Turning Corners

[binge]

I've had palpable disgust for the "security guard" uniform: blue blazer, grey pants, red tie, black shoes. Since I only saw it done horrible by security guards everywhere I couldn't see it as an acceptable combination. That is, until I started seeing SF members wear that combination with style and aplomb. Now I'm coming around.

Related, I never cared for the traditional blue blazer either. Again, I rarely saw them being worn tastefully in real life I developed an aversion to them. Thanks to DocHolliday's "world's best blue blazer" I'm fast reconsidering...

 

[itsstillmatt]

I gave up ridiculous big tie knots in favor of a nice, small four in hand. It was an easy switch, once I saw how tacky the former looked.

 

[Brian278]

I could never see myself wearing chisel toe shoes, a just thought they looked extreme without some rounding to them. One pair of AE Sohos later and I am looking at chisel toe lasts in everything.

 

[Manton]

Originally Posted by iammatt

I gave up ridiculous big tie knots in favor of a nice, small four in hand. It was an easy switch, once I saw how tacky the former looked.

You have a pretty broad definition of "ridiculous big knot." I.e., anything bigger than a Pachinko ball.

 

[Concordia]

Originally Posted by Manton

Me coming to love the Budapester would be more like jumping the center divide and doing a U-turn in oncoming traffic.

I would normally be with you there, but the plain-toed variety from Koronya (second up from the bottom) has got me thinking. Medium brown, light grain, wide-wale cords...

http://www.koronya.com/page1.php

 

[itsstillmatt]

Originally Posted by Manton

You have a pretty broad definition of "ridiculous big knot." I.e., anything bigger than a Pachinko ball.
My brother used to have a Pachinko game. I loved that thing. FWIW, I would not consider your knots ridiculously large, they are in proportion with the tie. I am talking more about half windsors or full windsors, or really any knot that is used to make the tie knot larger than it would be with a regular four in hand. Sometimes an extra wrap is ok, sometimes knot

.

 

[TheFoo]

Originally Posted by Manton

You have a pretty broad definition of "ridiculous big knot." I.e., anything bigger than a Pachinko ball.

I used to wear big knots--actually, thats probably a more significant 'corner' for me than the colors issue. Once you switch, everything seems big.

 

[Manton]

I do hate the full and half Windsor, and always have. It's not so much the size, but the shape. Even with a thin tie that could tie a smallish half windsor, I just hate the symetricallity of it.

A few of my cashmere ties are so fluffy that they tie big knots with a FIH. I pull them tight, but still. I don't mind it so much, but they are a little bigger than I like. I like the patterns, so I keep them.

Then I have a few that tie knots so small they would look ridiculous on me. Those get the Prince Albert treatment. The vast, vast majority of my ties tie a decent FIH. The knot sizes are not uniform, but within respectable parameters.

 

[Tangfastic]

Apart from the wool ties, I think you've taken a wrong turning, I agree with your original instincts.

I think I'm set in my ways though suppose in time anything can happen.

I was recently shocked to see my father in slip on shoes, and he says he now prefers them to lace ups. I'm sure its from him my original dislike of slip on shoes comes from, so who knoes....

 

[TKDKid]

I've gone from not liking any brogueing on my shoes to wanting more and more brogueing.

Currently looking for a nice pair of semi-brogues...

 

[FIHTies]

Awww Manton. I was kinda hoping that I would see a turning the corner post WRT red ties...

 

[DocHolliday]

Originally Posted by el Guapo WOngO!

& women like complications, such as colour & texture..

Originally Posted by Manton

My wife despises my knit ties.

My girlfriend hates mine too. She doesn't like anything too busy, or with too small a pattern. She says it gives her a headache.

Originally Posted by Manton

That seems pointless to me. A knit tie is what it is and has a certain integrity. Giving it a pointy end is just a cheap cheat, and makes it look bad. It's not a regular folded tie and should not preten to be.

I like all knits in all their variety, and have my first pointy one coming now. Almost never wear the ones with narrow horizontal stripes, though. Have a bunch of them, too -- came to the realization only after it was too late.

Binge, glad to hear I'm bringing you around to the wonders of the versatile blazer. I'm a convert myself. There are just so many terrible ones out there. That's why finding the right one was such an epiphany for me.

Turning points ... I used to dislike buttondown shirts, now wear them frequently. Wearing one today, actually. And I used to wear strictly lace ups, but now live in chelseas and, to a lesser degree, monks. Still don't dig most loafers, though.

In general, I've become much less uptight about clothing, and hopefully my stuff reflects this.

 

[Manton]

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

Almost never wear the ones with narrow horizontal stripes, though. Have a bunch of them, too -- came to the realization only after it was too late.

Yeah, solids only for me so far. Or ties that are "functionally solid."

There are two colors in that tie, but they blend together so well that the tie works as a solid for all practical purposes. The latest two I got were like that, but not that color. I would get this one in heartbeat if I knew where to get it.

I doubt I will ever come around in the horizontal stripe. I've learned to never say never, but ...

I saw some knits with woven dots at Rubinacci, and they looked nice, but I need my fill of solids before I branch out. I really need a navy, and will get one in the city next week.

 

[DocHolliday]

Originally Posted by Manton

There are two colors in that tie, but they blend together so well that the tie works as a solid for all practical purposes. The latest two I got were like that, but not that color. I would get this one in heartbeat if I knew where to get it.

I doubt I will ever come around in the horizontal stripe. I've learned to never say never, but ...

I saw some knits with woven dots at Rubinacci, and they looked nice, but I need my fill of solids before I branch out. I really need a navy, and will get one in the city next week.

Smart to get the navy, I think. It's one of my most worn ties, up there with solid grenadines. I still dig the knits with fat horizontal stripes -- very '60s -- even if I don't wear them much. But my latest craze is the dotted version. They're so rare I always find them striking. I really like this one with a pointed end from Kilgour:

http://www.kilgour.eu/product_info.p...id/71/cPath/23

 

[Manton]

75 quid! Knits at Rubinacci are 40.