Category Archives: Men’s Accessories

On Yer Bike! The Linen Suit does 30 Days of Biking

  By D Clothier | April 1, 2012 - 10:13 am | Linen Suit, Men's Accessories
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Gentleman on gentleman's bike

A gentleman on a gentleman's bike. Image by JonasB on flikr.com

The Linen Suit is a long time proponent of cycling and so has signed up for the 30 Days of Biking event.

30 Days of Biking is an ambitious social media experiment that aims to encourage cycling across the globe by applying one simple rule:-

Bike somewhere every day for 30 days—around the block, 20 miles to work, whatever suits you—then share your adventures online. We advocate daily bicycling because we believe it enriches lives and preserves the Earth. A worldwide, thousands-strong community of joyful cyclists has been forming around that idea since April 2010—and will further amass in 2012.

Starting in Minneapolis in 2010, like all the best ideas, it is incredibly simple;  participants just agree to cycle at least once a day for 30 days and then share their experiences online. But it is projects like this that are making cycling popular again and in so doing are benefiting individuals and communities.

But what does the well dressed cyclist wear?  Well, as with any other sartorial question the anwer will depend on the context.  Obviously, skin tight day glow lycra emblazoned with corporate sponsors’ logos is not really appropriate when you’re going to work.   Unless you work as a professional cyclist that is.  Or if you have changing facilities in the workplace.  Certainly if you are cycling long distance or in training for a sports event, specialist cycle clothing is functional.

However, for the average cyclist going to work or college or just nipping out to the shops, your ordinary clothes will do most of the time.   The biggest problem for most men is their trousers or pants hems getting caught in the chain.  The traditional solution of tucking the legs into the socks is less than elegant – unless you want to show off a pair of really cool socks – and the alternative of wearing clips is not great.  No, the easiest solution is to enclose the chain completely thus eleminating the problem.  Personally, I cycle an old English Pashley roadster with a fully enclosed chain so that’s no problem.  Rain is the other big problem but for short trips and depending on how wet it is a regular coat or jacket and a man’s hat is sufficient.

To see just how cool cycling can be visit Scott Schuman’s The Sartorialist blog, where he has many pictures showing how men (and women) on bikes can look very cool and very stylish.  And if it that isn’t encouragement enough; cyling keeps you fit.  And it’s affordable transport.  And it’s environmentally friendly.  I mean, what’s not to like?  So go on, join me and thousands others and register today and get on your bike!!!

Don’t forget to visit the 30 Days of Biking website for videos, photos and stories from around the world of peoples experiences during the month. You can add yours and feel free to submit pictures of stylish cyclists here to.

 

 

The Linen Suit in Paris

  By D Clothier | March 13, 2012 - 11:50 pm | Linen Suit, Men's Accessories, Menswear
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Paris © Psop Photo @ photoxpress.com

The Linen Suit decided to take another long weekend in Paris.  It was beautiful, isn’t it always, coinciding with the first days of spring.  My trend spotting sensors seemed switched off though and my hastily scribbled notes yield little of note.  Possibly because spring seemed to have caught the locals by surprise too.

The dominant colours were blacks and blues for men and women alike.  Mind you, glad to note that my favourite black turtleneck remains a staple for Parisian males.  On a Sunday afternoon, apparently, usually matched with blue jeans.  Seriously, I don’t think I saw a middle-aged man who wasn’t wearing blue jeans on Sunday.  Some were beautifully cut, straight legged and in a deep indigo and some were, well, not.  Oddly, I noticed a preponderance of shoes, even with jeans.  Again many cuts and colours but usually

variations on the brogue theme.  Some Converse style sneakers, of course, but very few trainers, other than on actual joggers.

And there’s an interesting note, all the joggers I saw (mainly in the Jardin Du Luxembourg) were wearing simple, functional outfits.  Track suits, shorts, t-shirts.  That sort of thing.  Proper runners or trainers but no fancy gym outfits, no posing in space-age technologic sports suits (pas du poseurs, peut-etre?).  I’m not complaining, it’s what I wear when I’m jogging.  Nothing is going to make a middle-aged man look anything other than hot and bothered when jogging so save the money for the trainers and protect your feet!

Hats on men were noticeable, too.   That’s good.  I like hats.  Lots of soft hats and quite a few caps but not too many beanies.  So hat’s off to that (or “Chapeau!” as they might say in Paris).

