Good Natured Advice Thread (improving a business wardrobe)

[mothon]

Is this a versatile square that can be worn year round?

 

[TM79]

looks more like fall/winter colors to me.

 

[in stitches]

i just got that PS, and id wear it all year round. its a wool silk combo and i think considering that only a small part of any PS is visible when worn, that its a-ok. obviously i am biased.

as far as colors, the navy/green/red version is probably more versatile.

 

[jrd617]



looks more like fall/winter colors to me.

This. I don't know much about PS's but that looks like a cold weather sqaur to me

 

[archibaldleach]

FWIW, I am a 39S or 40S and typically wear ties that are 3.5 to 3.75 inches wide. IMO anything between 3 inches and 3.75 inches is fine and whether you like ties to be a bit narrower or a bit wider is largely a matter of personal preference. I've come to prefer ties that are 3.5 inches wide but still happily wear my 3.75 inch ties.

Provided there is not some horrid mismatch between something like lapel width and tie width, I don't see why it is a big deal. I generally have my jacket buttoned when standing so people aren't going to see how wide my tie is vs. my lapels and when sitting it is often behind a desk, table, etc. where nobody is going to notice. And if one takes off one's jacket in the office anyways, then this will basically never be relevant.

Playing Devil's advocate: Hasn't the intended lesson been to buy things that best suit him, rather than settle for the less-than-ideal? SF-approved items that don't suit are no better than NM items that don't suit, IMO.

This is a good point, though there is the risk of letting the perfect be the enemy of the very good. Settling for "good enough" or "decent" isn't a good idea, but at a certain point obsessing over perfection (which Rudals seems to do at times) is destructive. I don't think you're advocating an obsession with perfection, but as long as Rudals can look at something and say "I really like this" about something that objectively looks good, I think that is sufficient. I just can't see not wearing a tie in a classically acceptable width because it is .25 inches wider than one might prefer. Of course, we all have certain details we obsess over.

 

[Monkeyface]

Is this a versatile square that can be worn year round?

I've got the same wool/silk hanky in a slightly different colourway, it's definitely a fall/winter square. It's incredibly versatile though:

 

[TweedyProf]

Let's settle this new tie issue once and for all.
Please observe below for the jacket that has the widest lapels in my closet. I actually love it! I am perfectly fine with its width. And I also happen to have one more that has the same width. We're done with this. Let's move on...or I can move on now.

This, enjoy.

You can opt for a slightly narrower width next time, if you wish. I think 3.25-3.5 might not be that noticeable (it will vary in appearance with pattern, color etc). I personally think 3 inches on the too narrow side (unless it's a substantial knit). 3.375 is my dividing the difference of the range I just noted.

Doc: are you talking about a 3inch tie that isn't a knit? Honestly, I've always felt that a bit narrow for me (I'm a 39R, 6 feet, 170 lbs). But I haven't been wearing ties consistently for long enough to perhaps have the right eye.

 

[DocHolliday]

Yea, my knits are narrower than that. Three inches is on the narrower side, but it's my preference. All I'm suggesting for Rudals is that he figure out what his own preference is.

 

[in stitches]

the navajo PS is teh ish.

 

[Monkeyface]

the navajo PS is teh ish.

Yep, so sad I didn't cop more of them when they were on sale

 

[sugarbutch]

DocH, no acknowledgement of Patrick Macnee's birthday today?

 

[sugarbutch]

That tie is not too wide. Period. I'll brook no disagreement on this point, dammit.

 

[in stitches]



All I'm suggesting for Rudals is that he figure out what his own preference is.

I think that would be the best possible outcome of this thread for Rudalsy.

 

[Monkeyface]

I've been reading the thread a bit, and it's mostly about staples and conservative business dress ties. I, on the other hand, own only one garish tie, and I'm drawn to this drakes cashmere to expand my rakish tie collection:


Yes or no?

 

[TweedyProf]

the navajo PS is teh ish.

It's a versatile square. I like squares with a complex pattern that can be folded in different ways as MF demonstrates. Versatile, but for fall/winter. There are lighter versions. Where is the Navajo still available?