Talking Ties
I have been reading Burl Veneer’s Tie Blog for a few years near. He reports that his tie wearing has decreased, but still gives us the scoop when he does.
As I went out exploring, I found that there are quite a few gentlemen who chronicle their tie choices for the day.
Michael, on Knot a Blog has an ongoing chronicle as well. In his most recent post, he discusses Lenten Ties. I have never really thought of ties in connection to Lent, except, of course, in the sense that perhaps people are a bit dresser for the season while attending church. He brings up a whole new concept of “Tie Deprivation” as something to offer up for Lent, or at least for Ash Wednesday. He doesn’t give up ties, just goes for a tie that is much more dour and less expressive. In otherwords, perhaps a solid or basic red and blue stripe that surely is in every man’s closet.
In the meantime, Will Stuivenga, librarian, musician, and vintage tie aficionado is celebrating the 100th tie to grace his blog.
The Great Coat and Tie Experiment was born from rebellion. Because everyone was going casual, this software engineer rebelled by donning a coat and tie. The blog doesn’t seem to have been updated since ths summer, so I wonder of the rest of his colleagues followed his trend, and therefore he has gone back to casual attire.
When wanting to know what’s new or what’s old but has stood the test in time in ties, don’t wait for a fashion editor to tell you. Look around at what other men who are not in the fashion business but take their ties seriously have chosen to get hear the “word on the street.”
Do you or someone you know keep a fashion diary online? Comment and tell me about it!
Until next time,
1947: Creepy Bathing Suit
Tommy Goodwin, well known in golfing circles, here wears the wrap-around handkerchief suit. This probably will not become a broadly accepted type of swim trink, but it does in its way typify the Nassau idea
- Fairchild’s Mens Wear, March 7, 1947
Creepy wasn’t owned and patented by the 1970s, though the 70s definitely must have had the “creepy moustache” trademarked. There were plenty of fashions in eras that were supposed to be considered “the time of the classic and timeless attire” that had its own corner on the “what were you thinking factor. The Speedo may have been the 70s answer to the creepy bathing suit that few really should have a license to wear. The 1940s had the wrap front trunk.
Although the trade publication above doubted that it would catch on, it seemed notable enough to include in a special Southern Resort Wear Issue. It may be an exciting and sought after fashion footnote to collectors, but a sigh of relief to the general public that it didn’t catch fire. In fact, I have never found another reference on the internet or in a book so far for it. I am sure once this is published, I’ll find out that there are 42 books written about it.
Tommy Goodwin was referred to “Suntanned Tommy Goodwin” in a 1949 New York Times article, and perhaps the nom de vis was an explanation of his mental state. Perhaps too much Bahamian sun caused him to have heat stroke and influenced his swimwear decisions in years prior. He had actually spent much of his time in Nassau by then.
So, the next time you look down your nose, thinking the 40s were the epitome of style, manners, and grace, and the 70s was a sleazy time of tacky swimwear and bad hair, remember the wrap front swim trunk.
Until next time,
One of Our Favorites from Sears
I sold this suit last year, but it is in our “short list” of favorites. It was (is) a metallic suit from the late 60s. Although it is from the tail end of the decade, it has major mod sensibilities with its Italian cut and slim collar placement that we would place just a couple years earlier.
Tailor tags can be very important in dating menswear, especially because the classic suit doesn’t change as rapidly as ladieswear and is sometimes harder to pinpoint in less than a 5 year period even if one is very knowledgeable. Of course, there are “of the season” cutting edge looks available for the fashion forward, but for the average man, a suit is an investment piece. They want to be stylish, but they don’t want to look dated the next year, especially if their employment or social outings do not require a suit for daily wear.
This particular suit came from Sears. The tag is not specifically a tailors tag of a custom suit, but the date the suit was altered for the original buyer. Unlike high fashion magazines that show what the designers introduced each year, the Sears catalog was a very good record of what the average person was actually wearing that year, just like the paint colors represented what was actually in the average homes of America. It may not be nearly as exciting as haute couture, but is invaluable for historians, reenactors, vintage lovers, and costumers alike.
