During the days when Willie Howard Mays was still playing baseball professionally, the late Aristotle Onassis was known for wearing his black neckties with the front blade thrown over the knot rather than pulled through it, much as an ascot is worn today. The Onassis, as this knot was known at the time, was copied fairly widely in New York's garment district but disappeared shortly after the wearer left the scene.
Perhaps Mr. Mays, probably the greatest baseball talent of all time and certainly the finest of the modern era, learned the knot as a young man roaming the Polo Grounds in New York before the team moved West. Wherever he was exposed to it, he wore the Onassis the other day for his visit to the White House.
Visits by champion sports teams are one of the perquisites of the American Presidency. They are rarely interesting from a sartorial perspective, but this one was.
Photo: Michael Stainbrook
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8 comments:
Sorry Will, I know you are a Giants baseball fan, but I can't help but wonder if this is a modern case of "Emperor has no clothes". Could it be that the 80 year old Willie Mays simply forgot to knot is tie correctly and because he is a baseball legend people are willing to look the other way (or even in your case, phase his forgetfulness as stylish?) Put it this way, if the man in the picture was not Willie Mays but rather a little used pitcher on the team would you be so gracious in your remarks?
It really is not very likely that one could do 80% of a four in hand knot and forget the final step in my opinion. Nor were my remarks gracious. Had there been nothing of interest in the photo I would not have used it.
I learned something today. I previously knew nothing of this knot and thought I was headed for a Jackie O post.
@Andrew, first, this wasn't any second rate pitcher it was THE Willie Mays, who unlike many who get talked about in fashion, has earned the right to be noticed.
But I would forward that even if this were a double A outfielder with a limp, though he may not follow the standard fashion rules, no black man in a suit has forgotten anything about his appearance.
Actually Will, I have seen Mr. Mays (The Say hey Kid) wear his tie this way before. I have also seen several others wear their tie this way. Not really my style, but still a style none the less.
Once I wore the Onassis--by accident. I got home and was alarmed. Nice to know it has a name.
I think the tie looks great. Maybe his age and stature allows this "dated" idiosyncrasy. To be sure, it would look ridiculous on a young guy, but, looks interesting in this example IMHO.
Dear Will, I remember seeing this knot a while back in an picture of Onassis except the knot was much tighter and structured like the one in the following link. Never learned how this is dont but would appreciate the help.
http://www.brionities.com/tie-images/Onassis/onassis.jpg
Gee, I didn't know that Willie Mays is a "garmento."
The knot (or lack thereof) used to be worn by some Garment Center salesmen and inside men. I believe that it was popular in the summer in the pre-air conditioning days of the Garment Center showrooms and lofts.
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