LeDandy on Thrift Stores

This is a tricky subject for LeDandy. He has horrible luck with thrift stores but he knows many others who score some great deals on very nice clothes and shoes. This will be one area in which you need to figure out if thrift stores are a good source for you. If you do not buy used clothing then read no further. But if you can accept the idea of used clothes, then some great deals may await you.

My luck with used goods seems to apply only to used shoes on eBay. Of the dozen pair or so of shoes I purchased, all of them fit fine and they are all in excellent condition. But this luck hasn't extended to clothes in thrift stores. LeDandy always walks away disappointed from a thrift store.

Why the bad fortune in thrift stores? LeDandy cites the following points in his disappointment with thrift stores:

• Wrong sized items - This has been the biggest problem for me with thrift stores. A gorgeous cashmere sweater which is a little too tight or too large. But how can one pass up such a great deal? Unless items fit properly, they are essentially worthless to you. Many years ago I bought a beautiful white, Polo cotton crewneck which was a size too small for me.
• Items you don't need - It is hard to maintain discipline in a thrift as you would in another venue. Once again temptation lures one into unwise decisions. Some time ago I bought a nice set of Trafalgar braces. They look nice and fit fine. The only problem is that I'll probably never wear them since I hardly go to formal functions and I already have a nice set of braces.
• Cost of alterations & dry cleaning- If you plan on buying suits or sport coats in thrift stores, include the cost of alterations in your budget. Sure, the blazer may cost only $5 but there may be expensive alterations which can wipe out any savings. Of course you will need to have the items dry cleaned.

As I said, some people can find amazing deals for themselves in thrift stores. Take a chance if you haven't done so already. It doesn't cost much to find out.

[for expert thrifting tips, see The Thrifty Chicks blog]

Proper Maintenance

Two years ago I wrote a post on how I take care of my shoes. I use a leather conditioner and a neutral cream for my leather shoes every couple of months. Yes, I do baby my shoe collection. Then it dawned on me about a year ago that I took better care of my shoes than I did my face! I'm no longer a kid in my mid forties and I needed to start taking better care of my body. It is one thing to have a few wrinkles but another to have a dried out leather face.

Starting about a year ago, I began using a moisturizer for my face. It felt a little odd at first. However the results make it well worth the effort. Being a dandy goes well beyond clothes. It also includes bodily maintenance. What good are gorgeous clothes if you do not have a well maintained body?

I've been using the Body Shop's olive body butter just before I go to bed. Not much of a scent and it feels good as part of my evening ritual. It is a good investment for keeping up your natural good looks.

I Love My Wrinkles

Yes, I really do.

LeDandy is getting older. It hit him last week while watching the tv show "Cougar." This program features an older woman dating a group of younger men. The cougar gets to decide which one she wants in the end while getting to know each of them. In his younger days, LeDandy dug older women.* Now I was shocked to find out that I'm older than the cougar on the program! The woman on the show was in her late 30's and the men were in the early to mid 20's. At forty-five, I would be considered ancient by their standards.

I recently put up pictures from my wedding. In one of my favorite shots, you can see the thinning hair and wrinkles on the face. No one would mistake me for being twenty-five.


You may find this hard to believe, but I love my wrinkles. I really do. For the simple reason that it highlights character and experience. I earned these wrinkles. It shows what I've been through in life. I'm in my mid forties and I don't want to look like I just graduated from college.

Recently I saw a horrible example of plastic surgery done to Rupert Everett. To be candid, I don't know who the hell he is. I do know that these faces do not look like the same person. I like the "before" picture better. A good shave and some moisturizer would have been all he needed in the "before" pic.

A lot of people bitch and moan about getting older. I can assure you they are not speaking for me. Remember, Reform Dandyism is about thinking for yourself. LeDandy likes his wrinkles in the way he also likes the patina on the face of a vintage watch.
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*Unfortunately they didn't dig him!

Some Great Finds from Spring Cleaning

On Saturday we cleaned out our garage. It was a thorough cleaning, resulting in three big loads taken to the city dump. There was a lot of junk accumulated over the years in our garage and it was time to go through it all. In the course of throwing a lot out, I also ran across some items which I've truly missed.

First and foremost is a picture of my Miniature Pinscher from the late 1990's in Arizona. His name was Beef and he was probably the finest looking dog I've ever had. Unfortunately his mind wasn't all there and he had some mental issues. At first I named him "Meat" after the character in the old comedy "Porky's." Somehow this name just didn't fit him. Beef ended up with another family when I had to move into an apartment. This is the only photo I have of him.

I also found a board game from my teen years. Panzer Leader by Avalon Hill is a sophisticated wargame of tactical combat on the Western Front towards the end of WWII. Computer wargames have rendered these board games obsolete. Nonetheless this game has a lot of good memories for me.

