Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Born in a suit?

undertaker

Practically Family
Edward said:
Many years ago, I first learned to tie my own bow tie in preparation for a then-girlfriend's graduation ball. She knew I was doing it and spent many hours the week before rolling her eyes and bitterly criticising me for it to her housemates and friends (as I later discovered). A year later after we split she still saw this as somehow a valid grounds of bitter criticism. Never could figure it out myself. Glad she's gone!


My wife does not like for me wear a bowtie or tweeds when I ride my scooter to work (i conseal my tie in my pocket) and she preferred that I not wear one when I drove my Bright Yellow VW Beetle. Something about it making me look like a Coll. Professor, so now I wear the bowtie and tweeds and drive my 1954 Cadillac, she's still trying to cope with that.;)

Regards,
J.S.
 

Undertow

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,126
Location
Des Moines, IA, US
I think a substantial bow tie (within reason of course:rolleyes: ) would suit most peoples' sensibilities, as opposed to those peckish little polkadot ones, or Pee Wee Herman ones.

Then again, I think most people look at bow ties like they see ascots. "What, you're not wearing a tie? Gawd!"
 

Torpedo

One Too Many
Messages
1,332
Location
Barcelona (Spain)
Nick D said:
Me as well!

Count me in too! :D

I admit bowties are stereotypical of scientists (mad and sane ;) ), doctors, and professor/academic types; and also of nerds :p , although clip-on or pre-tied bowties are prevalent with these.

At work, I rotate ties and bowties. I am a specialist officer, in a Crime Scene unit - the branch I belong to is called Scientific Police in Spain, so I reckon I am contributing to the cliché somewhat... specially, when I was assigned for some months to the Crime Lab, I wore bowties every day - they were more practical, so there is some reason behind the stereotype here. In fact, bowties are more practical overall, but I continue wearing ties because I happen to like them, too. [huh]

When I arrive in a crime scene, I am often believed to be the ME - more in favour of the stereotype, although in fact not a single real ME I know wears a bowtie (not for field work at least, althought there is one who wears bowties at Court - pre-tied I must say :D)
 

Mid-fogey

Practically Family
Messages
720
Location
The Virginia Peninsula
Ha!

Torpedo said:
Count me in too! :D

...At work, I rotate ties and bowties. I am a specialist officer, in a Crime Scene unit - the branch I belong to is called Scientific Police in Spain, so I reckon I am contributing to the cliché somewhat... )

...you said "reckon". You must be from southern Spain.

I wear bow ties every Friday. Tomorrow I'll do a"full up", which is a suit, bow tie, pocket watch, and pocket square.
 

Chasseur

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,494
Location
Hawaii
Me as well!

Academic bowtie men unite! ;)

I don't wear mine that often, but they are pretty practical for any job where a traditional tie "draps" in to what you are doing at the moment.
 

Lone_Ranger

Practically Family
Messages
500
Location
Central, PA
Torpedo said:
Count me in too! :D

I admit bowties are stereotypical of scientists (mad and sane ;) ), doctors, and professor/academic types; and also of nerds :p , although clip-on or pre-tied bowties are prevalent with these.

...

When I arrive in a crime scene, I am often believed to be the ME - more in favour of the stereotype, although in fact not a single real ME I know wears a bowtie (not for field work at least, althought there is one who wears bowties at Court - pre-tied I must say :D)


Maybe the ME should wear a bowtie! As you said, they are practical. You don't want to bend over something at the crime scene, and have your regular tie drag in the evidence. :eek:
 

undertaker

Practically Family
Lone_Ranger said:
Maybe the ME should wear a bowtie! As you said, they are practical. You don't want to bend over something at the crime scene, and have your regular tie drag in the evidence. :eek:


I absolutely agree. The practical reasoning behind my wearing them is that they are less apt to get in my "work". When I wore long ties before i would tuck them in my shirt the bow tie has saved me a few seconds:rolleyes: .

Regards,
J.S.
 

Torpedo

One Too Many
Messages
1,332
Location
Barcelona (Spain)
undertaker said:
I absolutely agree. The practical reasoning behind my wearing them is that they are less apt to get in my "work". When I wore long ties before i would tuck them in my shirt the bow tie has saved me a few seconds:rolleyes: .

Regards,
J.S.


Indeed. The ties not only get in the way, they could also "dip" in various nasty substances, or drag on undesirable places. If I am not wearing a vest, I make sure I have my jacket tied; if removing the jacket is advisable, depending on the particular circumstances, I either use a tie clip, tuck the tie into my shirt, or remove it altogether.

I promptly recompose my outfit as soon as it is safe. :D

I never have to do any of this if I am wearing a bowtie.
 

Tomasso

Incurably Addicted
Messages
13,719
Location
USA
I bought a few bow ties at Charvet several years ago but have yet to wear them. :eek:

They sure do make a beautiful tie.

DSCN1698.jpg
 

bil_maxx

One of the Regulars
Messages
161
Location
Ontario, Canada
I think that the best way to look good in a suit is to look comfortable in it as has been mentioned before. If you are at a funeral or other function where men are in suits, the men that seem comfortable also seem correct in a suit. These men are typically the ones that also have shined shoes, classy looking ties (I didn't say "power tie") and well fitting shirts and socks.

Attention to all of these details and making sure the suit itself fits properly with the correct sleeve and pant lengths, makes a huge difference. Plus, when you are comfortable wearing a suit you don't fidget, pull your pants up, run your finger in your shirt collar, pull up your socks or straighten your tie constantly. You just know you look correct and don't have the urge to self-correct the small things.

Also, you are not constantly careful about the suit. When you bring out the "good suit" for a function, you tend to be on edge about it. Worries about spilling drinks, splashing soup, kids getting something sticky on you, etc. I'm not saying that you don't have to be careful about these things as they can certainly ruin a suit, but if you are continually worried about them, you will be miserable, uncomfortable and stiff in the suit. If you wear one every day, or grew up with a uniform, you look like you belong in a suit because it becomes a part of you.
 

Tomasso

Incurably Addicted
Messages
13,719
Location
USA
bil_maxx said:
I think that the best way to look good in a suit is to look comfortable in it as has been mentioned before. If you are at a funeral or other function where men are in suits, the men that seem comfortable also seem correct in a suit. These men are typically the ones that also have shined shoes, classy looking ties (I didn't say "power tie") and well fitting shirts and socks.

Attention to all of these details and making sure the suit itself fits properly with the correct sleeve and pant lengths, makes a huge difference. Plus, when you are comfortable wearing a suit you don't fidget, pull your pants up, run your finger in your shirt collar, pull up your socks or straighten your tie constantly. You just know you look correct and don't have the urge to self-correct the small things.

Also, you are not constantly careful about the suit. When you bring out the "good suit" for a function, you tend to be on edge about it. Worries about spilling drinks, splashing soup, kids getting something sticky on you, etc. I'm not saying that you don't have to be careful about these things as they can certainly ruin a suit, but if you are continually worried about them, you will be miserable, uncomfortable and stiff in the suit. If you wear one every day, or grew up with a uniform, you look like you belong in a suit because it becomes a part of you.
Or put more succinctly:


"A man should look as if he has bought his clothes with intelligence, put them on with care and then forgotten all about them"-Hardy Aimes
 

Richard Warren

Practically Family
Messages
682
Location
Bay City
I would say a man should dress as if he just woke up and his clothes were in his closet by accident; put them on as a matter of routine; and then is surprised at how good he looks when he by accident happens to see himself in a mirror.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
108,958
Messages
3,071,597
Members
54,012
Latest member
Nikolaus23
Top