“Once you try custom, it’s hard to go back to off the rack.” These words, spoken by Vishal Mirpuri, owner of VM Clothiers, come back to me each time I slip into one of my still-new-to-me custom shirts. Yes, I have finally entered the world of custom tailoring. However, I saved myself the airfare to…
Tag: Washington D.C.
OTC Article On Dressing For DC Association Execs
I was recently asked by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) to write a “Top 5” article that would help the association and non-profit executives of Washington step their wardrobes up a notch. Click on the image to the left to view the full piece. Now, for those of you outside the Beltway, it…
Obama’s Oval Office
Shortly after being sworn in as the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama faced his first major crisis: being criticized for not wearing a suit coat in one of his first “working” Oval Office photos. Since the criticizer was Andrew Card, George W. Bush’s former chief of staff, I’ll take his indignation with…
A Cut Above: OTC Recommends The Grooming Lounge
As Mark Twain famously noted, “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” Though we often strive to prove this axiom wrong, truer words have rarely been spoken. How you appear in public matters quite a bit. Equally influential are a shave and a good haircut. Truth be told, clothes…
Presidential Prerogatives: The Definition of "Tux"
The other day, a reader sent along a link for my review. It was to an article from Slate Magazine analyzing President Obama’s sartorial choice for his evening of inaugural balls. As you may have noticed, the president chose to strike out in a new direction – somewhere in between black tie and white tie….
Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Ball
Well, it took me a little longer than expected to get this post up. OTC attended the Texas State Society’s Black Tie and Boots Inaugural Ball and I have to say, it was a lot of fun. Though normally the purview of jubilant Republicans, BT&B was none the less filled with many, many fans of…
The City Is Buzzing
As quick followup to the Inauguration post, I wanted to add a couple of photos from today. I went down to the Capitol building and the Mall this overcast and slightly snowy morning and snapped some photos of the inaugural site. Union Station Decked Out Banner For The Union Station Ball Finding Your Place Tomorrow…
DC Preps for Inauguration
Washington, D.C., is in full Obama mode – we are about to be the center of the universe for a few days and you can feel it in the air. As this picture of Union Station shows, the Capitol City is ready to party. And party it will. With ten official Inaugural Balls and countless…
Dressing A President
With the election over and a second round of history ready to made next month, Washington, D.C., is preparing for the mother of all inaugurations. With an estimated influx of five million revelers, this town is really going to be hopping. As you might expect, inaugurations are a big deal here and this one is…
Art of Shaving In D.C.’s Union Station
Not too long ago, while passing through Grand Central Station in New York, I first noticed the Art of Shaving. Warm woods and glass, alabaster lighting with a vague Parisian/Milano feel to it, the store cum barber shop was an immediate draw. Its elegant feel belies a company obsessed with the timeless and masculine art…