In the fall of 1968, the year of this suit, though the Brits had moved onto more fluid lines, American Mod was still showing an influence on American fashion and was interpreted in a little more of a relaxed fashion.
At the tail end of the 60s, because of the new synthetics, shades that could never be achieved before were everywhere. I have seen quite a few menswear in the jewel tone blues, greens, and teals during this time period in many eye tricking fabrics and hues that begged the question “Is that blue or is that green? Greenish Blue?”. I have often needed a second or third opinion myself!
Having a specific date always makes me wonder if the date had been around a special occasion. I always imangined with the suit being tailored in proximity to Halloween, that perhaps someone bought it who went to an alternate event. They might have gone to a performance at a concert hall instead of a costume party that night. Or maybe it was just a coincidence, just another day.
Robert Talbott: A Brief Bio
Robert Talbott was founded by Robert and Audrey Talbott in the 1950s. Audrey, prior to her marriage to Robert, was a clothing buyer. As a hobby, she created bowties for Robert and his friends. With her skill and Robert’s dream to manufacture a true quality product, Robert Talbott the company was born. By 1955, the business was a success and they were traveling the world for silk.
In 1958, the first Robert Talbott store opened in Carmel, New York with a second opening in Pebble Beach in 1968. 24 years later, in 1992, a Madison Avenue showcase store was opened. Dress shirts were added to the Robert Talbott line in 1990, which had been exclusively ties up until this point. Casual shirts and outerwear followed.
Today, Audrey Talbott has shifted her focus to high quality ladieswear and her eponymous line is featured at many boutiques throughout the country.
A woven SILK tie…square bottomed and skinny. Robert Talbott for Jacobson’s from the 80s…
This bio that I wrote and submitted to the Vintage Fashion Guild label resource, where it also appears. If you are a trivia junkie or a fashion lover, you should check it out.
Until Next Time,
Why Vintage? Reason #2
Alert Vintage lover, Viviene spotted this letter to Dear Abby. A frustrated teen speaks about her neighbor that gives her old clothing and Abby educates her about vintage. Imagine that!
Dear Abby: I go to church with a woman who is generous and means well, but she likes to give away her old hand-me-down clothing. Recently she gave me two old dresses that fit me, but I wouldn’t be caught dead in. I’m 15, and she doesn’t understand that.
I didn’t want to hurt her feelings, so when she asked if they fit and if I liked them, I told her they did and they were pretty.
My mom is planning to donate the dresses to charity. But now the woman is saying she wants to give me more of her old dresses. I don’t know how to handle this. — Secondhand Teen
Click here and scroll down to see what Abby advuses for the “Secondhand Teen”!
Maybe the Secondhand Teen would stumble across our prior article: “Why Vintage. Reason #1: Originality”
We attended a party where the attire was semi-formal and three ladies showed up wearing the exact same dress! Luckily they had a good sense of humor about it. There was only really one or two stores to go to for formal dresses and they both evidentally lived near the same one.
And that also brings us to Reason #2: Vintage is Environmentally Friendly.
When you purchase a piece of vintage clothing or are gifted it from a relative, you are doing your part to recycle. It is giving an additional and new life to an item once, twice, three times or more.
Choosing vintage keeps the items out of the landfills. Some vintage is made of more natural or sustainable materials such as cotton and wool. However, over the years many synthetics were invented that have fallen out of favor due to taste, safety in manufacturing, or the invention of something better. Many won’t possibly decompose in the next few hundred years.
Also, by taking a piece of clothing that is languishing in the cellar, you are preventing it from falling prey to mold and creating a biohazard. In that case, it may not be able to be salvaged or can create medical issues.
Why Vintage?, fashion tips, vintage clothing, vintagegent | Comment (1)