We think of creative people as being inspired and ask about their work. What inspired you to paint, draw, produce this piece of work? What inspired you to make this? Usually answer is: a book, poem, film, experience, person, a place or in Cole Porter’s case ‘phone call from director’.

Something else or someone else inspired artist, songwriter. But what about person in a regular job? What inspires you?

“Inspiration is a desire to live life without flinching. To take a risk and possibly fail. To act on your emotions, creativity, ability and beliefs. To take criticism but have faith in yourself to do it anyway. Bloody hard work, but then hard work never killed anyone (or so my Dad says). Oh, and I find foster parents inspiring. They pick up pieces when fundamental teachings and rules of our society fail. If I were religious I'd ask God to bless em.” Carolyn Tomley (Sydney Morning Herald website).

What is it that inspires you?

You can begin to see that if nothing inspires you or excites you or lights up your life you are really missing something. You are just like a robot performing task after task. We believe that deep down you have a place where you can be touched. You have a place that is solely ours. Solely for you to show world. Can you name it?

What inspires me, is thought that I am more than my body. My limitations are only down to my thoughts. Thus I want to keep pushing boundaries to find out what is there. Find out what I can communicate to world. I am inspired by fact that through what I do I may enable another person to open their mind. To remove blinkers and reach their possibilities.

Julie is inspired by life. All that is around her. To Julie, inspiration is a rush of adrenalin, a rush of energy that creates a clearing in her thinking. It’s that time when you see something from a different perspective and say to yourself, Why didn’t see it like this before?

For Julie, inspiration is like prisoner who says you can do whatever you like to my body but you can’t touch my soul, my reason for living.

The first stop on your way to dressing classically is by purchasing „Dressing Man‰ by Alan Flusser . This book is an excellent reference for any guy looking to develop his own classic style. We suggest that you check if your bookstore will allow you to pass book off as a Œtextbook‚ (tell them it for a class on Œreconstructing current paradigm of contemporary definition of masculinity through use of apparel‚).

After getting book, head to nearest Salvation Army or Goodwill. ŒSally‚ and ŒGoody‚ are best places to score key finds like classic suit jackets, overcoats and more. Look for jackets that are fully lined, made of either 100% wool or cashmere. Leave polyester alone. Tweed is always in for men, so pick up a few here. These stores are also a great place to land trench coats (think Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca) - a must for any classic man‚s wardrobe. Take your thrift store finds to nearest dry cleaners and have them tailor items to fit you perfectly. In fact take all of your finds (whether they are from a thrift store or from Nordstroms) to a tailor. If you are daring enough, ask tailor to throw on a couple of suede patches for good measure.