How to wear a bowtie casually for a high school student

Nereis said:

I think the only school where you won't be out of place (snickered at behind your back) is Eton, seeing as it's part of the uniform.

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I live in New York and go to public school.

And I wouldn't really care about the people who snicker behind my back, because they probably already do so because I wear cardigans, blazers, and scarves.


So aside from the fact that I'm only a high schooler and I'd look really out of place, could I possibly pull off casual bowtie? I was thinking something along the lines of a dress shirt under a v-neck sweater, or a dress shirt with an open cardigan.

Like http://fashionbombdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/large_CHRIS-BROWN-BOWTIE-LARRY-KING.jpg

or http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&...4&tbnw=193&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0 (minus the suspenders and glasses).

tl;dr but please don't.

This kid must be asking to get the snot beaten out of him if he's going to be wearing bowties to a public school. Wait... do it please. Let your ladyfriend videotape people's reactions to you strolling down the hall for the first time too.

Take cues from Nicelynice and be successful rather than adopt clothing that doesn't fit your generation. Or go to artofmanliness.com and start living the imagined life of your great grandfather complete with Gold Bond powder and Brylcream.

BTW, you generally don't see bowties at Exeter, Andover, Saint Pauls, Brewster, Dartmouth, or Harvard. More like school hoodies, oxfords and athletic tees. You might see silk ties and a blazer when teams are traveling.

What really pisses off North Face wearing, Ugg-scuffing upper-middle class rich girls? When another walks by in khakis, a white polo and navy sweater with a little school name embroidered over the heart.

http://www.exeter.edu/

This is the look:
http://www.brewsteracademy.org/RelId/606622/ISvars/default/Dress_Code.htm

Good luck with your not getting laid goals of 2012.

I think the key to wearing a bow tie in high school is to make it the most formal part of the outfit. That is, couple it with sneakers (Adidas sambas or gazelles) and a crumpled baseball hat. Otherwise, it comes across as a bit much and, sorry to say, it invites bullying. I think you can pull off this look, just incorporate some conspicuously informal elements.

Welcome to the forum. I think you will find some helpful and kind people here.

Hey Ceoceo

Dot listen o any of this negative talk. Bow tied are a bit out there but the kind of guys ht wear them either get their asses handed to them...or change the wy style looks. It's great to be daring and I hope you make the right decision for you.

To be up front, I have never worn one and was never a trend setter at school. But admired guys brave enough to challenge a little later on in life. Now I can be darng and get some god reviews and some bad ones from friends and colleagues. So go nuts and never listen to those who would trash you rather than advise or construct.

Think a wool bow tie might be a good look on you.

http://tomandandrew.com/post/1528840196/bowties



http://gentlemansgent.blogspot.com/2012_02_01_archive.html

man, just wear the bowtie. you won't look good, but you'll feel good (maybe). and that's all you can hope for if you're wearing a bowtie



Soylent Green said:

I think the key to wearing a bow tie in high school is to make it the most formal part of the outfit.   That is, couple it with sneakers (Adidas sambas or gazelles) and a crumpled baseball hat.  Otherwise, it comes across as a bit much and, sorry to say, it invites bullying.  I think you can pull off this look, just incorporate some conspicuously informal elements.  

Welcome to the forum.  I think you will find some helpful and kind people here.  

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Whether a bow tie is too formal or not is not the issue here. Outside of eveningwear a bow tie is perhaps the dorkiest piece of menswear, I would rather wear a codpiece.

Also OP, I would advise on getting a new hair style before spending any money on new clothes. It'll set you back what? $15, $20?

Philip said:

Whether a bow tie is too formal or not is not the issue here. Outside of eveningwear a bow tie is perhaps the dorkiest piece of menswear, I would rather wear a codpiece.
Also OP, I would advise on getting a new hair style before spending any money on new clothes. It'll set you back what? $15, $20?

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What kind of hair style would you suggest? I've quite literally had this hair style my entire life, with only slight variations to length.

CodPiece said:

What really pisses off North Face wearing, Ugg-scuffing upper-middle class rich girls? When another walks by in khakis, a white polo and navy sweater with a little school name embroidered over the heart.

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That's one of the reasons I enjoy wearing nicer clothes than the other guys. The majority of my school is upper-middle class rich guys who wear hoodies, Ed Hardy, and jeans/sweatpants that sag half-way down their ass because they think it looks cool. I wear what I wear because I like to set myself apart from them. And I'm not really too afraid of being laughed at, or teased, or even bullied, because I have enough friends who'd support me.

HS student here: don't wear a bow tie. Keep it simple, contemporary and casual. Someone might have worn a tie to school back in the day, but not anymore; you'd look out of place. Blazers shouldn't be worn without a collared shirt, suitable pants, and, arguably, a tie. That whole outfit doesn't belong in school. A simple sweater, a shirt, jeans/cords/chinos and some casual shoes (DBs, simple sneakers, chukkas, boat shoes) will keep you looking good without seeming like an aesthete.

Also, don't worry about all the people making fun of you here.



JustTheDoctor said:

1) I go to a public school, where most people where most people wear sweatpants/jeans and a sweatshirt. 
2) She's actually just a really good friend, and I'd appreciate if you don't be mean to people you don't know.

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I'm sure she's psyched that you've got her picture on an internet forum, and "white devil" isnt my term, i'm just quoting your parents.

Wear whatever you feel like wearing. You most likely will get made fun or at the very least get some odd stares. If that doesn't bother you then go for it. If you want something casual looking go for a bow tie made from cotton in a casual pattern like a plaid. Keep your shirt understated something like a Blue or White OCBD.

When I graduated from boarding school in Massachusetts it was common for the jocks to wear bow ties. But they did so while wearing beaten up loafers, untucked shirts, baseball hats, and otherwise challenging the dress code. The bow tie look was especially popular among my lacrosse team friends. But here's the rub. This was a small boarding school in the northeast AND we were the biggest athletes in the school. Interesting for me to learn that this look is no longer common in prep schools, as it really was popular in the ISL in the 1980s.

Surprised at the mean spiritedness in this thread.



Soylent Green said:

When I graduated from boarding school in Massachusetts it was common for the jocks to wear bow ties. But they did so while wearing beaten up loafers, untucked shirts, baseball hats, and otherwise challenging the dress code.  The bow tie look was especially popular among my lacrosse team friends. But here's the rub. This was a small boarding school in the northeast AND we were the biggest athletes in the school.  Interesting for me learn that this look is no longer common in prep schools, as it really was popular in the ISL in the 1980s.   

Surprised at the mean spiritedness in this thread. 

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Ah, you joined this year. You must not have developed the acute distaste for special flower threads yet. Either that or you hang out in MC, where the snark is put out behind posturing of 'big timers' and 'small timers'. If you think this is mean stuff just wait until we send the next kid to stylezeitgist.