Finnian

Film is It Must be Thursday by Lou Watson

I received a bit of fan mail last week from my new BFF, Finnian. We've never met and I've only seen him on celluloid, but I've come to adore him. His mother was showing off Finn's sister's graduation photos and there he was, 11 years old, decked out in bow tie and braces, the best dressed gent in town.

A young man with such an innate sense of personal style needs encouragement so gave him my favorite madras bow from Ellie Stager, The Cordial Churchman.



Within days I received this thank you letter and drawing.



I've pasted his letter into my Moleskine notebook and will cherish it forever. Thanks to Ellie as well. She's made us both very happy.

Toad

Bow Ties

Photo courtesy of Ben Silver, Charleston

I love bow ties so much that I have not worn a long tie in 8 years. It's Mrs. T's fault.

In fall Y2K her brother's wedding was on the horizon, and in anticipation of the blessed nuptials I refreshed my wardrobe. When time came to pick up the altered goods I make the worst mistake a man can make, as concerns his appearance. I brought the wife.

Adults should dress themselves. Every lazy man deserves every fate which befalls him who takes his wife shopping.

While in the shop she asks what are you wearing to the wedding? I replied and then she handed me this tie. It would look lovely said she.

I protested, I wept, I cried, I wore it. After the wedding I tried to take it back, but the merchant had had a party when they finally got rid of that tie, and wouldn't hear of it.

Slowly at first , then quickly, I rid myself of all my long ties, save 3, which I keep around as an aide memoir, and went the bow route, never once asking my brides opinion.

Bow ties are somewhat subversive. So few men wear them that its rare not to get a reaction when wearing one. Stereotypes run wild. I love it, much the way Tom Wolfe loves his white suits. Its a stick in the eye to portentousness.

Bows are found in the dusty bins in back of most haberdasheries. Ben Silver in Charleston, and Southern Proper make my favorites. Now if only I could arrange a trip to Bristol Tennesse, Wm King has my next favorite of tie.

http://www.southernproper.com/

http://www.bensilver.com/fs_storefront.asp?root=1&show=26

In the mean time, thanks for reading. Stop in and say hello.

Toad