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Are Neckties Going To Go The Way Of Bowties?

JohnMRobie

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I’m afraid it’s now dorkwear unless worn with a tux. Looks contrived and well past it’s wear out date.
A bow tie can certainly send a message - It’s just probably not the message the guys wearing a bow tie think they’re sending or want to. Outside black tie, maybe something on seersucker day or at the horse track it’s not a great look if you’re under say 70.

That said I’ve noticed ties continue to be the rule rather than the exception mainly in legal fields when they’ve got court, in government (and GR adjacent fields) and with middle management. On the day to day the c-suite Ive interacted with ditched their ties a long time ago outside of round tables, conferences and investor meetings. Even for media hits they’re on (and had been pre-pandemic) the decline.

Anecdotal but I’m back to taking in-person meetings and of the 8 or so sit downs among a pretty diverse set of audiences (some GR people, a trade association, HC industry, and a couple VCs) I had in the last week or so, I opted to forgo the tie in all but one and was the only person in a jacket at any of them. Even at a board meeting for a foundation I was the only person in a jacket. Aloha shirts and those Robert graham patterned shirts with 5 pocket chinos showed up repeatedly though.
 

pasadena man

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Fellas please. This conversation begins and ends with one person and that person is Henry Cavill. He's kind of a modern day Steve McQueen, that is, usually leans casual but can still wear CM better than we can (it probably helps to be 6'2" and jacked, but still). Yes, technically he's frequently styled by Grace Gilfeather and others, but even when he's caught shopping for himself, it's a very consistent collection of blue jackets, gray flannel trousers and three piece or DB worsteds from Huntsman and the like. Here, look:

No tie, it's fine. Doesn't try too hard to overaccentuate the v-shaped torso, pants even Alan Bee can appreciate. Rise could be 2" higher I guess. Close enough.
Henry-Cavill-Jimmy-kimmel.jpg


Or with tie, since that's the topic here. Nicely picks up some of the secondary color from the plaid pattern.
Co9yvKFVMAA5UdS

^Can anyone ID the shoes? Cleverley? G&G?

I mean, come on.
Henry-Cavill-2017-The-Rake-Cover-Photo-Shoot-006.jpg


Of course this was just an excuse to post this pic: you may be cool, but you'll never be one-of-the-Cifonelli-guys-came-to-your-BJJ-gym-for-a-fitting cool.
da8e3f696f1735e926f64fb7679dd029.png


Okay that's enough mancrushing for a Friday.
Interesting comparison of Cavill to McQueen. I can see how you might see him that way. I like Cavill, I like the way he looks. I like the way he looks in clothes. He is so muscular that his build distorts the CM ideal of classic proportions to my eye though. My first thought in looking at him in a suit is not, that is a well dressed man, but rather "Wow, that is a very muscular dude under those clothes"

I read somewhere that CM looks most elegant in about a 41 R suit, on someone about 6'1" and 170 or so (More knowledgable members may have a different, more knowledgable, take here). I'm guessing Cavill has about 220 lbs packed on his 6'2" frame, and may wear a 46 R.

He does, of course, look fabulous in a Superman suit, but some would argue that that is not CM, but should fall under SWD.
 
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josepidal

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Can we agree that if you can pull off Nantucket reds you can probably pull off a bow tie? If you have the Hamptons vacation house to go with it, then have at it.
 

stuffedsuperdud

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Interesting comparison of Cavill to McQueen. I can see how you might see him that way. I like Cavill, I like the way he looks. I like the way he looks in clothes. He is so muscular that his build distorts the CM ideal of classic proportions to my eye though. My first thought in looking at him in a suit is not, that is a well dressed man, but rather "Wow, that is a very muscular dude under those clothes"

I read somewhere that CM looks most elegant in about a 41 R suit, on someone about 6'1" and 170 or so (More knowledgable members may have a different, more knowledgable, take here). I'm guessing Cavill has about 220 lbs packed on his 6'2" frame, and may wear a 46 R.

He does, of course, look fabulous in a Superman suit, but some would argue that that is not CM, but should fall under SWD.

From my casual data collection, male models seem to fit a very specific configuration: a lot (most? all?) of them are 6'1", no less but also, to my surprise, also no more, and are photographed in a 38R - 41R jacket and 31x32 pants, so he's been pretty distant from that template since 2013. Still, I appreciate the consistency with which he styles the CM; most of it could easily fit into the double breasted or ongoing bespoke threads, as opposed to some of the gaudy nonsense that the entertainment industry churns out.

Here, to get back on topic, something that I think works better tieless. Hold the Forrest Gump jokes.
HENRY%2BCAVILL%2B3.png


Interestingly, re: classical proportions, I think he displays this better when casual (or when wearing the costume), i.e. he naturally has the build that we try to create the illusion of via tailored garments. I wonder if this throws off the tailors at the boys' club Savile Row places he frequents, who are perhaps experienced in phoning it in with slim 5'11" 170lb footballers and hiding defects on dumpy septuagenarian British lords, but relatively inexperienced in dialing back when an inverted triangle like him walks in?

Also, full disclosure, having spent way too much time just now scouring the internet for pictures, I've def come across several duds, mostly where he tries to make a Tom Ford suit work for his build. That's not happening, buddy. Also a few unappealing shots of him in three-piece suits with no tie, which is about as Clooneyesque as he'll get. So I might take back my unrestricted, unqualified nomination for him as Hollywood's best dressed bloke, but maintain that when he's on, he's on.

Can we agree that if you can pull off Nantucket reds you can probably pull off a bow tie? If you have the Hamptons vacation house to go with it, then have at it.

To quote the great philosopher, visionary, philanthropist and SWD stud Mr. Robert "Bobby" Axelrod, "What's the point of having **** you money if you never say **** you?"
 
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benjamin831

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How does one even dress down a tie? Tailored garments have still a little milage left as they can be dressed down in many many ways.
 

josepidal

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Depends on the color and pattern. A knit tie or something like a slimmer repp tie might pair with chinos and a more casual jacket.
 

smittycl

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Following up on my reply to Ben above, here's the concept - the Sola tie or "untie" - I developed a few years back which I think threads the proverbial needle between the sometimes stuffy, confining formality of the standard tie and the natural desire to dress up your look. View attachment 1644067
No thank you.
 

Dave Christian

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Following up on my reply to Ben above, here's the concept - the Sola tie or "untie" - I developed a few years back which I think threads the proverbial needle between the sometimes stuffy, confining formality of the standard tie and the natural desire to dress up your look. View attachment 1644067
What is that sport coat? It fits you well.
 

mak1277

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Depends on the color and pattern. A knit tie or something like a slimmer repp tie might pair with chinos and a more casual jacket.

conceptually you’re right, but I would wager that the majority of “normal” people just see a tie. They don’t really even comprehend that there are ties that are more or less formal.
 

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