The Necktie Is Dead? Long Live the Necktie!

The just arrived vintage 1960s Eustice Tilley necktie.  I think I'll wear it on the first day of the new semester at the end of August.

Most places these days, men no longer need to wear neckties here in the United States.  Even in the so called white collar professional world.  However, there are still a few of us around -- weirdos admittedly -- who don and sport them with great aplomb even when the dress code suggests otherwise.  Not necessarily because we HAVE to, you understand, but because we enjoy the simple act of dressing somewhat more presentably than has become the disheveled norm.

While my wardrobe feels largely complete, occasionally I spot the odd item that is simply too interesting to pass by,  Such was the case last week when I came across the item shown above on Ebay.  Initially, I did, in fact, pass it by.  Several days later, however,  I remembered the necktie, checked back, and amazingly it was still available.  So, I pulled the trigger, and it arrived with the mail today.  Coincidentally, the seller was not that far away here in my own state of Michigan.

While the tie is half a century old and slightly ragged at the tip of the large blade, there are no stains, pulls, or other visible signs of wear, or damage elsewhere.  Handmade in the U.K. by the way.  I've never noticed anyone anywhere wearing one like this, and will add it happily to the ol' rotation.  It's now rolled up and waiting on the top shelf of my wardrobe for the end of summer.  

Not that I'm quite ready for that eventuality yet.  We're at the beginning of July, and the summer feels like it just started.  Too much fun having time to myself, riding bikes with The Young Master, goofing around in the yard with the mower, watering flower beds when needed, painting toy soldiers in the evenings, and not feeling obligated to turn out the light and hit the hay by 11:30pm five nights a week, so that I might be able to rise and function at the crack of dawn.  Things are more free and easy right now.

Hear that?  It's Summer.

-- Heinz-Ulrich


P.S.
And before anyone asks, yes.  I do in fact have a subscription to The New Yorker, courtesy of my in-laws each Christmas for the last decade or so.  I keep meaning to add Harper's and The Atlantic to my reading materials, but one magazine subscription is enough right now.