The late Duke of Bedford, he whose name is in the International Best Dressed Hall of Fame, once wrote that a man's necktie should be dull and who am I to argue? I prefer black, gray, blue and sometimes brown ties myself, if grenadines, knits, shantungs and mogadors to name but a few are dull. Indeed, I was looking for a red tie the other day only to find that I had but two and one of them, a dark burgundy grenadine, hardly qualified.
Dull though ones ties may be, there is a place for louder neckwear and that is in the scarf. Oh, certainly a man needs quiet scarves in sober wool or cashmere. The real glory though are the silks, with tasselled fringes whenever possible. And if a man has one, he needs several since, just like a loud suit, a patterned silk scarf is so memorable that if he wears it more than a couple times a season people will think he lives in it.
Silk scarves are less impractical than they might appear. Though lightweight, the stuff is an excellent wind blocker and that same low conductivity keeps warm air next to the skin, which is why it is used for glove linings and long underwear.
Weave also needs to be considered. Directionless patterns like paisleys can be worn with virtually anything, with lustrous finishes or, like the madder scarf in the photo, dry surfaces. But let them have color. Dull is for neckties.
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7 comments:
First of all-- Your herringbone DB jacket is a KNOCKOUT!!
Scarves are a necessity in colder climates. (I'm miserable if neck or chest is chilled.) Also like scarves worn under dress shirts, in lieu of an ascot, (which I find pretentious.)
A great opportunity to express one's sprezzatura.
The jacket is actually a topcoat/overcoat right? It looks quite thick. It's very nice whatever it is.
I'm perplexed though because I've seen posts where you are wearing quite lively ties. I'm quite timid myself, but I've just been breaking out of that.
How are you wearing the scarf? Is it under the shirt collar, inside it? Over it? I think quite a few people are unsure about how to wear a scarf, especially if there is no tie present.
Second the comment on the coat! For someone who lives in a warm clime, a scarf is something best kept in the drawer until one travels. I will be heading for Amsterdam in April so mine will come out of storage and once again see use. There is nothing light enough to wear down here on the Borderlands, even on the coldest of days, unfortunately, because I love the look.
I'm with Roger, I quite like your orange or paisley ties.. or is dull the new bright?
I should have specified that I was speaking of dress for the city. But that orange tie is long gone.
With you all the way Will. Bold scarves are THE thing.
Dull neck ties for work can still have subtly creative touches. For leisure ties can be fun.
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