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Stereotyping the Bowtie:

MrDaniels

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http://netscape.compuserve.com/homer.../bowtie/bowtie

One Thing Men Should Never Wear

<http://access.nscpcdn.com/cp/fte/bowtie/i/bowtie135.jpg> If you want to send the world a subtle message that you're old, fidgety and dull, then wear a bowtie.

A study of 904 adults conducted by HCD Research has shown that men who wear bowties, compared with men who wear neckties or no tie at all, are perceived to be older, Republican and even a little weird. People also stereotyped them as either working as a store clerk or being smart and brainy.

Participants in this study were randomly shown one of three photos. Each portrayed a faceless male figure; one had a bowtie, one had a necktie and one had no tie. Based only on the photograph, they were then asked to answer a series of demographic and personal questions about that man.

While most people had a negative image about the man wearing the bowtie, a few perceived him to be strong, smooth and a leader. Still, very few of them wanted to hang out with the man in the bowtie or would want him to live in their neighborhood. They also didn't want him to be a friend or family member. Nearly 40 percent of the respondents said they viewed the man in the bowtie as "a little weird," compared with only 6 percent who said the same about the man in the necktie or the man wearing no tie at all. Women were a little more charitable to the bowtie wearer but not much more than the male responders.

Meanwhile, men who wear neckties were viewed as smart, rich, sexy, fashionable and a leader. Those who wore no tie were thought to be bachelors and men who liked to have fun--or men who were just trying to look and act younger.

Important men who have worn bowties:

* Arthur Schlesinger, historian and friend of presidents.
* President Truman, a quiet and powerful figure.
* Rev. Louis Farrakhan, a powerful and controversial person.

Fictional characters who have worn bowties:

* Pee-wee Herman
* Barney Fife
* Eddie Murphy in his role as the obese nutty professor.

It appears from this study that the stereotypes of strange, ineffectual men as portrayed by fictional characters carry more weight than those of the powerful real people. Or do the fictional people just build on what Americans already think about bowtie wearers?

--From the Editors at Netscape
 

voxsartoria

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"Editors at Netscape?" Is that sort of like "Salesmen at AMC Gremlin showroom?"


- B
 

bluemagic

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Carole Jackson says that bowties are only for Gamins.
 
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I suggest keeping it safe and sticking to the bolo tie.

Important men who've worn the bolo:
Gerry Spence
Colonel Harland Sanders
Boone Pickens
Robert Evans
Isaac Asimov
Bill Ricardson
 

fcuknu

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A bowtie has to be worn with some sort of humor to make it appealing.
 

Irond Will

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Yeah, I think the general take on the bow-tie is that it's anachronistic, maybe affected and relegated to the ranks of the extremely old, the extremely Republican, or those completely buried in academia. The only current figure I can think of who sports one is Tucker Carlson, and in spite of him being a good-looking and well put-together guy, it's almost a running joke.

Still, better than the bolo tie.
 

Moss

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If they are worn by an academic or otherwise scholarly type, then it may fit. I know a couple who wear them and it seems to let them get away with it.

Wearing them soft and with a vest does tone it down quite a bit. Either way, you run the risk of being seen as an eccentric who wants to be seen as eccentric.
 

Film Noir Buff

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It's good for men who work with antiquities too. Such as rare books or art. Someone like James Lipton could wear one. Lawyers seem to be able to wear them, especially litigators.

I think they work well with sports jackets, although I like the dark, spotted one Edmund OBrien wears in the Killers with a cream colored shirt and a navy double breasted suit.
 

JLibourel

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I think the bowtie is at its best with a three piece suit or a sweater. I went through a bowtie "phase" some years but I found they just didn't seem too compatible with the suits and jackets I favored--left too much shirt placket exposed.

I wonder what a similar survey about men who wear ascots would turn up?
 

SkinnyGoomba

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PG wears them and looks awesome.

i think it comes down to proportions, you have to wear one that fits you proportionally or it will look comedic.
 

AvariceBespoke

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young jim rogers:

JamesRogers.jpg


tom keene also always wears a bow tie
t_keene.jpg
 

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