March 26

My work uniform is nice, as far as uniforms go. A charcoal-gray suit, white shirt, and royal blue silk necktie. Most everybody else I work with wears this uniform (some better than others). Of course, I like to fix things, to enhance them, to dress them up a bit. To that end, I've made some small additions to my work uniform, to personalize it and make it more my own.

The first thing I did was add a small lapel pin to my left lapel. It would go over the nametag if I had one (my last one is broken). I originally wore a small gold anchor, since I was once a Sailor, or a small Navy seal (this seal, not this one). The folks who've worked at my building for five years received a small sterling silver lapel pin back in October (the building in relief), which I've worn since then.

The pocket handkerchief, in the same color as the tie, was my next addition. I've been told countless times by countless tailors and suit salesmen that the handkerchief "completes" the look of a suit, and I finally bought into the concept, at least for the suit I wear to work five days a week. I have to admit that having the pocket handkerchief has really grown on me -- I wouldn't work without it anymore.

And the cufflinks. The shirts the company issued us were not very good, and I began wearing my own white shirts almost immediately. I added a new french-cuff shirt to the rotation when my friend Keith made me a custom set of cufflinks (see them here); the cufflinks shown with the jacket were a gift from my better half.

So while I still wear a company-issued uniform, with a few accessories, I've done my best to make it my own.

85/365