LeDandy Gives Equal Time to Both Genders

I've been getting some criticism for my picture of Segolene Royal in a bikini last Friday. One of my co-workers asked for a beefcake picture of her opponent. Well, LeDandy always goes above and beyond expectations. Here is a picture of the Terminator, the Hon. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California. Ladies, enjoy!

As the summer approaches, I feel obligated to mention my views on swimwear. I sincerely believe that swimwear should be as skimpy as the body allows. In Mr. Schwarzenegger's case, he should stick with long, loose boxers and a t-shirt. If a guy can wear a Speedo or equivalent, go for it. What good is working out if you are not willing to share the results? I'd put up my picture but Jon Dean would kill me.

The Wonderful Weekend

I don't want the weekend to end. Nothing but relaxation and a few household chores such as washing the cars and doing some laundry. I was never the type who was excited about going to bars. Especially straight bars as I spent most of my life in that frame of mind. So this weekend I finished a book, watched some dvds and slept in the afternoon for a few hours.

My recent trip down to Solvang stimulated my interest in reading again. Over the weekend I finished Pegasus Descending by James Lee Burke. A typical novel written with above-average skill about organized crime and murder in Louisiana. Great beginning and middle. Unfortunately, this book completely unraveled at the end with a complex twist that I still don't understand. This is one of the reasons I don't care to read. Also, I have my head in front of a computer all day so I don't really feel like reading after work.

I did accomplish one good thing. I found a picture of Segolene Royal in a skimpy bikini on the internet Friday night. It is linked at the end of my Friday post. Perhaps I should have continued my Political Science studies. Maybe there is something like the Hugh Hefner chair at some university.

I made a promise to myself today not to criticize the clothing discussion forums any longer. The reason: it is like making fun of a retarded person. This morning I read about some guy asking others about what to wear to the gym. I can no longer in good conscience joke about these people. There are some very pathetic people on them. If you want a good laugh, check out filmnoirbuff.com and go to "Inane Post of the Day" in the forum section.

Well it is back to the grimy city tomorrow. It's a living.

LeDandy on Politics

Clothes, food and pets. Does LeDandy know anything else? I should hope so. One topic I purposely avoid is politics. Everyone has an opinion on this subject and passions run high. Yet I find political blogs extremely dull. It is much more interesting when someone writes about his/her own experiences. Sometimes this involves a political experience, but it is rarely the case. I couldn't care less what someone's opinion is on the occupation (not war) of Iraq.

So what do I know about politics? I was a Political Science major in school. What can you do with a poly sci degree? Not much, as I found out. I knew this before I entered this field of study. Then again, virtually all fields are the same way with an undergraduate degree. I don't regret my choice. I can hold an interesting conversation at a cocktail party.

I even had a class on French politics. I'll take the opportunity to offer my thoughts on the current affairs of French politics.

This is a picture of Segolene Royal, a socialist and candidate for president. She is stunningly beautiful! When I first saw her, I couldn't believe it. Wow. I even did a little research on her at Wikipedia. She is fifty-four, has four kids and is not married but in a civil union with some guy. She looks more like an actress or singer than a politician.

Of course she didn't rise to her position by looks. Ms. Royal is a graduate of an elite French school and is an articulate spokeswoman for her party. A Hilary Clinton with looks and a figure.

She won my vote!

Commentary on the Clothing Discussion Forums

I saw this picture on FilmNoirBuff.com. For those of you not into the clothing forums (e.g., Styleforum.net, AskAndyAboutClothes.com), there is a practice of congratulating someone when he has posted 1,000 or 5,000 entries, or any ridiculously large number. Yes, these are the kind of people who live in their parents' basement and surf the net all day and night. No one with a job could put such large quantities of posts. When I saw the picture above, I almost pissed my pants.*

FilmNoirBuff is composed of a lot of rejects from Ask Andy and Style Forum. The mainline forums are quite sensitive and the moderators have no trouble kicking someone out. It is quite ironic that these moderators were the snubbed nerds in high school. I think the FilmNoirBuff people have a screw loose also. At least they are funny. I give them praise for humor.

I read a post on Ask Andy last night that was unintentionally hysterical. Some guy asked for advise about fixing a small gouge on his Aldens. A forum member told him to take some shoe wax and burn it into the shoe with a match! I can see a fire starting and some schmuck telling the fire crew it started when he tried to repair his shoes.
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*I'll need to write a post on disposable undergarments.

