Southern Proper and Vineyard Vines

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

How you doin?

LOL.

I can't resist posting this section from the wikipedia page about bowties (I was going to just post a snarky reply to Kevin's last statement like "Because you all still think it's the 1940s down there?" and run, but there was too much I liked in this description instead ):

Stereotypes of bow tie wearers
Main article: list of bow tie wearers
“To its devotees the bow tie suggests iconoclasm of an Old World sort, a fusty adherence to a contrarian point of view. The bow tie hints at intellectualism, real or feigned, and sometimes suggests technical acumen, perhaps because it is so hard to tie. Bow ties are worn by magicians, country doctors, lawyers and professors and by people hoping to look like the above. But perhaps most of all, wearing a bow tie is a way of broadcasting an aggressive lack of concern for what other people think.”

—Warren St John, The New York Times[1]

Bow ties tend to be associated with particular professions, such as architects, attorneys,[2] university professors, and politicians.
Pediatricians frequently wear bow ties. Infants can't grab them, and they don't get in places where they would be soiled.

In American culture, bow ties tend to be associated with either New England idyllic preppy culture or the culture of the white aristocratic South.[citation needed]

Bow ties are commonly seen in popular culture as items of sophistication, such as those stereotypically worn by professors in movies and fictional spy characters such as James Bond. However, they have also been adopted into the "uniform" of clowns and male strippers, and such associations have lent bow ties a less serious image.[citation needed] Therefore, the "bow tie" presents somewhat of an oxymoron or paradox to anyone trying to define a particular style to be attached to the bow tie.[citation needed]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_tie

[DrPhil]

I love bowties.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AOII_LB93

People still wear bowties? The only people I ever saw wearing them were the Nation of Islam guys on campus back in the day, or guys at prom/in weddings. I'm not a fan, if my husband wore one I'd laugh at him.

Yes. I wouldn't say everyone wears them around here, but they're not uncommon. I almost always wear them to court.

And CB and SWTXBelle are right -- not everyone can wear them. It takes a certain body type and a certain attitude. (One lawyer friend of mine says they show a great deal of self-confidence -- you don't feel the need to have an arrow pointing out certain attributes 'cause you know everyone just knows. )

And SWTXBelle, my wife agrees with you.

[Kevin]

For what it's worth, here in Oklahoma, at least downtown and especially around the courthouse, there are a lot of bow ties being worn. They're very much in fashion down here for whatever reason.

[CrackerBarrel]

It takes a little practice to learn to tie one, but once you've learned it is much easier to tie a good looking bowtie than a good looking long tie knot. At least in my opinion.

[LXAGuy08]

Yeah bowties are in here in Florida, we were them all the time in date functions and socials, but i agree not everyone can wear them. self- confindence is a must, or atleast just try to play the part.

[srmom]

Everything Brooks Brothers makes that are "wrinkle free" are the BEST!!

My sons/husband particularly like the wrinkle free pants and shorts.

While my husband has his clothes regularly laundered and pressed, my sons routinely jumble up their clothes in a pile, then pull them out to wear - and VOILA' those pants and shorts look great every time!!

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by srmom

While my husband has his clothes regularly laundered and pressed, my sons routinely jumble up their clothes in a pile, then pull them out to wear - and VOILA' those pants and shorts look great every time!!

I keep debating trying either Jos. A. Banks Traveler's shirts or Brookes Bros. wrinkle-free shirts. I hesitate though -- I think I'd miss the feel and look of a starched shirt.

[CrackerBarrel]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I keep debating trying either Jos. A. Banks Traveler's shirts or Brookes Bros. wrinkle-free shirts. I hesitate though -- I think I'd miss the feel and look of a starched shirt.

Brooks wrinkle-free shirts are the greatest thing ever. Not quite as big a fan of the Traveler shirt (not a real big fan of Jos. A Bank in general) but it is ok as well.

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by magichat

I'm sorry but this is just trying too hard

"From the heritage of southerner's influential attire to the Old Money families across the land..."

A little classless if you ask me. If you have to brag...

www.southernproper.com

I am clearly much too northern -- as soon as the front page opened, I took a look at that guy and my first thought was "he needs a haircut". And the little patterns in the stripes of the tie are odd to me, I couldn't take someone seriously who walked into my office with little doggies or something on their tie. But again, that's just me and my sensibilities. (could be regional or generational or both)

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I think I'd miss the feel and look of a starched shirt.

I agree with this, you can definitely tell the difference between someone who's wearing a pressed, starched shirt and someone wearing a wrinkle-free. For casual days the wrinkle-free are fine, but for more formal or professional situations, I still prefer to see a man in a good starched shirt.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

I am clearly much too northern -- as soon as the front page opened, I took a look at that guy and my first thought was "he needs a haircut". And the little patterns in the stripes of the tie are odd to me, I couldn't take someone seriously who walked into my office with little doggies or something on their tie. But again, that's just me and my sensibilities. (could be regional or generational or both)

I agree with this, you can definitely tell the difference between someone who's wearing a pressed, starched shirt and someone wearing a wrinkle-free. For casual days the wrinkle-free are fine, but for more formal or professional situations, I still prefer to see a man in a good starched shirt.

I don't know...the Brooks Brothers wrinkle-free look pretty darn good. I've worn them with suits, to court, etc, and always gotten good feedback.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I don't know...the Brooks Brothers wrinkle-free look pretty darn good. I've worn them with suits, to court, etc, and always gotten good feedback.

They are awesome. I have one that was at the bottom of one of my desk drawers at work (we do yoga after work on Tuesdays, so I changed out pretty quickly) for a few months. When I took it out--no wrinkles! It was kinda cool, and totally worth the price. My only complaint is that the women's fitted shirts are still a little too big for me around the shoulders.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

I agree with this, you can definitely tell the difference between someone who's wearing a pressed, starched shirt and someone wearing a wrinkle-free. For casual days the wrinkle-free are fine, but for more formal or professional situations, I still prefer to see a man in a good starched shirt.

I press my own clothes, so maybe this isn't the best of comparisons. I do have a few non-wrinkle-free items in my wardrobe, and you can definitely tell by the end of the day when they're wrinkled all to hell that they're not wrinkle free. And really, none of my work attire is casual. I wear a suit every day.

My only complaint about the Joseph A. Banks shirts is that they don't breathe very well at all.

Just about the only things I'll pay for to be professionally starched and pressed are my tux shirts.

We don't have Brooks Brothers stores in OKC, but oddly enough, there is one in Wichita, and understandably, about 4 in the DFW area. I'm going to give 'em a try though.

[srmom]

I took a look at that guy and my first thought was "he needs a haircut"

My kids and I call that type of haircut - the Alabama Swoop, as seen on every guy on that MTV show about the Hoover High football team. The swoop is not popular in Texas, guys here go for more of a clean cut look - like a #2 clippers length - barber shops all the way.

When my youngest starts looking "swoopy" it's time for a visit to Sal's.

Definitely, a starched shirt is the best, but considering my college kids probably only take things to the cleaners when they come home and I pay, wrinkle free is the best way to go.

[WVU alpha phi]

I took a look at the Belles for Beaus program- I know one of the students listed at Bama! She's a Tri Delt there. How random.