David Cameron should hold fast to his neckwear
Posted on 06/06/2008 4:05:07 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
News that the most iconic item of male dress, the necktie, is in danger of falling out of fashion in America is a grim intimation of the decline of yet another civilisation. The tie is a weathervane of the health of a society; if you doubt that – look at Iran. The tie is the emblem of western civilisation, said to be descended from the focalia worn by Roman orators to protect their vocal chords.
“A well-tied tie is the first serious step in life,” declared Oscar Wilde. He was right and the rules of neckwear are rigid. Vulgar innovators may have experimented with a variety of expanding and contracting versions, from kipper to boot-lace, but the classic width remains three and a quarter inches at base, the patterns restricted to small white polka dots on a blue or wine background, Paisley whorls, lozenge shapes, or self-coloured. Silk is the only approved fabric.
David Cameron should hold fast to his neckwear
Although the 32 varieties of knot prevailing in the 19th century have been reduced to three basics, only one is acceptable to the purist. Britain’s imperial decline can be traced to the invention of the Windsor Knot by the Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII. This modish outrage clearly signalled his unsuitability to reign: Mrs Simpson had nothing to do with the case – this knot signalled to all right-thinking chaps that the fellow had to go.
The Half-Windsor, an anaemic version of this aberration, is similarly to be abominated. The only unchallengeably respectable tie knot is the classic Four-in-Hand, which heightens the knot to elegant proportions and speaks of good taste. The sporadic abandonment of the tie by “Dave” Cameron and his populist cohorts is to be deplored. Did Dizzy wander around in an open-necked shirt? Churchill sported a bow-tie, but as it was teamed with a wing-collar, descendant of the Brummell starched cravat, it was perfectly acceptable. The tie is to be defended at all costs.
Nonsense and hooey.
The modern necktie is descended from the neckscarves worn by Croatian mercenaries during the 30 Years War, 1630s. Hence the original name, cravat.
The tie is the emblem of western civilisation,
Hate’em,
Hate’em,
Hate’em!!
The article sounds a little, well, foppish. But then, didn’t the author quote Oscar Wilde???
Hard to argue with that.
Actually Cravat is the anglicization of the German word Krawatte (cra-vah-teh).
Cravat probably got to English via German and French. I’m not sure why that invalidates the original derivation from Croat.
I’ve had to wear ties before. Professional appearance and all that nonsense.
Nasty things ties are, they give anyone who wants to do you harm a ready handle with which to throttle you.
The velcro breakaway tie is the exception, it’s the only kind I wear these days and very rarely at that.
Windsor Knot
yitbos
I wore ties on occasions and for some jobs through most of my life. Although not commanded against wearing ties (being a Gentile), I avoid them now while continuing to try to be neat for work in other ways (slacks, button-down shirts, at least mid-length sleeves, etc.).
Outlandish pattern, sometimes; techie ASCII pattern, sometimes; never plain.
My favorite is a hand-painted silk one. Abstract, vaguely floral pattern, goes well with a gaudy Hawaiian shirt (don't ask).
I never wear a business suit, so the tie is always a "topper" to a sport shirt, not hidden away behind a jacket.
I rarely wear one, but I'd hate to lose the opportunity or ability. It's a part of the repertoire.
The tie sucks.
I can’t really think of any circumstances were it could not be countered, or if it couldn’t, it wouldn’t matter, because the person in question is going to kill you any way because he is too good for you.
Frankly, I wish the open collar was back in fasion. And hats. I sorely wish hats were back in fashion, other than baseball caps, which you only really wear if you’re either a teenager, an oaf, or a pevert going into a sex shop and trying to look inconspicious....
One's favorite caliber on a bolo tie simply screams class. IMHO.
Or lacking in hair and need to protect your head from the sun while doing yard work, golfing, at the park with the kids, etc...
Bolo screams 12 pack of Bud and an Earnest movie.
I must say, dh looks very sharp in a tie, and has recently been given several to wear on days when he sees clients, along with a request NEVER to wear the rugby shirt my mother gave him to work, as he resembles a giant bumblebee in it.
I’m wondering if there is any point to buying a $300 tie, as opposed to a $20 tie (or one marked down to that.) Do they hang better? Do they advertise status, with men checking them out the women check out each other’s shoes?
Do they boast about their bargains? (”Hermes, and it was 60% off at Barneys!”)
Some men look absolutely strangled in ties, and they still have to wear them sometimes, poor things.
It's a surprisingly effective strategy.
Nah. The modern necktie was invented by early feminists, to get revenge on the guys who invented the corset.
I always thought it was a symbol of a man’s ......you know..but the practical aspect of it is you can own only one lousy suit and thirty five ties, right, and go for a whole month and a week with a different look each day. Just like I would wear a different pin or scarf......
Not. I wear my NRA cap proudly (and with the bill up front, not down the back of my neck).
I tend to agree with him about the Windsor knot, which I never took to. I felt an instinctive revulsion to them, even as a boy.
On occasion a half-Windsor can be useful if you are stuck at the last minute with a really skinny or badly made tie and no time to find a proper one. But it’s really Not Quite the Thing.
