***Note, this is a guest post by Ellie’s husband, Andy.***

Usually my contributions to this blog are limited to replacing the occasional comma with a period.  But the illustrious Ellie LaVeer has seen fit to allow me to guest post for a very special occasion.

Behold, Devona’s great photo of my 1979 Vespa P-200E, taken back in January.  

I figured another $20 (half off) for this sterling silver Vespa tie bar from Vespa Charlotte was not much after paying $400 in repairs yesterday.

This is one of those things that Ellie really wished she had found and given me as a gift. And it’s one of those things I in no wise had to justify purchasing. 

And since this blog often features thrift store finds, I’ll call attention some such pictured here: Chaps RL sportcoat, vintage Joe Bank tie, and a Brooks Brothers non-iron button-down.

I think throwing the Vespa tie bar into the ensemble both adds class and disarms those who would otherwise think I was dressed a little bit “pushy”.  It also adds a good bit of vintage Italian (which constitutes 25% of my blood) to my otherwise Angl0-Saxon (which constitutes 12.5% of my blood) -inspired garb.  I also think it helps me effectively re-incarnate my late grandfather, Samuel Francis Lichi–the man whose class and knack for thrifting himself into a fantastic and incredibly affordable wardrobe* I will always seek to emulate.  

*Speaking of affordable wardrobes, check out another dapper Italian–this time a young Bostonian named Giuseppe–who has taught me whatever I didn’t learn from Papa Sam about thrifting:  An Affordable Wardrobe.

Posted by Andy Stager.