March 21, 2013
The Advantage of Textured Ties This photo of Oscar de la Renta perfectly demonstrates one of the things I love most about textured ties. In an ensemble with a solid colored jacket and shirt, a textured tie can help break up the plainness. Without it, the ensemble can look a bit flat and uninteresting. That’s why I like to have at least two patterns in whatever I wear.  At the same time, with two patterns like you see here – worn through de la Renta’s shirt and pocket square – opting for texture allows you to combine things a bit more easily and with less thought. If the tie were patterned, one would have to consider how well the numerous colors play together and whether the types and scales of patterns clashed. Not with a textured tie, however. It looks just as comfortable against a solid color as it does a pattern, and when you don’t want to bother with thinking about what goes with what in the morning, reaching for a grenadine or silk knit can often be a very safe choice.  (Photo via voxsart)

The Advantage of Textured Ties

This photo of Oscar de la Renta perfectly demonstrates one of the things I love most about textured ties. In an ensemble with a solid colored jacket and shirt, a textured tie can help break up the plainness. Without it, the ensemble can look a bit flat and uninteresting. That’s why I like to have at least two patterns in whatever I wear. 

At the same time, with two patterns like you see here – worn through de la Renta’s shirt and pocket square – opting for texture allows you to combine things a bit more easily and with less thought. If the tie were patterned, one would have to consider how well the numerous colors play together and whether the types and scales of patterns clashed. Not with a textured tie, however. It looks just as comfortable against a solid color as it does a pattern, and when you don’t want to bother with thinking about what goes with what in the morning, reaching for a grenadine or silk knit can often be a very safe choice. 

(Photo via voxsart)

Posted in Patterns Texture Grenadines
January 4, 2012

On Contrast and Balance

Dressing well means pulling things together that both match and contrast, and in doing so, striking a balance. Basic pattern mixing, for example, should involve varying patterns by type and scale. A striped shirt can sit well behind a bolder striped tie and glen plaid suit, or maybe even a windowpane. 

Stephen Pulvirent, the writer behind The Simply Refined, recently wrote about the advantages of mixing “hard” and “soft” garments. Hard garments are things such as crisp white shirts, polished calf shoes, and any metal jewelry, while soft garments are flannels, challis ties, and wool sweaters. Wearing too many soft garments can make you look a bit sloppy and too relaxed, while wearing too many hard garments can make you seem rigid and stiff. Pulvirent admits that there are exceptions - a tweed jacket, corduroys, wool sweater, and suede loafers go quite well together - but he suggests that mixing the two is best. It’s a potentially controversial idea, but not one without some nugget of wisdom.

I think there are other dimensions that are worth striking a contrast. A textured tie such as a woven grenadine or silk knit can sit well against the flatness of poplin or smoothness of gabardine. Likewise, a man should consider how he balances between the shine and dullness of his clothes. A lustrous silk tie looks good next to a dry linen pocket square, and a tie in a duller fabric, such as wool or cotton, is perfectly complemented by a shiny pocket square in a printed solid or foulard. Similarly, the gleam of a man’s tie or well polished shoes can act as a good counterbalance to his otherwise matte ensemble.

There are ways of doing this poorly, of course. A satin tie would not go well with a tweed jacket and winter wools shouldn’t be mixed with summer linens. Though you want things to contrast, nothing you wear should stand out on it’s own; everything should harmonize. But that’s why we seek to both match and contrast, and in doing so, we strike a balance.

Posted in Contrast Pattern Matching The Simply Refined Texture Balance
September 2, 2011
da-i-net: post #11290 SF.net/WAYWRN A lot of folks write to me and ask about pattern mixing. Using multiple patterns can be effective, but so can solids. Note that while color and texture are varied here, pattern is not. Every piece (save the fine dots on the square) is a solid. And it looks tremendous.

da-i-net:

post #11290

SF.net/WAYWRN

A lot of folks write to me and ask about pattern mixing. Using multiple patterns can be effective, but so can solids. Note that while color and texture are varied here, pattern is not. Every piece (save the fine dots on the square) is a solid. And it looks tremendous.

