Wednesday, July 23, 2014



     Welcome to a new kind of blog. For those who have followed my previous blog, Beauty Hurts....,  you know that I primarily discussed the world of Plastic Surgery.  I mostly kept to the safety issues because I felt that was being ignored.  Most of the blogs were self promoting rubbish and I never believed a word of what they were saying. Just finished twelve breast augs and now sipping a Cabernet.  That sort of pretentious crap. If I saved one patient from a bad experience or from going abroad and being injured and ripped off then I did my job.  I think this new and extended blog will probably do the same thing. And now the reason I'm extending my views on other vitally important topic.....
 About 2 weeks ago, a close friend invited me to a celebrity golf outing in  New Jersey. It was hosted by a large well known radio station as well as a large well known American League baseball team.   Typical golf crowd, 20-60 year old men, predominantly white, salesmen, white collar workers, etc. About 20 retired football and baseball players interspersed.  You get the point.  To make it more interesting, I had had recent neck surgery and was trying to keep my stitches and scar out of the sun and was wearing a scarf around my neck.  On a hot day in May, when everyone is wearing shorts and a polo, wearing a scarf looks a bit out of place.  Granted I didn't wear it like the French on the side but like an Ascot in what I considered the most normal way possible. And I did stand out, but it was not because of the scarf.  It was because I was the only one not wearing pleated shorts.  And I thought to myself, how is that possible?  Pleats have been out of style for at least 5 if not 10 years.  These are professionals. They have money. They must know that they can't wear pleats.  Haven't they read GQ, Esquire, Details?  Okay, nobody reads Details.  And then it struck me.  They don't know because they don't read fashion magazines and they don't read any articles that have to do with fashion.  The closest they get is the occasional fashion spread in Golf Digest but that really doesn't cover much.
            After the round of golf, there was the required cocktail party and dinner.  I've been to a bunch of these,  mostly Hospital outings and almost everyone there changes into a jacket and pants after golf.  Not here.  Here the patrons changed out of their golf shoes and into their running shoes.  One of the well known Morning talk show hosts actually put on a blazer on top of his outfit and his other well known morning talk show host made fun of him for putting on a blazer.  That believe it or not got the most laughs from the crowd.
            And so on the long drive home to the city,  I thought to myself, there has to be a way to help these people.  I mean, this is most of America, and they're not getting what Fashion America is selling or telling them. They're not reading any fashion magazines and their wives,  if they are buying their clothes, aren't reading them either.  So I've decided to help them out.  Why me? Well, I'm like them.  Middle aged doctor, 2 kids, wife, nice life.  But I'm also not like them.  I read men's fashion magazines and I've been reading these for at least 30 years so I've got perspective.  And as my friends tell me, I have style and taste too.  And I have to be honest, most of the fashion out there or in magazines  doesn't appeal to me or them.  I don't find the $3500 red Gucci suit particularly appealing. I also don't find the $4000 Ralph Lauren Purple Label Blue suit appealing either.  Why? Because the first one doesn't fit my fashion sense and the second one is pretty boring.  Oh, and I don't think you need to spend that much money on a good suit.
            Well, I'll have lots to cover as we take this journey together. We'll have fun and I expect you to tweet or write on this blog and ask me questions or just post some irreverent nonsense, as I will.  As an avid skier, I consider this course in fashion to be similar to Snowmass's famed intermediate area, the Big Burn.  Fun, easy, a pleasure to ski.  It will not be Corbet's Coulior. If you don't know what I'm talking about, look it up.