If anyone is reading this and has followed this blog with any level of interest, you would agree that the name of this post is rather fitting.

Merriam-Webster (2023) defines “prodigal” as one who has returned after an absence. If I’m being completely objective, I’m not sure “absence” adequately describes my time away from The Journal of Rufus. Dust has gathered and cobwebs have formed on this post page, and as much as I’d like to attribute this “sabbatical” (if you will) to the COVID-19 global pandemic or some other life-altering phenomena, the reality is that I’d somewhat lost the essence of what I started this platform for. Even writing out this passage has forced me to introspect and reflect on what it is that I can or want to say, whether or not it means anything to anyone, and if it could be consumed in this media.

Please don’t misinterpret this outward display of my mind’s inner workings as me throwing in the towel. My enthusiasm for style, in all its facets, and my expression thereof in my writing, still gets me going! But, with anything that requires you to give of yourself, you must know that you need to be completely full in order for you to pour out, especially in a meaningful way. At this juncture, I’d be remiss not to acknowledge that I’ve had some pretty big personal achievements over the last 2 – 3 years, and accompanying experiences that have offered me renewed perspectives – as an individual and secondarily, as a creative.

Does this new perspective mean that I plan to return to the blogosphere? Maybe not fully, but I’m continuously reminded that my perspectives, as anyone else’s, are unique because they’re mine.. and because of that, there will always be a story to tell. For now, let this short post be my “return flight” to the blogosphere.

Social Links:

Instagram: @lorenzo.rufus

Facebook: The Journal of Rufus

Any thoughts, reviews, questions or comments, leave them below.

Till Next Time!

If, at any point I would be asked to describe my blog in a few words, Consistently Inconsistent is the exact description I would give. Now you may assume that I’ll be going on some kind of rant about this… and you’d be correct.  This piece will be for the ‘creatives’ and will perhaps touch on what we fear about not being in a state to create.

So I know my last blogpost was in March, you don’t have to mention it. This inconsistency has to stop, I know I know! I guess creativity just cannot be rushed… Wow, is that not THE MOST obnoxious thing you’ve heard in a while? On a serious note I’m excited to be writing again and may I add a fashion piece this time. My last two posts were more of a personal reflection of multiple events that had transpired and the build up thereof so this was a nice pick-me-up.

So let’s just address the elephant in the blog (in lieu of a room), I have been out of the blogosphere for several months. Now what some may call a hiatus, I want to stress that this long break wasn’t intended and that there are so many other contributing factors than what may appear.

Untitled… A rather polarising title don’t you think? I didn’t know what I was going to write about and quite frankly, I wasn’t certain I would write at all.

I’ve been out of the blogosphere for roughly a month, or what I have referred to as ‘the period I almost lost my mind’. Thinking back on it, I find my mini meltdown somewhat amusing. I mean it’s not uncharacteristic of me to hyperbolise my emotions… Ask anyone who knows me well enough (they might just have a story or two to tell).

[ Sprettsa’tu:ra ] Origin: Italian

I’m sure a lot of you are wondering what in the world this word means. This word first made its appearance in “The Book of the Courtier” by Baldassare Castiglione. He describes this term as ‘a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it’.

I’ve often been asked what inspires my sense of style and the answer is never really the same. On one day I’ll claim that my choices are impulsive and on another I’d convince you that they’re somewhat of an inheritance.

One of my favourite authors Stephen Covey said: “There are three constants in life…. change, choice and principles.” The Oxford Dictionary describes a constant as occurring continuously over a period of time. With the above in mind it’s only fitting that we add style to the list of constants.

Personally speaking, style is one of the few aspects of life which have stood the ultimate constant of time. If we compare our modern-day sensibilities of aesthetic with that of the early 1900’s, not much has changed. In fact, as the style-conscious generation of men, we tend to gravitate more towards an inherently nostalgic manner of dressing.

Before anyone gets the wrong idea, I won’t be making reference to the beloved Jock of the Bushveld in this piece. I literally needed an appropriate and relatively cheesy title for it. I think I’ve accomplished that!!

A trend that finds itself resurfacing almost every year in the fashion calendar is that of the Modern Safari (amongst others). I have admittedly tried to replicate this look a ton of times without any success. To be honest I’d eventually end up looking like a mix between Crocodile Dundee and Indiana Jones… and that’s a bad thing if I wasn’t clear enough. 
Another challenge I’ve had with this look was trying to improve on it. Let’s be honest, this trend has been in circulation for years and we’ve already seen quite a number of interpretations.

If you’re looking for some tips on braving the Concrete Safari in style then keep reading.

Trust style to transport you anywhere in the world in the blink of an eye. Incorporating one garment could literally be the difference between stepping out into the streets of Joburg or Paris with either the Vodacom Tower or the Eiffel Tower behind you.

Paris has always been one of the cities I’d dream of visiting one day. I am however a frequent visitor of in my imagination (don’t judge me… we all do it). I actually remember myself purchasing this shirt and feeling a great amount of nostalgia and… well… romance.