Cravats

[New London]

I know these days cravats are usually reserved for only the most special occasions and then typically with morning dress, but is wearing a cravat (an azure blue one, worn on a wing-collar shirt and with a buff linen waistcoat) with a charcoal-black suit out of the question?

[New London]

An ascot, but tied Ruche.

It's not a formal occasion, no dress code, just a smart day/evening in central London.

[Costi]

Not of question if you plan to spend a quiet morning at home watching "Murder at the Gallop" after Agatha Christie

[New London]

Basically, what I'm saying is "is it really that wrong to wear a cravat as a tie, without wearing a morning coat"?

I can't see how it's so different (when also wearing a waistcoat) to wearing a silk tie.

[Costi]

Wing collar shirt worn with cravat and charcoal lounge suit... The mere fact that you have doubts about it is a good indicator that it leans too much towards costume. If we put on everything that we admire in the history of dress, we risk ending up as picturesque characters rather than elegant dressers.

[New London]

I understand what you're saying and perhaps it is leaning towards costume.

Found this photo, which gives a cravat (with wing collar) v. tie (with turned down collar) contrast:



Not such a "costume" look (the chap on the left)? Granted, the buff and blue gives a "louder", more colourful appearance, but the overall look would be similar to that of the chap on the left in the photo.

[Man at C&A]

To jump on the subject whilst it's open. I'll be marrying next summer and have settled on a Morning Suit in mid grey. I was intending to wear a New & Lingwood shirt with a detachable Cameron cutaway collar and a four in hand tie. My bride however has expressed a preference for a wing collar and a 'cravat' which I will interpret as a pukka Ascot.

I seriously dislike wing collars and think they only look right when done with White Tie. I do however like the idea of an Ascot. Can these be worn with turn-down collars? I've not seen any reliable sources to state eitherway.

G

[Costi]

Let your bride worry about her own dress and leave you to choose your clothes as you like it. Her choosing your wedding clothes for you is not the best start The turndown collar with a four in hand will be perfect. Get a black (dark gray) morning coat made, the mid gray morning suit is racing gear.

NL, if that picture doesn't dissuade you all by itself, I don't know what else I can add...

[Simon A]

Indeed. Poor lads both need a good barberin'......and bow ties with their dinner jackets.

[New London]

Granted, their hair, um, "styles" doesn't benefit my argument!

Clearly the ascot cravat (even when tied scrunchie/ruche) worn with a lounge suit is a rare sight. But I've looked through some (British) tailors' brochures and have found some examples of it being done well.



(The cravat used here is, in my opinion, as bit too loud! Even for a wedding...)

I just find the tie to be too business-like and day-to-day - I wear one every time I'm in the office! (As does nearly everyone in London - the tie is very much "back" in England now.) Clearly wearing an ascot cravat in its formal style (with pin, etc) is too much and only should be done with morning dress, but done in a ruche knot it's (in my eyes) more like the tie, just one which is never worn to work and is instead more associated with out-of-work events, albeit more-than-often weddings.

[Costi]

But I've looked through some (British) tailors' brochures and have found some examples of it being done well.

...and the matching pocket square is a very telling finishing touch
New London, I think you'd better stop thinking about the tie as a boring business accessory and see it with different eyes. Maybe start refreshing your tie wardrobe a bit. An ascot is very nice tucked inside the shirt, worn with a pair of slacks and an odd jacket. The above combinations have a very high style quotient in my opinion, but with a minus in front.