The highlight of the weekend for me was discovering some really great coats by Audrey Zanin in a little pop-up shop in the Marais.  Unfortunately, I managed to mislay the Argentine writer I was with (long story) before I could try, much less buy, and had to run off in search of him.  Hopefully, I can track her down next time I’m over.  In the meantime you can see some of her work here at Effets Sonores.

Finally, and slightly off topic, I was staying in the 5eme and noticed a few really good art deco/1930s apartments.  I’m finding that whole optimistic modernism/deco/streamlined sort of look really interesting right now.  Possibly because I’ve been doing a little redecorating chez the linen suit.  Thoughts, anyone?

Raketa Copernic Watch – Quick Review

  By D Clothier | October 12, 2011 - 9:21 pm | Men's Accessories, Mens Watches
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Raketa Copernicus
Raketa Kopernik

Since I have begun looking for and researching affordable watches I have developed quite a taste for old Russian watches.  Until recently I knew nothing about the extensive history of Russian horology; now I find myself spending far too much time on watch forums and sifting through ebay listings for interesting, unusual and cheap watches.

I haven’t quite got the hang of photographing watches so apologies for the poor quality of the shots.

In any event, here are a couple of shots of the latest edition to my collection – a 1980′s Raketa Copernik or Copernicus watch.  I don’t know much about the history of these watches.  I’ve seen it suggested that they were originally designed to mark the quincentenary of the birth of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus but as that was in 1473 that would date them to the 1970′s.  Alternatively, the name Copernic (or Kopernic or Copernicus) may refer to the way the round markers (it seems wrong to call them hands) circle each others with a planetary or orbital motion.

Fundamentally, this is a basic mechanical watch with the unique selling point of the unusual hands which are often referred to as planetary or a “sun and moon” as once an hour they form an eclipse.

This watch is in quite good condition and keeping good time.  The case is a little worn showing what appears to be underlying brass but that just adds to the astronomical instrument feel of the piece.  The crystal (actually acrylic) face is probably new as it shows very little sign of wear compared to the rest of the watch.  The hands and face show a little wear.  The dial itself has a CCCP marking dating it to the Soviet period, i.e. pre 1991, so it is at least 20 years old.

Overall, it’s a functioning timepiece that is interesting to look at and draws plenty of positive comments from colleagues and friends.  I mainly wear it with a black suit for a sober but interesting appearance!

For those that are interested in the workings of mechanical watches there is a great series of photographs available here of a Raketa Copernicus being services.

Why I only Wear Cheap Watches

  By D Clothier | August 15, 2011 - 8:52 pm | Men's Accessories, Mens Watches
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The smart answer is that because that is all that I can afford; but that is not actually the case, or at least, is only part of it. It is true that if I could afford it I would have a huge collection of haute horology and wear a different one every day to according to how feel. But as my budget is somewhat more limited than my taste, I have had to settle for a small collection of affordable watches that are suitable for the different looks that I wear.

I have to admit here that I love watches, most men do. They tick all the boxes for what attracts guys; they’re gadgets; they’re status symbols; they’re one of the few forms of jewellery for men that are acceptable; and, of course, they are useful. More importantlthan all that, or perhaps the effect of all that, is they are a statement of individuality (or not) even more readable than a man’s clothes. A glance at a man’s watch will tell you a great deal about him. So by choosing your watch you choose what message is being given out.

The Horological Arms Race

This may be why many men go for big expensive watches. It’s the sartorial equivalent of an open top sports car. And it is the case that I do fancy expensive watches myself. Personally, I would love a Breuget but one of them could set you back the best part of €20,000. Even that is relatively affordable; a watch from Irish master watch makers the McGonigle Brothers could be ten times that.

And right there is one of the problems with expensive watches. There is no effective limit on the amount that they cost so no matter how much you are able to spend there is always the possibility that you will come up against somebody with a more expensive watch on their wrist. And if your self-image is reliant on a “mine is bigger than yours” watch you may suddenly find yourself feeling very small.

Another issue is that your watch should fit in with the rest of your outfit. A €5,000 watch looks a bit odd under the sleeve of a €500 suit. More to the point, people may well make a negative assessment based on an apparently overly-expensive watch. Either you have a taste for bling or there is something you are not telling them about your income (bad move if it’s the revenue that is checking you out) or, far worse, you have succumbed to the lures of a cheap “replica” watch. Or a fake as they are colloquially referred to. And there is nothing more naff than a fake watch. In fact, such is the prevalence of fake watches today that genuine watches by some of the world’s most famous brands are in danger of being mistaken for them. Hence the reason the big watch houses put so much effort into pursuing and prosecuting the fakers.

