by Eliot Wilson on Sat Nov 15, 2003 10:32 am
It is, in fact, a question to which I've given some thought. Certainly, I tend to avoid striped ties which are not signifying something specific - I wear my graduate tie and my old school tie, but that's about it - on the grounds that either I may inadvertently be wearing an inappropriate tie, or, worse, that someone may think I'm claiming to be something I'm not. I once received a very smart navy-and-maroon striped tie for Christmas... the problem being, of course, that it was to all intents and purposes the tie of the Brigade of Guards. But I would say that it is not actually wrong to wear a striped tie simply of pleasing hues. Though one might do well to check beforehand that it does not signify anything.
As for plain-and-patterned, you are perhaps, Mr. Renouf, somewhat more puritanical than I on this matter. I think a muted pattern can be acceptable with a less than plain tie. For example, I have a pale blue shirt with a faint Prince of Wales check and a thin yellow overlaid check, which I wear with a yellow tie with navy spots. The effect is, I think, rather pleasing. But of course a bold pattern would be a different matter. I was once forced by lack of other laundered and pressed shirts to take a tutorial in a bold reddish-pink checked shirt and my graduate tie. The overall effect was, to quote Jeeves, "a trifle sudden".
I shall be interested to hear others' opinions on these matters.
[hr]"In a battle between yourself and the world, back the world." Kafka
Bill and Ted beat the Grim Reaper at Twister
Bill: "You played very well, Death, especially with your totally heavy Death robes."
Death: "Don't patronise me."