Hidden Costs

Remember those beautful Cole Haan strap loafers that I bought for $5 on eBay? The $5 purchase ballooned up to $72. Nevertheless, I am still tremendously pleased with the shoes. These shoes are no longer made with the same quality. In fact, I wouldn't even wear the "Made in India" crap now produced. Horrible leather and cheap construction. I can spot the difference thirty feet away. Wish my talents were in something more profitable.

One of the inherent problems of buying used shoes is that sometimes you have to spend a little money fixing them up. I always keep this thought in mind when buying on eBay.

So how did the $5 shoes reach $72? Shipping was $7. Even though the uppers are in superb condition, the heels needed to be replaced. That was $25. Next, I added a rubber sole protector for $35. It wasn't necessary, but it really preserves the shoes so they won't need to be resoled. This is how the cost escalated. LeDandy almost had a coronary.

The Dandy from Kerman

The art of dressing well is not a competition. I'm glad. If this was the case, then I would have been slaughtered last weekend by Steve. You'll remember him from yesterday's article. He and his lovely wife Tamara (JD's cousin) from Kerman, CA* joined us on our Sideways tour. In this photo you'll notice that he is wearing a sharp cotton/linen sportscoat from Brooks Brothers, whereas I had a cheap sweatshirt (not shown).

On the drive down to Solvang, JD and I talked about suits. I do not wear suits except for weddings and funerals so I am no expert in this area. I do know that the mark of a fine suitcoat is a set of working buttonholes on the sleeve. You can literally unbutton the end of the sleeve. Usually this feature is found on custom-made or very high end jackets.

While drinking cheap wine at the Sunstone Winery, I asked Steve about the buttons on his jacket. Yes, working buttonholes. Steve is one smart shopper.
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*Located outside of Fresno.

LeDandy's "Sideways" Tour

You wouldn't know by looking at this picture that I'm a dandy (on far right). Who cares? This was a long overdue vacation and I had a fantastic time with Jon Dean, his cousin Tamara and her husband Steve. We all met last Sunday down in Solvang and took a jeep tour of Santa Barbara wineries. The movie Sideways was filmed down here and we visited many of the sites.

Turns out a lot of people try to recreate some or all scenes of the movie in their tours. Our guide, John, told us how a few people drink from the wine dump bucket like Miles did at the Fess Parker Winery. Others try to find the tree where Jack crashed Miles' Saab, which is on private property. If you don't know what I'm talking about, see this movie. It is excellent.

Back to our trip. The jeep tour proved a big success. No worries about finding wineries, drunk driving and our guide provided an excellent overview of the area. We went to four wineries and one tasting room in the span of five hours. Since no one in our group was a wine expert, John gave us some simple etiquette tips and how to appreciate the wine.

John's wine tasting tips:

1. Don't sniff the cork;
2. Swirl the wine by moving the glass around on a level surface for a minute or two to let it breathe;
3. Don't jam your nose into the glass.

With all these tips, I still don't see the big deal with drinking a good wine. I think it's all a crock. Even though I tasted the differences among the wines, I wouldn't pay a dollar more for an excellent wine. One winery, Sunstone, did serve a lousy wine that tasted as if it were watered down. It didn't take an expert to reach this conclusion.

All of us stayed at the Petersen Inn in Solvang. A small, forty room hotel with a quiet, relaxing environment. It was as if you stepped into another dimension of time and space. The perfect setting to recharge our spirits. Dinners and continental breakfasts were included in the room price. The meals were superb. I felt like a beached whale after every meal.

Tamara and Steve left on Monday afternoon so we entertained ourselves the rest of the time. Doing as little as possible in the maximum amount of time. On Monday and Tuesday we didn't drive anywhere and just walked around downtown Solvang. Plenty of shops and a wonderful antique store that we visited on both days. We spent a couple of hours in the Solvang Antique Center looking at their museum-quality selection on both days. Also, we visited and indulged at the best wine tasting rooms on the trip (Lucas & Lewellen and Mandolino). Both places were a short walk from the hotel.

Long naps on both afternoons followed by a filling dinner at the hotel.

The evenings. Yes, this was great. After dinner, we'd go to our room and read the rest of the night. No phone calls, no tv, no dogs or cats. Just quiet and a good book. I picked up The Icon, a book about Nazis and a stolen religious icon. My perfect recipe for good fiction. These evenings may sound boring but it was the best therapy imaginable.

Wednesday morning we had to face reality and the long drive back to Fremont. A perfect vacation.

For this trip's photo album, please click here.

Where Art Thou?

Just back from vacation! Jon Dean and I went down to Solvang (Santa Barbara area) for a short four day vacation. The movie "Sideways" was filmed in this area and brought a lot of tourism to this gorgeous area. We did plenty of wine tasting, relaxing and eating. I have plenty of stories to tell (some of em true).