Cheap v Affordable

Cheap is an unfortunate term, with its associations with low quality. I much prefer the term affordable, which signifies a certain level of quality at a reasonable price. Timex watches, for example, produce decent quality watches for every budget. The question of what exactly is affordable is more difficult. After all, Bill Gates idea of what is affordable is considerably more expensive than mine. Basically, what is affordable will be dictated by your own income. No-one else can tell you how much you can really afford to spend on a watch. As with anything though, there is a certain element of you get what you pay for. It’s worth going that little bit further to ensure value for money.

What To Look For In An Affordable Watch

So what does the well dressed man look for in a watch? How does he choose a watch that looks good, suits his style and doesn’t break the bank? Well, let us go back to the comments I made earlier on why men like watches and take it from there.

To start with the obvious one – watches tell the time. Actually, it’s debatable as to how important that is these days. In the early days of horology time was fluid and hard to pin down. But today most men have access to a myriad of time checks. Every electronic gadget, even your mobile phone, will instantly update you as to the time. And yet there is something reassuring about being able to glance at your wrist and get a fairly accurate update on the time. So, I am a traditionalist. By and large I like my watches to be easy to read and reasonably reliable. I say reasonably because, hey, I’m Irish, five or ten minutes either way doesn’t matter in the greater scheme of things. Seriously though, a watch should be accurate and fortunately, even cheap quartz movements are sufficient for reasonably accurate timekeeping. Readability usually means a clear dial with large hands pointing out the time but , having said that, there are many interesting timepieces available with alternative approaches to displaying the time and I may come back to them in later posts.

As for watches being gadgets, well they’re a one trick pony really. They tell the time and that’s about it. Well chronographs, diving watches and the like have some other useful and important functions but I go with the old design dictum of form follows function. For my everyday watches I want them to tell the time and for sports watches I want them to perform their subordinate functions efficiently and, again, clearly.

No, I think the really important factor is that watches are also an adornment, an accessory, even a form of jewellery if you must. And, as with any other accessory, a watch should be chosen for its style , for its design and for its look. Now that can mean one that catches your eye for any sort of reason or just one that matches your outfit (and if you’re fastidious about these things you can always make sure your watchstrap matches your belt which matches your shoes). I look for classic design in my watches and there are a surprising number of classic designs at affordable prices. The Mondaine Swiss Railway Watch is a good example and one that I wear as an everyday watch. If on trend looks are more your thing then dedicated fashion watch brands like Diesel or Fossil churn out hundreds of stylish and trendy designs every year.

Which does raise the issue of the status symbol aspect of a watch. If you are going for a more individual or unusual watch than you are relying on its style and design qualities to give the message that you are a man of taste and discernment. A good watch is about more than the price tag. Like a good suit or fine shoes it will give off a message of class and quality.

Where To Watch The Watches

Unless you wear the same outfit all the time (and where is the fun in that?) start putting together a small collection of affordable watches choosing them forspecific occasions, outfits or needs. That way you will always have a classic accessory on your wrist and you’ll give out the message that you may not have a fortune but you always have style. Consider what sort of watch you need for work, for sport or for dating. Take some time to look on line. Look at what the men you take design cues off of are wearing. Do plenty of research. Start right here on the internet. From Amazon to Ebay there are piles of watches to be discovered. Look at watch forums, I’m a big fan of watchuseek, and just use Google to search for interesting, alternative and affordable watches. There’s a whole wide world and web of wonderful watches just waiting for you.

I hope to post a bit more about watches here on The Linen Suit. In the short term I am going to start an occasional series of reviews of the watches that I own and, maybe, that I aspire to own, so watch this space and come back for more.

Take A Bow If You Wear Real Bow Ties

  By D Clothier | July 17, 2011 - 4:46 pm | Men's Accessories, Mens Suits, Ties
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Bow Ties
Well, his bow tie seems to be getting plenty of attention, or maybe it’s the hat. || image © Jamie Duplass via photoxpress.com

I had to attend a literary award dinner recently (no, I was not the recipient of an award myself, just somebody’s plus guest) which meant digging out the formal evening wear as it was a black tie affair.  And it took a bit of digging.  Back at the height of the Celtic Tiger madness I seemed to be going to black tie events every other night, now that we’re all broke again it seems to be nothing but no tie events.  In any event, I eventually found my tuxedo, a proper Marcella dress shirt and a black bow tie.  Then I spent ten minutes in front of the mirror trying to remember how to tie a bow tie.

