His Penchant For Satin

Winston Churchill was my idol as a young man but a close second was the jet setting Porfirio Rubirosa who among his many accomplishments married Odile Rodin, the French actress who became his fifth wife, nearly fifty years ago when she was 19 and he 45. Rubirosa's considerable attractiveness to women was based on a variety of things, but among them was surely his penchant for satin neckties in the evening.

Satin of course has a sheen to it that helps it shine at night, which is why it is commonly used for dinner jacket lapels and matching bow ties. When on the other hand a four in hand evening necktie will accompany a lounge suit or blazer, I like midnight blue satin with a navy jacket, and black with a charcoal or black one. Accompany either with a silk pocket square. The sheen of the satin is different enough from conventional printed silk that the two materials complement each other.