The combination of a dark jacket and a dark patterned bow tie is an effective change of pace for afternoon and early evening, perhaps because it's a look that doesn't come directly from the office. The video capture illustrates it worn by Edward Fox in his role in the 1978 British tv series Edward & Mrs. Simpson.
I usually think of bow ties with double breasted jackets or vested suits that don't have a lot of tie space. But they can also be combined with a shirt that has a dark pattern, where the pattern does its bit to fill in the jacket's tie space.
Bow ties of course offer an advantage over conventional neckties when the wearer will be leaning over a table-top. And there's also the rarity of the look, something that's an advantage in Paris. Of course, to paraphrase something I read, it might get the wearer beaten up in Chicago. But there is no reward without risk.
Try a bow tie with your blazer.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Try a Bow Tie With Your Blazer
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12 comments:
I love Edward Fox. He wears his clothes so well. He played a great part in the movie "A Month by the Lake" in which he wore very stylish clothes including bowties. I am almost certain that some of the ties from that mid 1990s movie were also from his part as the Duke of Windsor in Edward and Mrs. Simpson.
I've never been able to wear a bow tie,and I have never worn them except for the black tie formal affairs but something you wrote nailed it. The jacket space. Too much shirt shows when you dont wear a vest, or some high buttoning jacket. I guess if you take your jacket off you'd need braces and high rise pants to eliminate some of that shirt space...
Living in the South, we wear a lot of bowties. Most, however, pair them with white oxford button-downs. The addition of the striped shirt really makes all the difference, in terms of style, doesn't it? Bowties are also very easy to pack or slip into a jacket pocket for later use.
I tried wearing a bow tie in my early days along with braces. I did not like the look so I have gone back to the long neck tie. I think the bow tie looks great on some. I will reserve it for evening or formal wear.
This pic is all about the hairstyle and cigarette, IMO. I'm not a big fan of bow ties, but it's pictures such as this one that cause me to rethink my prejudice. I loved Edward Fox in The Day of the Jackal, which remains an all-time favourite. There were some nice outfits in that film as well.
In the 1973 film "The Day of the Jackal", a very young fox plays the Jackal, and I always thought he dressed super. Made the ascot look deadly. Jump forward to a more aged Fox in The Russia House and I think he outshines Connery and Roy Schieder in dress. Check out Schieder in his bow tie-looks a bit awkward on him, or out of character)Some films are great inspiration for clothes..
Thanks for mentioning those other films, John. I'll try to find them.
Bow ties never go out of style because they're never in style. Donning one will always assure that the wearer will stand out.
I'm reminded of an entry in The Osgood Files by Charles Osgood, who wrote that columnist John Molloy in Success magazine noted that people who wear bow ties are "distrusted by almost everyone." Osgood went on to note Winston Churchill, Irving R. Levine, and himself as individuals who were widely respected despite their choice of neckwear. "Would you trust Pee Wee Herman more if he wore a rep tie? Me neither."
He did note, however, that the bow tie wearer leaves more real estate available on his shirt. Osgood concluded with his trademark doggerel:
For those who have lusted to be honored and trusted,
A bowtie, I say, doesn't hurt.
It isn't your tie that most people will eye -
It's the big soupstain there on your shirt.
Bow ties are great, you can balance casual items in an interesting way with a bow tie. Too much shirt? It is better than an open collar! You don't ruin them with markers from whiteboards or spills, work great with vests --- even without a jacket.
don't forget diamond points. Have some guts and try them!
Well, in reply to Scott's quote of Osgood, a stain can be washed off a shirt but probably ruins a tie. So I agree with Will's remark about leaning over the table. To initials cg and tonyp, I would say the following. I wear bowties once or twice a week and it provides a pleasant and usually favorably-commented-on variation.I think bows go especially well with seersucker in summer. Fox's picture certainly exemplifies how elegant a bow can look. So, I'd suggest you give it a try now and then. I do agree a bow works better with a small space of shirt and gladly will adopt the suggestion of a patterned shirt with bow.
initials cg
I rented The Russia House last night and was pleasantly surprised to see JAMES Fox (brother of Edward Fox)in the movie. They do resemble each other closely but the voice gave it away. Edward Fox has a very distinctive voice and is full of energy whereas James is quieter and more staid. But I enjoyed the movie even though Edward Fox was not in it.
Whoops! John, I stand corrected...
And I even saw the film again right after the post...
I just bought the DVD for "Edward..." from Amazon. I kept looking at it and your screen capture made the decision for me.
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