The bad news is that our house is having electrical work done and I don't have access to my home computer. It might be a few days before I put up my next post. Pictures to follow. Thanks for your patience (as if you had a choice).

LeDandy: The Anti-Snob

Some people shop at Bergdorf's or Neiman-Marcus. Others at the mainstream department stores such as Macy's or Dillards. Not me. I'm a true believer in eBay and Sierra Trading Post. This week I received two pairs of shoes from eBay auctions. I got the Cole Haan strap loafers made in the US featured a few days ago and some old short vamp Bragano loafers pictured above. Both pair are in great condition with just some minor wear to the soles and the heels need to be replaced in the strap loafers. If they were new, retail price for both would be more than $500. I picked up the Braganos for $22.50 and the strap loafers for $4.95, plus shipping on both pair.

Yes, they are vintage shoes. Pre-owned. Lets be honest: used shoes. Some people object to wearing used shoes. I can understand that belief. However, the phenomenal savings helped me overcome any aversion to wearing someone else's footwear. And no one has to know. Except I'm bragging about it! I'm proud to be thought of as cheap in this arena.

Many, many years ago it used to be a pleasurable experience to shop in an upscale store. Sales clerks knew how to kiss ass and they would establish a bond with the customer. It is no longer so. I do not miss shopping in stores.

On only one occasion have I been disappointed with an eBay shoe purchase. About six months I bought a pair of Cole Haan loafers that are from their outlet store. There was no deception in the ad. They are genuine Cole Haan. But it a cheap pair made in Mexico that I keep at the office for rainy days. I learned to ask the country of origin when buying shoes.

So how many pairs do I have now? Ten? Twenty? Thirty? Nope. Eight pairs of decent shoes. It's more than enough.

The Art of the Apology

A deviation from fashion today and into the realm of behavior. Don Imus, radio and tv show host, has been in deep trouble lately for the racial comments he made concerning the Rutgers basketball team. I heard he was given a two week suspension and he offered profuse apologies. If there is anything of which I am an expert, it is the art of the apology.

Imus blew it. He apologized too many times. Once is enough, if done right. It should be heartfelt, directed to the offended party and not coupled with a request for a forgiveness. When one apologizes, it is improper to ask for anything. You can do that later. It is hard to be seen as sincere when you are trying to get something (e.g., forgiveness, a return to your job).

Michael Richards of Seinfeld fame made the same mistake as Imus. Too many apologies. He was desperate in his attempt to "unring the bell," which can't be done.

Does one proper, sincere apology work? Sometimes. It is a formal acknowledgement of mistake and regret. People don't have to accept it and forgive you. At least you know you did the right thing and that's what really matters if you have dignity.

Flora's Sweater

You can tell by this picture that LeDandy is her dad. Flora inherited a flair for clothing and proudly wears this bold design purchased from the French Bulldog Rescue Network. A fleece lined sweater with a black faux-fur collar. The sweater is secured by velcro straps under Flora's ample belly and around her neck.

Shoes: The Proper Fit

Shoes are one of the few articles of clothing that must fit properly. Shirts, you have a lot of latitude especially with polo shirts. Sweaters, the same thing. You can wear baggy or tight,depending on your preference (or the availability of sizes in the clearance rack!) But you can't wear shoes that don't fit properly.

I read about "lasts" and bespoke shoes on the men's clothing forums. I never head the term "last" until a few months ago. It is usually a wooden frame, resembling a shoe tree, around which a shoe is constructed. Many forum discussions center around lasts and which one gives the best fit. Bespoke shoes usually have a custom-made last as well.

These guys are morons. Don't confuse perfect fit with proper fit. Even if you buy shoes that are custom made, your body is going to change with time. Feet usually get larger. Also, you can lose weight and your feet may decrease in size. I've experienced both situations in my life so far.

A few years ago I purchased a pair of Cole Haans on eBay which are similar to the photo I posted a few days ago. These shoes are labeled as 7 1/2 but I think the previous owner had them stretched. My feet were virtually lost in them at the time of purchase. I put in tongue pads on the underside of the vamps and heel pads at the back of the shoes. My feet were still loose in them. I couldn't wear them. Today they fit fine, with all the pads removed.

Furthermore, there is a acceptable amount of latitude for a proper fit. Our feet can handle some tightness or looseness in fit without being uncomfortable. Leather shoes will mold to some degree on your feet.

Don't aim for perfection. If you do get it, it may not last long.

