Bow Ties Make Me Swoon

'Tis true.  There is just something about Bow ties...

It all started back as a little girl.  I went to a private school where the Headmaster always wore a bow tie.  A Vermont grad himself, this was very appropriate.  However, we had a special relationship...he called me "smiley" my whole career at the school, and well...I had quite an unnecessary love for his everchanging bow ties.  

At my prep school's graduation, all the young gentlemen I graduated with got to pick out personalized bow ties.  This also led to my love of the unique trend.  

Finally...I went South for college.  Tennessee football games meant orange dresses for the ladies, and seersucker slacks and orange bow ties (usually Vineyard Vine Collegiate) for the men.  Oh did they look dashing...

Vineyard Vines Collegiate Collection

Preppys are often bashed for our lack of imagination.  For example, we still vacation in the same spots we always have, we dress traditionally...people consider this somewhat of a laziness, while we find the classical traditions intriguing and worth withstanding.  Well, to those who use the term "preppy" negatively.  Bow ties, in my opinion, are about as creative as you can get.

Warren St. John, (New York Times) once said,


"To its devotees the bow tie suggests iconoclasm of an Old World sort, a fusty adherence to a contrarian point of view. The bow tie hints at intellectualism, real or feigned, and sometimes suggests technical acumen, perhaps because it is so hard to tie. Bow ties are worn by magicians, country doctors, lawyers and professors and by people hoping to look like the above. But perhaps most of all, wearing a bow tie is a way of broadcasting an aggressive lack of concern for what other people think."

I love this, because as Preps, you almost have to be unique at times...trends are always changing.  Preps are always classic.  The stability to dress and live the preppy life-style truly is a decision.  There will be times where it's popularity rises and falls, but do "True Preps" care about their trends being popular?

Lacking variance in our style is also something I find false.  There are ways to update classic fashions, you just have to know where to start.  The bow tie is the perfect example.  I promise you can find one for every occasion.  They come in every shape and color.  Some our reversible.

Pat and I always browse bow ties when shopping together...he always shys away from purchasing one because he doesn't know how to properly tie one.  I found an easy solution:

^{Easy steps to tie a bow tie.  Problem solved!}  

^{So, gentlemen...if you want to win a lady's heart, I recommend buying a bow tie or two!}