You rarely see them over here unless it's somebody trying to make a rather self-conscious point these days.
Famously Gynaecologists wear them along with a few senior medical consultants & even fewer legal chaps (very, very few).
In England the bow tie is mainly associated with old style comedians or showbiz types now. It's an un-serious tie and not an 'establishment' look at all. Pretty much it is 'costume' these days.
A difference between English Trad & American Trad?
How mainstream is the bow as an American Trad tie beyond AAAT would you say?
(Let's take for granted that Trad exists and also exists beyond the clothing MBs for this one.)
All the AmTrad shops sell them - How much are they worn & by whom?

Interested.

Edit: And as far as "The Ivy League Look" goes in Europe they just don't feature at all.

Last edited by jack_sparrow (2007-09-06 09:49:19)

Bow ties aren't exactly mainstream nor yet are they entirely relegated to costume.  One is more likely to see them in cities.  When I lived in DC, I probably saw about one per day if I was in office-land.

Personally, I have quite a number of them.  Haven't been wearing them so much lately.  Sooner or later, I'll go through another prolonged spell of wearing them.

Last edited by AQG (2007-09-06 09:49:11)

Interesting. A young guy turning up in a bow tie over here would have just removed any chances he might have had of being promoted or taken seriously in any industry. Middle aged men would wear them more (if anyone) and a few older guys.

Not making any point here, but it is the AAAT tie isn't it? You see more there than most other places.
I've wondered if that was because it is a kinda 'old man' touch... Or would you say that it was more to do with tapping into other references - doctors/lawyers/academics?

I think some guys like them because women notice them in a good way.  Like pink shirts.  Guys make fun of other guys in pink shirts, or bow ties, but women like them.  Well I like them too.

Absolutely, T3B, old brother, old pal - Just the bow in general.

Also - you're right, I am basing my observations on the photos on AAAT.

Funny, whenever I generalise about AAAT (which I have been known to do) it's always Patrick & Brownshoe's names that come up to prove I'm doing the forum a disservice. Can we agree that apart from Patrick & Brownshoe (who stand out over there when compared to the Squire & the Preacher anyway) when I talk about AAAT Trad as we know it I do actually make sense?

Go on - I dare you to agree with me!

j.

Last edited by jack_sparrow (2007-09-06 10:37:39)

jack_sparrow wrote:

I'd say Patrick & Brownshoe were most untypical "Trads", is what I'm saying.

I've been to AAAT a couple times but don't understand a lot of what is going on over there.  I'll have to look for posts by Patrick and Brownshoe.  I know who Squire is, but who is Preacher.  Who else is good to read and who to avoid?

Looks like I have lots of reading to do.  Jack, I take it you never wear a bow tie then?

jack_sparrow wrote:

Absolutely, T3B, old brother, old pal - Just the bow in general.

Also - you're right, I am basing my observations on the photos on AAAT.

Funny, whenever I generalise about AAAT (which I have been known to do) it's always Patrick & Brownshoe's names that come up to prove I'm doing the forum a disservice. Can we agree that apart from Patrick & Brownshoe (who stand out over there when compared to the Squire & the Preacher anyway) when I talk about AAAT Trad as we know it I do actually make sense?

Go on - I dare you to agree with me!

j.

Well, on the bowtie issue alone, I think you're wrong.  I point out Brownie and Patrick as easy examples.  Indeed, Squire and probably MacArthur wear the most bows (of the photog set), but take a cruise through what are you wearing, and I think you'll find more fours-in-hand than bows. 

But your general point:  I don't disagree that Brownshoe and Patrick are the glimmers of hope, not relegated to the rules, wear what looks good, and look good in what they wear.  They are Ivy.  But they're not alone.

TB

I do like them, but wear them pretty infrequently these days.  I have to be in a certain mood.

I like to wear them sort of the way the Ralph Lauren models do on the Polo website--often with something like jeans and a sweater vest, or with a tartan shirt and slim cords--in a very preppy/Bohemian/student-y way, I guess.  That takes the "old man" out of it, in my opinion.

I just picked up a nifty second-hand Brooks Brothers double-breasted navy blazer--I'm thinking I might wear it tomorrow with jeans, oxford shirt, dirty bucs (or suede chukkas?), and a bow tie.  I work in a museum full of weirdos, so I don't fear for my professional prospects.

Septa seems a fine fellow too...
And EastVillageTrad (the poster formerly known as Squadron A) has equally been recommended to me by one who knows.
Then there's Doctor Damage...

Rojo dresses good but talks a shade to the right maybe. Each to their own. Concentrate on the clothes.

Everybody - Please feel free to add to the list.

Let us praise famous men.

... Harris dresses well too... Plus he is a master storyteller...

j.

jack_sparrow wrote:

mike wrote:

jack_sparrow wrote:

I'd say Patrick & Brownshoe were most untypical "Trads", is what I'm saying.

I've been to AAAT a couple times but don't understand a lot of what is going on over there.  I'll have to look for posts by Patrick and Brownshoe.  I know who Squire is, but who is Preacher.  Who else is good to read and who to avoid?

Answer #2:

What are you interested in?
Maybe from that you'd be easier to steer to more of what you already like.
But you do need to experience everything to see if some random reference sparks a new avenue for you to explore.

I want to dress like old money, it's all about image, putting the con on - LOL