You see, the thing is if you are going to wear bow ties you have to wear proper ones.  Ones that you actually tie to make a nice bow out of.  The ready tied, clip on ones just do not cut it on a man who aspires to be well dressed.  They just look cheap and lazy.  And you run the risk of being mistaken for a waiter as in G.K.Chesterton’s story “The Queer Feet” and, indeed, as once happened to me at a wedding.

So, for formal wear, it must be a black silk hand tied bow tie (unless it’s “white tie” in which case it needs to be a white marcella tie but let’s not go there today).  The other advantage of a real bow tie is that at the appropriate stage late in the evening, or early the next morning, you can untie it, undo your top button and drape the tie rakishly across your shoulders.

Not that I would limit bow ties to formal wear. Actually, for me I do, but I recognise that a bow tie is an acceptable form of necktie for the stylish man.  Indeed, I notice them increasingly in fashion shoots and articles.  They add a bit of individuality and eccentricity to an outfit.  The classic look in mens bow ties must be the academic look; a brightly patterned, or even novelty, bow tie worn with a bad shirt and a tweed jacket, maybe even a tank top.  Actually, it’s a good look although it can look like a bit pretentious.  You would want to be confident that you could hold your own in academic discourse before trying it.

A more modern alternative is a bright, but not novelty, floppy bow tie with a really good suit.  It softens the formality of the suit and certainly makes the wearer stand out from the crowd.  It also works well with more casual shirts or non-traditional formal shirts, that is colored or patterned ones.

However you decide to wear it though, it has to be a real bow tie tied into a real bow.

And sorry about the title, I love puns and word play, it’s a weakness, sorry :-)

The Linen Cap – A Surprising Alternative Men’s Hat For Summer

  By D Clothier | June 14, 2011 - 11:11 pm | Men's Accessories, Mens Hats
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I don’t know what’s happened to the weather this year but here in Dublin it’s gone absolutely mad. I know we joke that in Ireland you get all four seasons in one day but it’s even more changeable than usual. Right now, at the start of June, the temperature is swinging from ground frost to the low twenties and it can go from bright sunshine to hail stones in the matter of minutes.

Naturally, this is making every day decisions on what to wear quite difficult. I’ve sort of settled on a light suit for work, with a raincoat for the showers and a tank top (or sweater vest in the US) for when the temperature drops. But I’m left wondering about the headgear. I’m a great believer in mens hats (see my about me picture) and that men should wear some sort of headgear when outdoors. This is particularly important at this time of year for those of us who are a little… how do I put it … thinner on top. In fact, having long ago resigned myself to the loss of my hair I now keep it shaved close to my skull. When I say I can do nothing with my hair, I mean it. But this does create a small problem with sun burn, and, believe me, like all pale Irish men I burn easily.

Normally, at this time of year I wear a sun hat when out and about, usually a traditional panama hat or some other form of white hat, typicallyy a fedora hat made from straw or light linen and, on Bloomsday (only) I’ve been known to sport a straw boater. The thing is they don’t seem to take the rain well and they do look slightly silly in the middle of a cold, grey, city downpour. The range of stylish sunhats for men is a bit limited at the best of times and I feel an old-fashioned felt hat is a little out of character in summer. I like to wear light colored and linen suits at this time of year and they just don’t go with a felt hat. Anyway, I was browsing through H&M while dodging a shower last week and I came across a linen cap which seems to tick all the boxes.

I have a soft spot for flat caps at the best of times but normally I would wear a traditional Donegal tweed cap. They’re great in winter as they are both warm and waterproof. They’re also easy to fold up and slip into a bag, or even a pocket, and as they come in an endless variety of colours I have a selection of them to go with different outfits. Actually, I also like traditional snapback hats or baseball caps too but they are too casual for wearing to work.

Enough of that, the linen cap is perfect, and cheap too. It’s a simple tan flat cap which looks quite smart in that sort of old Italian way I like. It keeps both sun and rain off the head and as it is pure linen it is also cool to wear. I imagine it’s easy to clean – I haven’t had the need to wash it yet – and it should last a few months which will get us through the short Irish summer. It also works with both my dark business suits and my lighter, more casual linen suits. Right now I’m wearing it with a tan raincoat and a pair of cheap shades, it’s that sort of weather. By the way, I only ever wear cheap sunglasses these days as I keep losing them and I really can’t afford to be losing expensive shades, what with the recession and all.

So, this week’s tip is, if you want something flexible and fun in mens hats, try a linen cap.

