Posted on 01/06/2013 5:50:38 PM PST by man_in_tx
People: I don't know how to broach this painful topic, but, there is something strange taking place in our country, and, indeed, throughout the entire world.
What is that, you ask? It is the far-too-prevalent, far-too-long-lasting fad of men wearing purple neckties -- light purple, lavender, dark purple, solid, striped, or with patterns.
Now, let me allow for some exceptions, for those with darker skin (blacks, Hispanics, etc), purple ties have probably always been worn, because, due to color-matching issues, folks with darker skin actually look GOOD wearing purple (not just ties, either).
Another obvious exception would be, say, a football player who plays for, say, TCU or the Minnesota Vikings, wearing a shirt and tie on game day. That would mean he is sporting his team colors, and that should be seen as commendable.
But, let's admit it: Normally, a purple tie on a white guy -- be he David "30-Round" Gregory, Charles "Canuck" Krauthammer, John "Wet Cardboard" Boehner, etc -- is not particularly sharp-looking.
Therefore, when I see a white guy on the news wearing a purple tie -- and it is something I have been seeing virtually DAILY for YEARS now, I keep asking myself "why?" I also ask myself, "When is this stupid fad ever going to end?"
Now, this fad is not restricted to politicians. We see purple ties on media types, Brits, etc. It is not even restricted to one side of the aisle, as purple ties are probably seen on Republicans as much as Democrats.
As I am well over 50, I can say that, when I was younger, any white male seen wearing a purple tie years ago, would likely have been thought to be a bit odd, to say the least.
I have wanted to post something on this topic for some time, but I keep thinking the fad will go away, or that someone else will cover the topic. However, it seems that it can no longer wait.
For other freepers who share my concern about this disturbing cultural trend, please feel free to reply sharing links to photos/videos of men in the news wearing purple ties.
Also, please feel free to reply stating whether or not you believe those sporting purple ties in the news are trying to convey a message, and -- if so -- what you believe that message is.
Here are some hypotheses I am considering for what message may be being conveyed by the purple-tie wearers:
- I am all for gay marriage - I am a metrosexual - Memo to the ATF: I am not a gun-owner - I voted for Obama - I hate Rush Limbaugh
I am also asking Freepers to do some soul-searching and seriously consider taking the following pledge for 2013: I will not wear purple ties. Nor will I buy any purple ties as gifts for my friends or family. I will also purpose never fully to trust anyone wearing a purple tie (with acknowledgement of the reasonable exceptions noted above).
This is serous stuff that no one wants to talk about.
Sample link to photo of man wearing purple tie: http://sr.photos2.fotosearch.com/bthumb/ULY/ULY042/u17589494.jpg
I feel the same way about suits with more than two buttons. Or brown shoes worn with navy or black suits. Or Hawaiian shirts that are tucked in at the waist. Or guys working out with black socks on.
Why isn’t this in breaking?
Purple ties? Team colors, the team being SEIU...
Sometime in the early ‘70s, I thought I was wearing an ultra-violet suit, but I was just high.
Cool suit, though. ;^)
Back when I was in the corporate world, with a global apparel company, there were certain expectations as far as what a male employee with upward mobility would wear. A suit and tie was required. Brown shoes would have caused more of an uproar than a purple tie, unless the tie was ugly and especially if it was obviously cheap. So long as it was a nice, good quality silk tie, that was really the only area where a guy could do anything remotely unique, at all.
Had quite a collection including a few with purple in them. Looks good with a dark navy suit or a charcoal grey one. Maybe it was different because the corporate culture was oriented toward apparel? The only thing I recall being regarded as particularly gay was wearing a black turtleneck with a black suit, but the whole NYC office dressed that way, so it could have been regional bias. Or, it could have been that there were several gays on staff in the NYC office.
I don’t have any ties.
I also don’t have anything that’s purple. Hmm.
Wait a minute. My seventh chakra. That’s purple, right? Lemme check...
Yup. Purple.
LOL!
Recession Fashion: http://www.newser.com/story/44708/recessions-fashion-must-a-purple-tie.html
.02
The necktie is the useless vestigial remnant of an actual piece of equipment adorning an enforced attempt to limit foppish competition between court executives and has become part of the current foppish competition between executives.
Buy a bolo tie with a fob that means something to you.
YMMV
“I hate Rush Limbaugh”?
Do you not remember the ugly, colorfful ties that Rush used to hock? If anything, an ugly lavender tie is in solidarity with the Lovable Fuzzball.
My favorite color is purple. I’m female and nothing I like more than a guy in a great suit with a classy silk purple tie.
There are a lot of people in Maryland, at least the football fans near Baltimore, who will ignore you.
I don’t own a purple or violet tie, but I’ve often wished I’d had one to wear on the Sundays of Advent and Lent. Of course that would mean, for consistency’s sake, I’d have to wear a rose (i.e. pink) tie for gaudete and laetare Sundays. I’m not sure my wife would like me in a purple tire; I think she’d be solidly against me wearing a pink one.
B*tches don't know 'bout my purple collection.
Ravens hater.
GIVE ME A WILD TIE, BROTHER!
Some men long
For the soothing touch
Of lavender, cream or mauve.
But the ties I wear
Must possess the glare
Of a red-hot kitchen stove.
The books I read
And the life I lead
Are sensible, sane and mild;
I just hate spats,
I wear clam hats,
But I want my neckties WILD!
Give me a wild tie, brother —
One with a cosmic urge;
A tie that will swear,
And rip and tear,
When it sees my old blue serge.
Some folks say
that a man’s cravat
Should only be seen, not heard;
But I want a tie
That will make men cry,
And render their vision blurred!
I yearn, I long,
For a tie so strong
It will make two men to tie it.
If such there be,
Show it to me —
Whatever the price, I’ll buy it!
Give me a wild tie, brother,
One with lots of sins;
A tie that will blaze
In a hectic haze,
Down where the vest begins.
Purple is the colour of Royalty, and favoured by those who would rule.
“The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule.” — H. L. Mencken
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