Last of the Baby Boomers

I was born in the last year of the baby boomer generation. 1964. LBJ was president and it was the last year of silver coinage in the US. Jon Dean didn't know that the baby boomer generation extended into 1964, thereby including him in this group. Woops, did I give away his age? Most people think of baby boomers as the kids born after WWII who came of age in the '60s. Well, it extends beyond that.

My dad served in WWII and was a part of America's best generation. If they were the best, then I'd call the baby boomers America's worst generation. We (baby boomers) inherited global dominance and amazing wealth as a country after WWII, then promptly pissed it away. I didn't even get to take part in that "free love" thing.

I thought a lot about this subject. Is is because our parents were biologically superior and/or taught better values? No, I don't think so. It is quite simple: baby boomers didn't have a real challenge in life. Our former prosperity was exactly the reason for our downfall. A generation needs a real challenge.

Why do you think the kids of rich people are so miserable? No challenges in life.

A couple months ago I heard some politician almost breaking down in tears as to the state of the country left to our kids. Everyone thinks it's sad. I don't. We will be leaving them with real challenges, which is something they so desperately need. It is ironic that we have to leave them with problems in order to give them a hopeful future.

I sure hope our kids can meet the challenges, as I'll be on social security. Tough love, my kids.

Older and Better

There is the cliche used in advertising that says "new and improved." We all know it's bullshit and men's shoes definitely prove the point. Older makes are superior overall to the product made today.

Shoes were made much better years ago. I don't blame the shoemakers. They can get away with shoddy shoes, and lets be realistic, its business. Get the stuff made in China and make more profit. The last two American men's shoe manufacturers, Alden and Allen-Edmonds, suck. Overpriced and uninspired. I feel sorry for the youth of today.

Pictured above are a pair of old, used Cole Haans presently on eBay. They must be fifteen years old. Cole Haan made great shoes back then. Pricier than the average shoe, but well worth the difference in terms of quality and style. Basic American loafers with an Italian influence. Cole Haan, as a company, has lost their style over the years and quality of their shoes has seriously declined. If you look closely on the inside of the vamp, you'll see "Made in India." They try to hide it on purpose.

It is really the quality of the old shoes that I like, and not so much the inexpensive price.*

Sad that the quality of footwear has declined in quality and style, but at least I'm able to purchase some gems from the past.
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*It's the price, it's the price!

LeDandy's New Glasses

Eyewear by Theo. Available at finer optical stores. T-shirt by In-N-Out ($8.50). Available at any California In-N-Out location.

It Ain't All Glamor

This is a picture which is representative of our former pipes. A disaster waiting to happen. We are in the midst of having the house redone with copper pipes. It is badly needed but a giant pain in the ass. The plumber has been working since Saturday and is doing a great job. Unfortunately it interrupts our daily routines and has resulted in a mountain of laundry waiting to be done. Makes you also realize how important water is to our lives.

Enough philosophy.

Picked up my new eyeglasses today. The Theo frames in cranberry red. Ah, they look great. I'll have to put a pic soon.

Beware of Outlet Malls

Let the photo to the left be a warning to my canine readers. If you are going to make a secret raid to the cat box, remove all evidence from your face! Foxy (aka French) was caught red-handed (or nosed) yesterday with some cat litter on her face.

Back to today's topic.....

Outlet malls. You know what I mean. The large strip malls in the middle of nowhere (e.g., Gilroy, CA, Casa Grande, AZ) that have many of the big name designer stores. It sounds tempting and you think you'll get some great deals.

Unfortunately, it is rarely the case.

You rarely see first quality merchandise from the regular stores in most of these shops. Brooks Brothers, as well as many others, make a cheaper line for their outlet stores. Savings are minimal and the drop in quality is noticeable. I'm sure there are bargains to be made in outlet malls, but you really have to look hard and be a discriminating buyer. It is almost as challenging as finding a valuable antique at a garage sale.

I realized the outlet mall syndrome indirectly through an eBay purchase. About a year ago I picked up a pair of a slightly used, conventional black Cole-Haan loafers. The pictures looked good and the seller had an excellent rating. Paid about $10 or so plus shipping. I was shocked to discover that these shoes were not high quality. The leather had a plastic look* and overall appearance was not impressive.

I looked at the country of origin for these shoes. Mexico. A little internet research told me these shoes were made for Cole-Haan's outlet malls. Pure crap, but wearable. I keep them in my office at work in case of foul weather. At least I'll have some use for them.

I do remember one good thing about an outlet mall outside of Phoenix. Jon Dean liked going there and so did I (for a different reason). This place had the best caramel, nut covered apples. For those, I'd make a special trip.
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*Corrected grain. Whenever you encounter this term, run. Treat it the way you would as a date with an STD.