The Skinny On Skinny Ties For Men

  By D Clothier | June 2, 2011 - 5:49 pm | Men's Accessories, Mens Suits, Ties
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Drawing of Anita Ekberg and Marcello Mastroianni © Rocio Garro via Flikr

Writing the post the other day about the black suit got me thinking about skinny ties again. It is one of those fashion stereotypes, the skinny man in the skinny black suit with the skinny black tie. And it can look kind of cool and interesting on skinny young arty guys. Maybe that’s why that particular look gets a lot of bad press. I’m amazed at the amount of men’s style writers, bloggers and commentators that just dismiss the look out of hand. Having said that, I know skinny ties are back in fashion at the moment, although usually accompanied by all sorts of warnings about the supposed difficulties of wearing them and saying they are really for younger men.

I disagree. I think skinny ties have a place in the well dressed man’s wardrobe. I accept that they can be difficult to carry off but that is more to do with our preconceptions than anything else. You see, I was thinking about the whole black suit and skinny tie ensemble and I found myself thinking back to Marcello Mastroianni in La Dolce Vita (pictured right). I love that movie for all sorts of reasons; it is a brilliant piece of cinema that half a century on is still a classic; everything and everyone in it looks so stylish; and it set the blueprint for society, for style and for celebrity culture that is being followed to this day, very often by people who have never even seen the movie. But I love it most of all because Mastroianni is the epitome of cool sophistication. He spends most, or possibly all of the film, in a black suit, a white tie and a skinny tie. And you know what, he wasn’t some young skinny kid then either. He was a big, handsome Italian with an athlete’s body who was well into his thirties. And he still looked cool.

So what is the secret of wearing a black skinny tie? Well in his case it was about proportion. Although most stylists will tell you that a skinny tie is less than 2 inches, the reality, as with all menswear, is that it is about appearance. A skinny tie is one that appears skinny, narrow or thin on you. What really decides it is your own size and what you wear. The fat man’s skinny tie is the thin man’s wide tie. Look at Mastroianni again. His ties, while definitely narrow, are not overly so, they are certainly not the skinniest you’ve ever seen. For the well built man with a big chest a tie that is a little below average width will appear tastefully skinny. The same goes for the larger man. When choosing a skinny tie see how it looks against your chest rather than just comparing it to other ties. When you are wearing it that is what people will see and that is how they will assess it.

This classic style is quite straightforward to achieve. We’re looking at a black single breasted suit, a white shirt and a skinny black tie, the whole finished off, naturally, with a pair of black shoes. My taste would be for monochrome accessories in steel or silver tone too. If you are young, and thin you can get away with some cheap, shiny combination of the above but for the older, well dressed man, and in this case that means pretty much any guy who is not a teenager, you need to spend your time and money on quality clothing to get this to work. You need a good well tailored black wool suit. Likewise, you match it with a white cotton shirt that fits well and is clean and pressed. Finally the tie should be narrow enough that it is noticeably thinner than the average tie but not so thin that it looks like a string tie hanging lonely and lost against the vast white expanse of your chest.

And what about other colors of skinny ties, you ask? Well, I suppose very much the same rules apply although skinny colored ties don’t do an awful lot for me. They can have a slimming effect though, just as the vertical stripes on a pinstripe suit can make one look taller and thinner, wearing slightly thinner ties with your business suit can make you seem that little bit slimmer and younger. Just don’t overdo the skinniness of the tie.

Really though, as the song says, you want to be Italian. You want that casual elegance, that simple black and white style. It is very much the male equivalent of the little black dress. Dressed this way you can go anywhere at any time of day and it will carry you from the office to the party and, well, let’s just say it looks good at breakfast too!

Pink Ties Go Great With A White Linen Suit

  By D Clothier | January 9, 2011 - 12:52 am | Men's Accessories, Ties
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When it comes to choosing a tie to go with your white linen suit there are many choices and they will depend upon the overall look and style that you are aiming for.  If you are going to wear a tie with your suit then it can tie the whole look together (if you forgive the expression).  However, pink may not have been the first color that sprung to mind.  Most men gravitate towards sensible ties in solid subdued colors and patterns or else for loud novelty ties.  Understandably, as they both have their advantages and attractions and work well in the right setting.    Pink is often seen as too loud or too feminine or simply too difficult to carry off.  But a pink tie can work surprisingly well with a white suit.

