A Question for the Manolo

For some time I, and I am sure the others of Dr. Curmudgeon's company, have been wanting to express the high appreciation to The Manolo for his link to us. Truly, we are not worthy.

See today The Manolo's comments on the Martha Stewart, who has been so long in stir that she does not know that the Manolo says, the fashion maniBoris Goua for the poncho, it is now over.

The fashion habits of Dr. Curmudgeon & Co. are, I must confess, varied. Dr. Potomac turns out well; indeed, shortly before Manolo spoke authoritatively on the blazer, I myself saw Dr. Potomac wearing the blazer of cashmere, in a sort of bleu nuit color. It had an impeccable drape, and truly the Dr. Potomac, he looked the man of affairs and authority, even though it was perhaps the casual Friday.

The Style Editor, she is often constrained in her style by the code of feminine dress in Our Nation's Capital. But at a performance of Boris Goudounov at the Kennedy Center, I am pleased to report that she was smashingly dressed in a red silk suit topped with a luxurious mink hat; a tribute to the Russian spirit, to be sure. If the Manolo has the suggestion for the Washington woman of affairs, they would be most welcome by the Style Editor, I am sure, as well as thousands of other DC women.

Dr. Curmudgeon himself, he enjoys the look of the old-style academic. He favours the tweed and the bow tie. The Ombudsman, he is afraid that the Dr. Curmudgeon, he is too recalcitrant to accept the advice of the Manolo. Indeed, the Ombudsman, he thinks that the Dr. Curmudgeon likes to look like the young fogey.

As for the Ombudsman, he has the question for the Manolo. As the Ombudsman is writing a dissertation, a lonely existence which involves little socializing, he dresses like the slob most of the time. He is turning into the 30-something man who wishes to be the perpetual teenager. So far, he has managed to avoid wearing the baseball cap backwards. But he is afraid that this, it is only a matter of time.

So, the Ombudsman he asks: what does the Manolo suggest for the wear of the aspiring young academic on the job market? One does not want to walk into a job interview in a three piece suit; there could be potential colleagues waiting there who are wearing a badly fitting blazer, the jeans, the Birkenstocks, and the grey ragg socks. How can the Ombudsman navigate this social minefield? His heart is aflutter as he contemplates these conundrums, and he desires the Manolo's assistance very much.