My apologies for the gap in posting. A series of out-of-town guests, numerous work projects, and a short trip to Nantes have interrupted the usual workflow. Our foreign correspondent David was in Paris recently. We had a coffee at the cafe across the street from my office and discussed all manner of things: solutions to … More Recommendations Update: The Rolex Dilemma
I have a complicated relationship with Tatler magazine, the British magazine that breathlessly chronicles the latest goings-on of the royals, high society, and well-heeled wanna-be’s. On the one hand, they have published some interesting articles on how to raise children in an affluent environment, estate planning, and other more grounded subject matter. On the other … More In Defense of Red Pants
You have no idea how much fun I get out of curating this blog. The comments and contributions you all make are incredibly rewarding, especially/even when flaws in my grammar or inaccuracies in my content are pointed out. I don’t like making mistakes, but I don’t often get bent out of shape over them, and … More Me, Myself, and I
As most of our readers know, I rarely recommend products or services on the blog. Exceptions include Mercer & Sons shirts, Allen Edmonds shoes, and J Press for miscellaneous men’s clothing. The reasons for my reluctance are numerous: this blog is a sanctuary from ‘the sales pitch’. The internet allows almost anyone to find almost … More A Private Conversation with…Richard Friesen
Bonjour, everyone. Karl was kind enough to post a very detailed comment about his recent trip to Paris. I wanted to make sure that everyone saw it, so I’ve done a cut and paste. It appears below in italics. So enjoy. My thoughts…I think Karl has a great approach to European vacations: pick one city … More Fresh Set of Eyes on Paris…from Karl
Life in Paris is not always bowl of cherries, but it rarely goes long without a surprise. Most of the surprises are pleasant. A few are enlightening. One of the more enlightening moments occurred recently. (I’ll be intentionally vague with details to protect the privacy of those involved.) A young person from the United States … More The Importance of Narrative
We recently received the comment below from one of our readers. I thought it was very interesting and very relevant. Here it is, and I’ve added some thoughts below. I happened on your site while doing some personal research on old money style and its contemporary applications, like the trendy of the concept of sprezzatura, … More The Application Process
One of our tribe members recently wrote to me. Her concern was privacy. Her correspondence is below. She has some really good ideas on the subject, I think, and some questions… I’d love to hear everyone’s take on increasing and maintaining privacy in this digital age. (Thank you, V., for the very kind words. I’m … More The Continual Fight for Privacy
Stephan asked a question in the comments section a couple of weeks ago. I made a note to myself to respond and neglected to do so. My apologies, Stephan, and thank you for reminding me. Here’s Stephan’s question: Hi Byron, I have read the old money book recently and really appreciate it. I especially liked … More The Wristwatch Dilemma – An Updated Discussion
The slow retreat of Covid 19 and its Omicron variant have allowed me to safely plan a trip back to the United States this month. My last visit was in November of 2019. It’s been an eventful time in between, to say the least: a once-in-a-century pandemic, subsequent global travel bans, local and national lockdowns, … More The Mixed Bag: Returning to the US…Two Years Later