Pink is, of course, seen as a typically feminine color.  But it is a color that can look well on a man and, worn the right way and with the right outfit, it will look just as masculine as any other color.  Having said that, too much pink can be overpowering, a strong pink shirt smacks of Miami Vice!  So a tie is a good way to introduce some pink into an outfit in a striking but manageable quantity.

For a formal look, a smart white suit with a crisp white will look good with a strong formal silk tie.  Look for a darker, stronger shade of pink with maybe a simple pattern – slim stripes in contrasting silver would be good.  For a dandified air match it with a pink pocket square in the same shade and even pink socks.  For a successful formal look it must of course be a silk tie.   But then, when would you wear a tie that is not made from silk?

A pink silk tie is just as suitable for an informal look.  Well, a dressed down, less formal look.  Here it is about playing around and finding a distinctive personal style.  You can also introduce more color by wearing a shirt in a subdued shade of blue or gray that will highlight the pinkness of the tie and perhaps pick up on any pattern in it.  For a more casual look you can play with fancy patterns and even pink novelty ties.   Do try and avoid a pink shirt though, the whole tone on tone shirt and tie combination is very passé and for most guys a pink tie over a pink shirt would be just too much.

Bear in mind also your own colouring.  Pink clothes look better on darker skinned men so if you don’t have a good tan you might want to avoid them.  Certainly they can make pale men’s skin look washed out and they clash terribly a ruddy face.  And that would include a bright red sunburnt face too!

Why not consider other forms of necktie too?  A pink bow tie might be more suitable for an elderly academic on vacation but it could also be used with a white linen suit for a formal evening event.  Of course white evening wear is uncommon today but it would certainly be lightened up by a pink bow.  A more casual and sporty look would be to wear a pink cravat with an open white shirt under a linen suit.

Whatever type of pink necktie he chooses, the man who wears one is saying that he is not afraid for his masculinity.  Nor is he afraid to try out new ideas and new looks.  So for a striking look why not try one?  After all, if you change your mind it’s easy  to whip off a tie and slip it into a pocket.

 

When it comes to choosing a tie to go with your white linen suit there are many choices and they will depend upon the overall look and style that you are aiming for.If you are going to wear a tie with your suit then it can tie the whole look together (if you forgive the expression).However, pink may not have been the first color that sprung to mind.Most men gravitate towards sensible ties in solid subdued colors and patterns or else for loud novelty ties.Understandably, as they both have their advantages and attractions and work well in the right setting.Pink is often seen as too loud or too feminine or simply too difficult to carry off.But a pink tie can work surprisingly well with a white suit.

Pink is, of course, seen as a typically feminine color.But it is a color that can look well on a man and, worn the right way and with the right outfit, it will look just as masculine as any other color.Having said that, too much pink can be overpowering, a strong pink shirt smacks of Miami Vice!So a tie is a good way to introduce some pink into an outfit in a striking but manageable quantity.

For a formal look, a smart white suit with a crisp white will look good with a strong formal silk tie.Look for a darker, stronger shade of pink with maybe a simple pattern – slim stripes in contrasting silver would be good.For a dandified air match it with a pink pocket square in the same shade and even pink socks.For a successful formal look it must of course be a silk tie.But then, when would you wear a tie that is not made from silk?

A pink silk tie is just as suitable for an informal look.Well, a dressed down, less formal look.Here it is about playing around and finding a distinctive personal style.You can also introduce more color by wearing a shirt in a subdued shade of blue or gray that will highlight the pinkness of the tie and perhaps pick up on any pattern in it.For a more casual look you can play with fancy patterns and even pink novelty ties.Do try and avoid a pink shirt though, the whole tone on tone shirt and tie combination is very passé and for most guys a pink tie over a pink shirt would be just too much.

Bear in mind also your own colouring.Pink clothes look better on darker skinned men so if you don’t have a good tan you might want to avoid them.Certainly they can make pale men’s skin look washed out and they clash terribly a ruddy face.And that would include a bright red sunburnt face too!

Why not consider other forms of necktie too?A pink bow tie might be more suitable for an elderly academic on vacation but it could also be used with a white linen suit for a formal evening event.Of course white evening wear is uncommon today but it would certainly be lightened up by a pink bow.A more casual and sporty look would be to wear a pink cravat with an open white shirt under a linen suit.

Whatever type of pink necktie he chooses, the man who wears one is saying that he is not afraid for his masculinity.Nor is he afraid to try out new ideas and new looks.So for a striking look why not try one?After all, if you change your mind it’s easyto whip off a tie and slip it into a pocket.