The tan and maroon on a black ground madder necktie in the photograph is surely the oldest in my active rotation, dating as it does to the late Mark Cross chain of leathergoods stores that the Sara Lee Corporation purchased and then closed down in 1997 after coming to the brilliant realization that said chain had nothing at all to do with cheesecakes and breakfast pastries. That was a rather ignominous end to a great name but it did leave me with a thirty year-old necktie that I still enjoy.
I like that particular paisley with dark gray suits that complement the black ground. It is paired with an ecru shirt, a tan and cream silk square, maroon hose with clocks and dark brown oxfords. And the aforesaid dark gray hopsack where, to my dismay, the jacket button appears to be pulling just a bit despite the fact that the coat only arrived back from the tailor the other day after a several month visit to have that very problem addressed. But we will get it squared away eventually.
Neckties of course grow narrower and wider over the years. I have found it useful to set aside a drawer in some out of the way space and there roll up the best examples of each no longer fashionable width to await their inevitable return to currency. I have a supply of 7 cm (2 3/4") and 9.5 cm (3 3/4") widths should I ever need them again, which unfortunately is more than I can say for the Mark Cross stores.
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12 comments:
There you go mixing black and brown again!
Will: the pattern doesn't look too dated, and pace Louche, I like black and brown. My wife often drags me off to these estate sales and it's rather melancholy seeing people's ties and bowties being picked over. Most look unbelievably dated, probably because they were purchased in the seventies (the nadir of mens fashion)
That is one of the best combinations I have seen yet!
Sara Lee owned both Coach and Mark Cross. (At one point Cross pens owned Mark Cross - or vice versa -- until they too realized they didn't have many brand synergies, or at least could not capitalize on them a la Mont Blanc and Seeger.) My recollection is Lee originally intended to have Mark Cross as its higher-end luxury offering and Coach as its slightly more accessible luxury offering. Some bright soul realized that quality is dead and that Coach could be the single "luxury" offering selling ugly logoed goods made in China with good marketing. The rest is history and Reed Krakoff is now a household name. Like Sara Lee.
RJ, your version is more accurate but mine gets to the heart of the thing faster. :-)
Nobody does it like Suitable Will. Certainly was not trying to correct you, just thought the context was rather interesting. Now I miss the frozen Bavarian Chocolate Mousse cake of my childhood.
Nice choice of pocket handkerchief Will.
Mark Cross followed the big logo branding trend of the late seventies and early eighties in an effort to compete with other luxury brands, mostly in cloth cases, and eventually into neckwear and other accessory items. I am not sure I know who made the tie you're wearing, do you?
This question can probably not be construed to be related to the original post topic, but I have been reading through your archives the last few weeks and was wondering if you could provide some insight on the appropriateness of brown shoes at night. I understand they are not nearly so formal a choice as a black shoe, but I own almost only brown shoes which I wear daily and it seems excessive to change for the night. I love the look of a brown shoe and am loathe to add black shoes solely (see what I did there :) ) for the sake of formality. Excellent blog!
Mr. Fountain, Few people are likely to notice these days unless you are in England but brown shoes are day wear.
About 'Mark Cross' pens...'MC' leased the name to a German co. and one usually finds a sterling silver 'felt tip' (yes, that old) or a ball point but almost always broken. There was little or no quality involved. 'Cross' in Rhode Island had nothing to do with it. I'm a 44R but i like the sleeves a little long.
"Few people are likely to notice these days unless you are in England"
When were you last in England?!
I suspect we may move in different circles, but I'm yet to come across people that truly care if a pair of shoes are the "wrong" colour.
I love the tie, and don't think ties should be subject to anything other than one's own taste. The thought of a drawer full of rolled up ties, waiting for the vagaries of fashion to shift and sway makes me a little sad.
Robin, I think you answered your own question.
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