I'm mad, you're mad, we're all mad for madras

With unseasonably warm temps hanging around these parts lately, I've made it a point to wear madras on just about every occasion that I can. Soon enough, it will be time to relegate them to the lesser-worn area and break out the tweeds, but for now it's been a steady diet of soft-faded plaids in beautiful colors.


This particular tie is yet another from my recent tie bonanza haul and interestingly enough it still has the original paper price tag still attached to the inside of the tail.

It's a bit on the skinny side (probably 2.25 - 2.5 inches wide) and has an original department store (from a local, now-closed high-end place) price of $10.00, so I'm guessing it hails from the sixties or so.

Seeing the price on the tag actually made me chuckle a bit, as I haven't paid that much for a tie since I bought a new one in college in a specific color that I absolutely thought I needed at the time. Since then, it's been all thrift-store and garage-sale finds, and despite paying between $1-4 dollars for every single tie since that time, I've amassed what I would say is a rather solid collection.

Sure, I lust after new Drakes ties and would even like to grab a nice seven-fold someday, but in the past two months especially I've been reminded that ultimately ties are just skinny pieces of fabric that you tie around your neck. In that time, I've lost one for good when a cup of coffee spilled the wrong way and have had just about every tie I've worn in that time grabbed at (and sometimes pulled) by a four-month old. Ties are meant for wearing, and if I happen to lose a couple every once in awhile, then I certainly won't cry too long knowing I dropped less than an Abraham Lincoln on one.

I probably wouldn't have quite the same reaction if a coffee had tanked all over a juicy Kiton.

Weekend WTF: Vintage pajamas

Although I would certainly never be accused of being a peacock about 99% of the time, I'll admit to having a fair share of kitsch hanging around in my closet and storage areas. Sometimes, you see an item and despite not being sure when you'll wear it, you buy it anyway and hope for the best.

My wife ran across such an item just last week (during a local dollar-day thrift blowout), a rather hilarious vintage (likely 50s or so) men's pajamas top with a really great print


100% cotton and sanforized, this particular top has probably been washed dozens of times and is soft as the softest flannel sheet. A person crazier than myself might try wearing it outside the house just to cause a stir, but I'm guessing it will be little more than a really comfortable shell for my nighttime wind-down as it begins to cool in the approach to fall.


Here's a detail of the great print, including the dapper couple "You-Me," which unfortunately doesn't depict the correct hair color for my wife. Oh well, it's not like I'm going to wear it in public anyway.

Style Share - August

It's been awhile since I've done a Style Share, so I figured I should break out some pretty decent stuff and offer it up this go-around. After a long drought, I've had a pretty good run lately and figured I should share the wealth and try to keep it going.

As always, the only thing I ask is that the recipient of said item of free* clothing email me back a photo or two of them wearing it for a follow-up post on this site. First three ties claimed will be sent out.


First up is a sort of foulard print from Brooks Brothers with a conservative black base and some nice little hints of maroon and green.


Dark brown Brooks Brothers with white diagonal grid. Simple and solid.


Okay, so this one is a bit crazy, but I will give a bow to someone who can pull this one off with style. Pigs. In. Freaking. Hats. And. Bowties.


Seriously one of the thickest, juiciest silks I've held in awhile, this vintage forest green Sulka should tie a power knot and hang with force.


On the other side of the spectrum is this lovely little light dot pattern tie from Polo Ralph Lauren. There's still a little bit of summer left, and this one would accompany it well.

As always, claim your item in the comments, then shoot me an email to let me know your address so I can get you your tie

*Seriously, it's free, and yours to keep forever. No strings attached. I won't share your name on the site or with anyone else unless you have a blog of your own that you want me to link. Please note that all clothing will be used (but certainly not stained, smelly, or damaged, as I do have standards), so please only agree to participate if this sort of thing doesn't gross you out. Thanks!

Tie bonanza: The continuing saga

I've made several previous posts about finding loads of great ties in a single score, and after a long drought of nearly a year, I recently stumbled upon another amazing batch of cravats. I haven't been out thrifting as much as usual lately, so the find (which was actually hidden below a pile of unsavory polyester numbers) was even more exciting. Oh, and they were just $2 apiece, for those keeping score at home.


This first pile is my favorite of the pile of Brooks Brothers ties that I snagged. I've been looking for the whale motif for awhile, and while it needs a bit of a steam, I was happy to find it. The vintage BB tie with Santa Claus was a bonus, and the two repp stripe pieces will become staples.


These are my favorites from the rest of the stash, and represent some of the better textures that are now housed in my tie collection in general. I couldn't go wrong with another Lochcarron tartan, and the Donegal tweed is such a thick, luscious tie that I about drooled on it when I found it (same with the vintage Viyella). The Weatherill was a brand I'd never heard of, but is of very nice quality. The final Brooks Brothers is just icing on the cake.

In several places above, I hinted at even more ties, and they will be featured in the next edition of Style Share, which I'll unveil on Sunday evening (yeah, it's several days away, but I need to get pictures done). There will be several ties to choose from, including Brooks Brothers, Polo Ralph Lauren, Sulka, and more. If that piques your interest, stop back and stake your claim.