I also ran across my stash of record albums from years gone past. My favorite album, the Beatles' Live at the Star Club 1962, is in great condition considering that I've had it since 1979 or so. It is one of the best memories from my teen years. Even though I have the CD version, the album holds a special meaning for me.

Another album of importance to me is this record I bought in Israel in 1982 featuring the fight songs of the national teams in the World Cup that summer. My trip was only so-so, but that tournament was unbelievable. My best memories are of those games. I don't have a record player but I was able to download all of the songs from this album many years ago on the internet. Once again, it is nice having the original item.

Last but not least is this old photo from one of Jon Dean's work parties when we lived in Phoenix. This picture must be close to ten years old. Note LeDandy's goofy look in this pic. How can you miss it?

The Shoe Critics Chime In

Yesterday I walked over to Westfield Center here in downtown SF as I do almost every day at lunch. It has nothing to do with the stores at Westfield Center. I just find it a convenient stroll for the remainder of my lunch hour and a welcome break from the office.

I had on my black suede shoes, shown in yesterday's post, paired with my bright yellow socks. As I got out of the mall, some bum said to me "How ya' doin' John Gotti." Holy mackerel, here I am being compared to the Dapper Don of the Mafia! It also reminded me that my style cannot be mistaken for Trad or Ivy League. It was a very good day.

Black Suede Shoes

Shoes are becoming a problem for me. I'm running out of room using the normal means of storing them. I'll have to use one of those hanging shoe bags for closets to store them since we are running out of shelves and floor space for them. Keeping this in mind, I still went ahead with another shoe purchase. I couldn't resist the black, suede Cole Haans with horse bit shown above on eBay for $15.

They are in incredible condition and must have been worn less than five times. I gave them a good brushing with a stiff nylon brush and then applied a water repellent spray for suede. LeDandy believes in protecting his investment.

For my debut with these shoes, I wore my red socks for contrast. This combination received many compliments.*

This is LeDandy's fiftieth shoe post. Does he deserve congratulations or therapy?
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*Solicited compliments, as in "Don't these shoes look great?" Yes, LeDandy is insufferable.

The Simple Pleasures

I hear a lot of pessimism and gloom in the news. I see the depressed mood every day when I ride public transportation in San Francisco. A lot of people are out of work and the economy is in the toilet. It seems like everyone is affected by this worldwide recession.

Don't let the big picture ruin your mood. Remember to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. I was reminded of this important principle while spending time with my nephew William. He is ten years old and has a passion for life. Over the past few weekends we have done many fun things which cost very little.

One of my favorite things is his Nerf gun collection. These colorful devices shoot a foam projectile up to twenty feet or so depending on the particular piece. Interestingly, it is the tiny pistol which shoots the farthest. Last Saturday we had a Nerf gun war in the front yard. It was great being a kid again! And I didn't shoot my eye out.


William is quite handy with his kite. Two weeks ago we went to the park and he flew his kite on several good runs despite the slight wind. He put a lot of effort into his flying and there was a real thrill in keeping his kite up. [red arrows mark positions in the second photo below]



Then of course there were Easter eggs last Sunday.

LeDandy is looking forward to some model rocketry and slot car racing in the future. Remember, when an adult does these things he is called a "hobbyist."

Dress Code for College?

Last week I watched a few minutes of a program on tv about college pranks. It was a meaningless show but I was shocked by the appalling state of dress from the student body. I believe the show was filmed at a public school in the Midwest and I'm sure it is typical of other schools. The students were dressed like the youngsters above. Many wore shorts and baseball caps (turned backwards) in the classroom. The worst part was the outfit of the instructor or professor. A middle-aged man wearing shorts, a t-shirt and sneakers did not look very inspiring. They all looked like they were heading for a drinking party at the beach.

LeDandy is in favor of more stringent dress codes for schools.

Isn't this a contradiction of the basic tenets of Reform Dandyism? What happened to LeDandy's laissez faire attitude with men's fashion?

Don't worry, LeDandy is still a libertarian with men's fashion.

The principles of Reform Dandyism apply only to those who are dandies. Reform Dandyism does not apply to those men who are not dandies. By "dandy," I am referring to any man who pays extraordinary attention to his wardrobe. There is no snobbishness in this statement. Any man, regardless of race, religion or socio-economic status, can be a dandy. The distinguishing characteristics of a dandy are his effort and desire. Most men are not dandies and therefore need a set of rules.

As I said earlier, rules are meant for the benefit of the group and not the individual. Personally, I would find it difficult to learn in an environment where everyone was dressed for a beach party. Education requires some degree of discipline.

Spring Break for LeDandy

Time for LeDandy to take some rest from blogging. Unfortunately it will not be at the beach as pictured above. Look for my next post on Saturday, April 11.