January 05, 2012

This is only sort of contrived. I actually bought Ellie these flowers and carted them home on the bicycle just the other day. And Deacon always asks for "hard bread", so I frequently bring him home baguettes. It was Man Date day for Deacon and me.

Today's bow tie is a simple gray chambray in diamond point; one of our best sellers. Not as rugged as the denimesque blue chambray from Day 3. I decided, on this sunny and warm winter Carolina day to symbolize my solidarity with those suffering from the gloom of SADD in the grimly gray and icy blue Chirstmasless Ohio snow belt. Gray and blue from head to toe. Seems boring and nearly monochromatic. But what adds interest (to me anyway) is the textural variance: narrow-wale gray corduroys, blue/white university stripe oxford button down, grosgrain ribbon navy & white watch band, gray herringbone jacket, soft cotton gray socks, and our gray chambray bow tie.

Two details remind us that, even for an Ohioan, the sun does in fact exist, even if it can't be seen for 6 months. First, a silk orange floral pocket square, peeking out of the herringbone breast pocket like an apocalyptic sunrise. Second, a horse hoof pick belt I scored at a new local consignment store for just a few bucks the other day. This actually may be the most contrived thing on this post, as I have no clue how a horse hoof pick is actually used, or any interest in things equestrian. (I'm more of a Vespa tie bar kind of guy.)

I got a little something in the mail today. Man's Face Stuff Mustache Wax, made in Portland, Oregon. Gin and Tonic scent for me, please. While I'm being ambitious here in the first days of 2012, I figured, why not try a handlebar mustache? We'll see. Even if the mustache is ugly, it serves as a yummy smell holder just beneath my sniffer. No guts, no glory, right?

And really, that's the kind of chutzpah that's called for to be a bow tie wearer. You've got to take neither yourself, nor the people who think you're a big dork, very seriously. That's the way I look at it, anyway. "Yes, I have a piece of cloth knotted up in a bow around my neck. Yes, I know that's kind of silly. But so is life, sometimes."