I'd like to start off my saying that this is my first attempt at a blog. I hadn't thought that I would want to express ideas to my friends, or strangers, through this kind of medium, but I've decided that this quest requires 24 hours of freedom for comment, scrutiny, etc by my closest friends.
So this adventure, to wear a different tie from my closet each day without repeat, I figure, needs to be subjected to the public eye.
I'm a gatherer. No. I'm an amasser. It's hereditary, and I fight my genes everyday. I've found that ties are an excellent way to bring difference into the day. To paint the gray-suit-world with a little color.
I have 60 ties (58 at my house, and two hidden in my desk for emergencies) - and in the interest of full disclosure there are two of
which I won't wear during this trek. The reason? Too formal - one black bow tie, and one solid red bow tie. Come on! Who wears red bow ties? I mean, unless you're at a Valentine's Day thing, and I can't think of when that will be. Besides, there are better things to wear anyway than red bow ties. And 58 days of better things.
The process is easy: each morning I pick a tie to wear, match it with a shirt and jacket/suit, take a picture and then walk out the door. When I come home at night, I simply take it off, roll it up and place it in a bag - it's almost like that tie never existed!! Which is good, right? I mean, "out of sight, out of mind" is actually a powerful, powerful phrase that carries a lot of W.A.S.P.y wisdom that we should all follow from time to time. That, and learn to drink a lot more gin.
So anyway, I have included the first four days below. And if you choose to comment, thanks, but please refrain from Corky Sherwood comparisons: there will be no detailed weather forecasts.
The stage is set, and the adventure begins on:
Monday, January 14, 2008:Today I chose a tie my father got me for my 27th birthday, a blue/green wool tie he got from
John Helmer Haberdasher in downtown Portland. It's Jonathan Richard of Ireland. Not to get too much into the selection process, but it was cold that day so I paired it with a brown merino sweater and my favorite herringbone blazer.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008:
I decided to wear a
Brooks Brothers tie I got with my mom when we were at the outlets in Woodburn. It's a print silk tie. Don't get me wrong, I like print silk ties, but sometimes they slide and I don't like the knots. But hey, I thought it would go nicely with my brown herringbone suit. The purple and brown work, along with the bold print of the tie compliments the tight print of the suit. Also, I will forever remember this combination because
Lorelei Elizabeth Deuel,
Katherine's niece, was born on this day. Yay!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008:Today I had a very hard decision to make: I had a dinner date with Katherine at 1789, a French restaurant in Georgetown. Of course, this meant the tie I selected had to be perfect for work and a fancy-pants dinner. Well, of course I needed consultation but I decided that the purple, blue and magenta
Ted Baker tie I found at Marshal's for $24.99 (retail $85) would work, paired with a simple white French cuff shirt and my Banana Republic gray 3-button suit. I wore my engraved cufflinks purchased at historic Williamsburg, Virginia. I think it worked. I've decided I like detailed floral patterned ties, like those on Islamic walls or pottery, better than I do stripes, or Vineyard Viney ties. Those patterns paired with the strong look of a tailored suit look make really good matches.
Thursday, January 17, 2008:
For the final of this week's installments I chose the navy blue silk knit tie that I received as a present from my father, by Gitman Bros. from
John Helmer Haberbasher. I paired it with a light blue oxford and my favorite herringbone blazer again. I thought it was very collegiate/1960s when my dad was in school. And never mind Brian Branton, who commented that "the 80's ended blah blah blah." What-ever dude. Besides, didn't you love the Eighties Mr. Branton?
February 8, 2008:
