The colour purple is not for me which in a way is strange because I like wine, burgundy, maroon, claret and my wardrobe is full of those colours. The only purple thing I have had is a gore tex jacket for cross country skiing. Here it seems to be more of a women's colour and my wife has a skiing coat that looks great on her.
I lie. I've just discovered I own a pair of boxer shorts in a purple and white stripe. Made in India. Must have been a multi pack buy. Not sure I've ever worn them.
It's instructive, just looking at 'Esquire' for March 1955, to find shirts in a range of colours not only being touted but also discussed, mulled over, in a way that it's difficult to imagine happening in England at that time. Yet, not more than a dozen years later, my grandfather was causing a stir by wearing, among other things, purple shirts. This was a working class man in a rather dull Midlands town. He also sported Hush Puppies. The American gentleman in 1955 might well be in burnt orange or mint green.
Was there anything quite like 'Esquire' (or 'The New Yorker') in the UK at this period? It seems doubtful.
I've got an old purple Brooks makers shirt knocking about somewhere.....no clue how to wear it, but as with the challenge of the green makers recently, going to see what it works with!
Though, it might risk getting a bit joy division-y
Last edited by colin (2022-01-14 08:18:53)
You’ve already been told the story of my disastrous purple cord suit purchase in post 14 of this thread
http://forums.filmnoirbuff.com/viewtopic.php?id=21468
I’m mentally scarred by this and could now only contemplate purple for ties or scarves to provide a dash of colour to an outfit.
Woof - what was Mrs Woof’s take on the purple cord suit ? be interesting to know ,
Purple in a Tootal paisley scarf is just about acceptable
A Tootal paisley scarf in any colour is a bit too swinging 60s/regency for me. I'm a mod, but not that type.
Although I'm sure you wear it very well.
Last edited by Yuca (2022-01-14 12:30:12)
Staxfan what was Mrs Woof’s take on the purple cord suit ? be interesting to know.
Luckily for me I’m not someone who has to have clothing parcels sent to my workplace, or store them in the garage to be smuggled into the house in the dead of night as Mrs W has always been genuinely interested in and supportive of my sartorial endeavours. Rather than being annoyed because I’ve bought something she is more likely to berate me for passing up on some bargain or item I’ve been gazing at repeatedly on the internet. Of course I learned a long term ago that encouraging my expenditure all too conveniently provides top cover for her own excesses that dwarf mine. One time our credit cards were stolen but I didn’t bother to report it ……………. as the criminals didn’t spend so much.
So the answer to your question is that she was present at the moment of the inadvisable suit purchase, egging me on and telling me how good I looked in it.
Gentlemen,
I have a load of purple - in knitwear, scarves, ties and shirt stripes.
It's very Ralph Lauren and mixes superbly with black/cream herringbone tweeds, dark suits and charcoal flannel.
The trick is having a darker, rich almost grape colour rather than light as that tends towards the mauve spectrum.
It elevates any outfit given it's not a basic blue, black or grey.
Last year I purchased an Alan Paine polo sweater from John's known as black grape.Looks great under a dark grey herringbone Keydge. This Sunday for lunch out I'll add a black & purple college scarf and some flannels.
Purple.. the devil's colour. Unwearable, unlovable. The colour of a man having a heart attack or throwing up, or a skin complaint.
I admire Alvey's stance here. Play around with it. Grape - yes, I can see that.
Scarcely a first choice for knitwear, however. In a college scarf - all right.
Woof , I’m guessing a few on here are envious of Mrs W’s support in clobber matters , never had to smuggle anything in myself but sometimes had to be a bit economical regarding the price of things.... ‘ how much did you pay for those shoes ? ‘ ‘ oh over 200, ‘ ( in reality way over at 350, but of course they’ll last a lifetime)
Purple is traditionally a royal colour as the dye was so difficult to obtain.
There are 2 Anderson belts in purple in the Stuart’s sale ,
I own a vintage purple surcingle. I don't think I've ever worn it.
The shirt turned out to be not purple - are some sellers colour blind? - but a rather pleasing maroon/burgundy/what you will. Certainly not purple. It's also a nice, thick, velvety cotton, ideal for these chilly mornings when out walking. That, plus a bit of Russell Athletic and my trusty Gloverall, does the job, Ivy or not.