words on my own virtual real estate about this juicy topic.  Just to reiterate: this is one man's perspective and not an attempt to dictate or to change minds.  So here goes...

Summer Style vs. Summer Comfort

I'll skip the morning niceties today and cut to the chase: in my heart of hearts I long to dress like this -- a Twenties dandy aboard the Ile de France en route to, I don't know, Capri or something.  I'd settle for Genoa.