Posted in Texture Patter Mixing
September 1, 2010
youdontmeet: Permanent style :: Huntsman tweed suit: Part 1 Delightful, especially the smoothness and luster of the tie against the tweed. Agreed completely.  Texture is such an important part of dressing, and so under-considered, perhaps because it’s hard to photograph for a fashion magazine.  If you take a look at the Cary Grant photo we published yesterday, the colors are incredibly simple - it’s the textures that are doing the work.

youdontmeet:

Permanent style :: Huntsman tweed suit: Part 1

Delightful, especially the smoothness and luster of the tie against the tweed.

Agreed completely.  Texture is such an important part of dressing, and so under-considered, perhaps because it’s hard to photograph for a fashion magazine.  If you take a look at the Cary Grant photo we published yesterday, the colors are incredibly simple - it’s the textures that are doing the work.

Posted in Huntsman Savile Row Bow Ties Three-Piece Suits Suits Tweed Texture
April 15, 2010
Our Ghanaian friend Barima has some insights on something we’ve been discussing this week: elegance among geeks. For someone looking to establish himself as something of an “elegant geek,” a dash of whimsy may see him through. If the department, indeed, the company has relatively relaxed boundaries on colours or print designs, he could wear the odd striped or gingham shirt in tasteful colours. Nothing too loud for reasons of complexion or advancement, I’m sure. He could also consider the style of his accessories - if he owns a nice enough watch that suggests good taste, that’s one way around it. He should also consider texture plays, best deployed through trousers, belts and footwearHowever, I think knitwear is his ace. Cardigans and long or short sleeved v-necks in fine wools can take the stead of more formal jackets yet will still look tasteful, smart and responsible. However, they still retain that vital nerd cachet. Muted colours won’t make him conspicuous eitherJust my two pence - or pesewas, as we have here in Accra Well put.  There’s nothing wrong with a little eccentricity.

Our Ghanaian friend Barima has some insights on something we’ve been discussing this week: elegance among geeks.

For someone looking to establish himself as something of an “elegant geek,” a dash of whimsy may see him through. If the department, indeed, the company has relatively relaxed boundaries on colours or print designs, he could wear the odd striped or gingham shirt in tasteful colours. Nothing too loud for reasons of complexion or advancement, I’m sure. He could also consider the style of his accessories - if he owns a nice enough watch that suggests good taste, that’s one way around it. He should also consider texture plays, best deployed through trousers, belts and footwear

However, I think knitwear is his ace. Cardigans and long or short sleeved v-necks in fine wools can take the stead of more formal jackets yet will still look tasteful, smart and responsible. However, they still retain that vital nerd cachet. Muted colours won’t make him conspicuous either


Just my two pence - or pesewas, as we have here in Accra

Well put.  There’s nothing wrong with a little eccentricity.

Posted in The IT Crowd Color Sweaters Texture Accessories Barima
November 3, 2009

British Style Genius - The Street Look Pt. 2

The rest as the week unfolds.

Posted in Mod, Britain England Teddy Boy Video texture British Style Genius
October 12, 2009
Will from A Suitable Wardrobe strikes again. What I love about this - and you may have to click through to see it - is the textures.  The blue tweed (don’t see a lot of that) has a beautiful herringbone that compliments the flatness of the moleskin trousers and the vibrance of the silk scarf.  The green (with a blue stripe) hat sets the whole thing off — suitably unfussy for a Sunday outfit. I’m also a sucker for a nice shirt jacket.  I grew up in the mild climate of San Francisco, where “cool” is as cold as it gets, and it’s perfect.  A few months ago, I bought a camel-colored “shacket” from Freeman’s Sporting Club, and I’ve worn it twice a week since.

Will from A Suitable Wardrobe strikes again.

What I love about this - and you may have to click through to see it - is the textures.  The blue tweed (don’t see a lot of that) has a beautiful herringbone that compliments the flatness of the moleskin trousers and the vibrance of the silk scarf.  The green (with a blue stripe) hat sets the whole thing off — suitably unfussy for a Sunday outfit.

I’m also a sucker for a nice shirt jacket.  I grew up in the mild climate of San Francisco, where “cool” is as cold as it gets, and it’s perfect.  A few months ago, I bought a camel-colored “shacket” from Freeman’s Sporting Club, and I’ve worn it twice a week since.

Posted in fall tweed texture