Banker-lite

Tuesday, March 11, 2008:
So with 24 ties remaining in this little adventure, I've been getting a little nervous about my selections. This is a pretty big week in terms of meetings and after work events, so now that I am getting down to spring colors I am getting a little anxious with all my playful ties. I chose my JCrew pinstripe, a blue shirt from Banana, and a silk print tie I bought last spring from Banana. It's a paisley pattern with an emphasis on the blue stems in the pattern. I bought this when I was shopping with my friend Lisa in what could only be called a "pity spree" in order to make myself feel tons better. I also bought my gray Banana suit on the same day. I hated paying retail for the suit, but not the tie. Ties, for whatever reason, are something I don't mind spending money on. The same way I feel about dinners - just an fyi. The look is strong and very business oriented, but the swirls in the tie offers a playful juxtaposition to the chalk stripe in the suit. I have worn this suit with a pink and green combination that stretches this concept a little farther, so I tried something different and I like this a little better.

English Squire

Friday, March 7, 2008:
Today's selection is from the annals of history and style. It's a tie my mother gave to me, part of my father's collection. The label is "Churchill's of London - English Squire" and it's a place that no longer exists. I checked. It's a tattoo and piercing parlor. It's a skinny tie, and the first one I've worn out in the open. I didn't know how I felt about it at first, but when I paired it with a white shirt and my gray suit from JCrew. I really like the calm yellow behind a really complex paisley pattern with reds. If I had these glasses, I would have had the complete look.

The gift of paisley.

February 19, 2008:
Today I wore a tie that was found for me at Filene's Basement by Katherine. I remember her calling me to tell me she had found a tie that she thought I would like, and "do I think I need it?" Silly girl. The tie, by Carl Palazzi Studio, has paisleys with blue, reds and greens on a field of iridescent olive green. This was actually the first time I had worn this tie, and I really liked the way it tied, which you can't ever really under-appreciate. It also really was sharp with a light blue shirt and under a gray suit. See, silly girl. Who doesn't need paisley? The wonder of this exercise, and I think I have said this before, is that that I can rediscover - or in this case - discover a great tie that I can wear a lot. I think the next time I will wear this will be with my khaki suit. I may be speaking too soon, and with a certain sense of forgetfullness, but I can't wait for summer. Ugh. No. I remember now.

Analyzing purple

January 24, 2008:
I've always had a respect for purple, but never knew what to make of it and certainly didn't know how to wear it, or if I should. The connotations of purple have always been effeminate, which takes away from the historical value of the color as that of royalty, power and wealth, all very masculine things in my book. Needless to say it took some feminine direction and support and I have a healthy dose of it in my wardrobe and I am not the least bit ashamed - as you will see. The word "purple" comes to us from the Latin "purpura" and didn't make into the English vocabulary until 957AD. Tyrian purple, the "original" purple, was the color of a dye made from a mollusk that, because of its incredible expense (many times more expensive than gold), in classical antiquity became a symbol of royalty because only the very wealthy could afford it. I don't want to lay blame on anyone for making this color one that men stay away from, but I don't necessarily think that you should drape yourself in it. It should be adopted but modified to fit within your limits until you trust yourself with it. Today I chose a purple paisley tie Tasso Elba by Macy's, which I know pushes the limits a little, and chose a blue and purple striped shirt from the Gap, which pushes it a little more I think. I attempt to solve the situation with plain black suit from Brooks Brothers - my interview suit. I had worn this combination a lot in the fall of 2005 and I liked it, and I still kind of do, but looking at it now I am distracted by it quite frankly. Paisley is an interesting pattern concept but I think that it is better off much smaller than the one here. I think that this tie is a selfish look at paisley. The focus is in the lower, lighter vine thus hogging the rest of the visual effect. I think the paisley looses its richness when the focus is so intently on one feature. Maybe it's confused more by my choice in shirt in a completely contrasting manner. I don't know, you tell me what you think. . . either way I won't see the tie for a couple months so I have some time to mull it over.