I like my ties, all of them and wear them with different suits while running for political office and events. I am surrounded by them. But at work and in my real life, I wear jeans and a t-shirt. I work in construction and have for 30+ years.
When I started my career, it was expected that I wear a tie to work everyday.
Today, I wear tropical shirts in the summer. Haven’t quite gotten to the short pants to accompany them, but it’s progress.
The cheaper tie usually has a silk-screened pattern where the more expensive tie is woven. The fabric is usually better, too.
Think of ties the way you shop for bras and you'll know what I mean. A $12 bra is poorly made, unlikely to fit correctly and usually uncomfortable. A $50 Olga is going to be well constructed, firm fitting and comfortable.
And there's a plus to putting up with a tie: anytime a woman asks me to wear a tie to dinner I tell her I will.....if she wears a garter belt. That usually turns out well.
I have a now 30 year old tie with the inverted spectrum Dark Side of the Moon logo. I wear it at every opportunity.
And is also unbalanced. Reagan wore a double Windsor.
The tie should be relegated to very formal wear, like job interviews and weddings. Like high heels. Not fit for general public use.
Ties do look nice and they are a must for any man who wants to look “professional”. The problem is that one has the persistent sensation of being lightly choked. No matter how nice the tie, I can’t escape the feeling I am wearing a dog collar while someone is tugging on a leash. I take ties off, or at least loosen them, every chance I get. Luckily, I am in a job where I don’t have to wear a tie on a regular basis.
Thats what straw hats are for IMHO, or flat caps like my grandad used to wear.
I appreciate they’re currently in fashion at the moment, but they suck horribly IMHO. I’d love to be able to wear a homberg or a bowler hat and not be pointed to and laughed at by small children, and their parents, and everyone else....
Neckties are one of the few symbols of business formality left in society. I don’t see them going away completely any time soon.
Sure they do look nice, but they're a pain in the... neck to wear.
I find that ties have an important psychological effect on the wearer. Nothing tells you that you’re there to work like a tie. Casual dress makes me feel like lounging around and watching the telly sipping on can of beer...
Hey, hey hey... let's not go overboard here.... :)
So a guy turning wrenches, swinging a hammer (nail gun) running heavy machinery, spending long hours hunched over a keyboard, needs a tie to remind him he's there to work?
Please.
A man wearing the right tie and shirt is incredibly sexy. I like sharp dressed men. :D
No, a pair of overalls would probably do the same for a practically-occupied person. If you work in an office, a tie subtly reminds the wearer that he is at work. That’s how it works for me anyway...
Only a fool walks around with a slip knot tied around his throat.
Anybody who intended to grab my necktie with malice in mind would be supine before his hands got within four inches of it. If I went to sleep wearing my necktie I could take the perp in a second or two after awakening. Think I would hit or kick below the waist or slam a couple fingers right in the gut and upward toward the spleen? That and more. After the perp is prone and unconscious, my necktie will be handy to tie him up, then I will drop his trou and use his belt to tie his feet securely, while exposing his posterior and exterior for kicking if he needs a little operant conditioning while we’re waiting for Godot, (or somebody).
Or keeping the sun out of your eyes.
What is the “inverted spectrum Dark Side of the Moon logo”?
Sorry — from the headline I thought they were talking about 0-0 soccer results or some other anti-overtime article...
Was pretty much the same for all the other engineers, techies, and support staff. Sometimes at lunch, a group of us would head off the the gun club for a round of clays. Ties don't work there. :)
The mode of dress shouldn't remind you you're at work; the work should take care of that.
Ever read Dilbert? Remember the Unix guy? Beard, suspenders, superiority attitude?
I was interviewed by him. Seriously, we thought The UNIX guy was drawn from this guy. Fit him to a T. There I am in a nice wool suit and tie, and he's well, the UNIX guy. LOL
That was the last time I wore a suit and tie for work at that job.
I don’t know where you buy your Olga’s ;) but I don’t pay anywhere near $50 for them.
Same with ties, I just bought some nice ties with real substance and the pattern woven for $20 or less. Some day I’ll go handle the Hermes just to see if there really is a difference.
Wait for the sales or go to Filene’s Basement - just don’t tell your lady friends.
It's been all downhill since men stopped wearing powdered wigs and those really cool socks
Frankly, bow ties are much more attractive. I always get a compliment when I have a flashy bow tie. Wear a bow tie in the major urban environment and the bothers can’t figure out if you are one of them or not... so you get a free pass on the sidewalk... ciao!
Pink Floyd’s recording “Dark Side of the Moon” has a picture of an inverted prism with light entering one side and spectrum colors out the other. To this day, it remains one of the best rock ‘n roll recordings of all time. Wanna have fun? Buy the Dark Side of the Moon CD and the DVD (Blu-Ray) of the Wizard of Oz, set them up in their respective players, and start the Wizard of Oz. When the MGM lion does his third roar, start Pink Floyd, and enjoy what happens during every song and scene change throughout.
Bunch of Crap (BOC)
I only wear neckties to funerals of close relatives. I hate neckties. They only serve to hold in my body heat and make me uncomfortable.
He said foppishly as he pranced about preening.
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