Wearing an ascot

[hopkins_student]

Not the horrible tie that you see on formal wear, but the scarf that you wear with an open collared shirt. Where do you find a scarf that can serve as an ascot, especially one that isn't too...froo froo, for lack of a better word? I would only ever wear one with a shirt and sweater, but I'd like to give it a try if you can point me in the right direction.

Thanks.

 

[Manton]

They are not hard to find, but ... they are inherently, irreducibly froo froo.  No matter what the color or pattern.  I side with the young guys on this one.  The ascot is dead.  Dead, dead, dead.  It is costume.  You will look like a damned fool pretending to be Thurston Howell.  Not recommended.  At all.

 

[Etruscan]

I think Manton is right about this (as indeed about most things). I know I attempted an ascot revival in my 20s and while it might have worked visually I was too young for the look then. Now, in my mid-40s, it would be age-appropriate but a fusty foppishness has crept in and spoiled the game. Here's a "rule" that should keep us all out of trouble--wear ascots only with spats.

 

[Manton]

Here's a "rule" that should keep us all out of trouble--wear ascots only with spats.

Actually, that would be against the rules. Spats are for formal and semi formal wear. Ascots are casual.

[Ducks to avoid thrown heavy object]

 

[hopkins_student]

Well, shortly after I posted this question I began thinking about it and realized that this is probably where it would be headed. Alright, good deal. Thanks.

 

[amirrorcrackd]

Ain't nothin' wrong with spats. Ascots are definitely "froo froo" (my new favorite term) though.

Dan

 

[faustian bargain]

we had a neat thread a while back that featured several pictures of famous ascot (or neckscarf) wearers. it was fun.

 

[Manton]

Yeah, but it was guys like Charles Nelson Riley. Oy.

 

[globetrotter]

I have thought about wearing a plain dark blue ascot with a blue shirt and a 3 piece suit for flying - people keep telling me that flying in a tie isn't healthy, and with 200 take offs a year it is something to think about. But it is hard for me to get past the feeling that it is way too foppish.

 

[faustian bargain]

maybe you could try a turtleneck dickie? that is, if you can find one.

 

[globetrotter]

I try to avoid any item of clothing called a dickie.....

 

[Alexander Kabbaz]

The ascot is dead. Dead, dead, dead.

King Manton has spoken. Time to close the doors and sail away into oblivion.
s/Alexander S. Kabbaz
Kabbaz-Kelly, Bespoke Froo-Froo Makers to the Well-to-Froo

 

[Manton]

Do you get a lot of orders for ascots?

 

[Will]

Flusser points out accurately that open shirts look unfinished.

Besides conventional neckties, choices are turtlenecks, mock turtlenecks, buttoned polo shirts, crew necked sweaters, and shirts with scarves or ascots. I wear all of them, including the ascot.

I don't know where the self conscious "it's too much of a look for me" comes from. Most people don't even know what it is - in Northern California, I'm much more likely to turn heads for wearing a suit on Saturday instead of denim and a tee shirt.

Properly arranged, you get half an inch of silk to obscure your chest hair or underwear.

Will

 

[Carlo]

I've heard guys say "well it looks so cool on Cary Grant so I thought I would give it a try". The problem - Cary Grant made whatever he had on look cool, the guy exuded cool. Halle Berry looked good in a pleather catwoman suit, would not recommend it for Roseanne Barr though.