Tie Up, Dress Down

Sometimes you just want a snap of silk without looking all buttoned-up.  And lets be honest, not many people can make disheveled look just plain casual like Mr. Astaire.  So, when you want some silk and don’t want to get the classic “Wow, what are you so dressed up for?” what is a gent to do?

On a college campus, wearing a tie is going to get me stares no matter what, but two things that tend to help are a) wear a sweater and b) don’t wear formal looking lace-up shoes.  By throwing a v-neck over a white shirt and colorful tie, you get a swash of color at the neck, while hiding the blades from view.  Loafers or moccasins also do wonders for making you look less buttoned-up.  That’s why I almost always wear lace-ups with a suit, but that’s another story.

So when you want some color wrapped about your clavicle, and it’s not a gawkers-be-damned kind of day, there are always ways to balance formal and casual.  Plus, this time of year, it’s an excuse to start wearing those sweaters again!