Button down collar with double cuffs.

[cufflink44]

Metcalfe, let me too say thank you for drawing an unexpected connection between elegant language and elegant apparel. Clearly, many contributors to LL aspire to both; I must confess, however, that I for one never before saw the link. Brilliant.

A possible point of interest, or at least curiosity: Upon looking up the quotes in my own edition of Williams (8th, 2005), I discovered a change the author had made. It’s no longer “those first awkward failures” but simply “those first failures.” I assume Williams reconsidered his original statement and decided either that (1) not all first failures are awkward (I suppose someone can fail with panache!), or that (2) the awkwardness of first failures is a given and needn’t be mentioned explicitly.

More to the matter at hand, what do Lounge members feel about tab collars, either of the button or snap variety? And do they go with double cuffs?

[AlexanderKabbaz]

More to the matter at hand, what do Lounge members feel about tab collars, either of the button or snap variety? And do they go with double cuffs?

Given my well-known and oft derided penchant for single link cuffs, I'll opine that I prefer the tab collar with them. If, though, you must be more of a conformist, double cuffs are fine.

On the other hand, I heartily disagree with the button or snap as the proper tab closure. The only correct closure for the collar and tabs is the proper length of collar stud. On a high tab, a button is permissable as the closure for the ancillary (second, uppermost) button.

[Metcalfe]

A possible point of interest, or at least curiosity: Upon looking up the quotes in my own edition of Williams (8th, 2005), I discovered a change the author had made. It’s no longer “those first awkward failures” but simply “those first failures.” I assume Williams reconsidered his original statement and decided either that (1) not all first failures are awkward (I suppose someone can fail with panache!), or that (2) the awkwardness of first failures is a given and needn’t be mentioned explicitly.

Dear Cufflink44,

You are very kind. I've been using quotes about elegant dressing to teach students how to write, so I just reversed the metaphor for the London Lounge. I was quoting from the 7th edition of Williams; my new 8th edition should arrive this week. I suspect your second idea explains the revision.

Metcalfe

[BirdofSydney]

Since we're unable to enforce the "no hoodies in the City" or "no g-strings poking out of your jeans in the City" rule...

I always keep my g-string firmly ensconced until I can smell the country air of my estate...

[Metcalfe]

I always keep my g-string firmly ensconced until I can smell the country air of my estate...

Eden, isn't that a line from Kipling's poem, If ?

"If you can keep your G-string ensconsed when all about you are showing theirs...you'll be a man my son!"

Metcalfe

[TVD]

Cary Grant could carry off French cuffs on a button down shirt, and there are girls who can make said g-string poking out of their jeans look heavenly. Imagine what havoc they would wreak on our feelings if they decided to dress elegantly!

[whittaker]

Cary Grant could carry off French cuffs on a button down shirt, and there are girls who can make said g-string poking out of their jeans look heavenly.

Whilst I heartily agree with the former, I cannot quite bring myself to believe the latter. To me it is one of the more nauseating sights visible in the city in the last few years. Do you have any examples proving otherwise?

[BirdofSydney]

Cary Grant could carry off French cuffs on a button down shirt, and there are girls who can make said g-string poking out of their jeans look heavenly. Imagine what havoc they would wreak on our feelings if they decided to dress elegantly!

I think there are girls who could look elegant in spite of this faux pas?

And as for your mooted imaginary scenario, I tried to visualise it but stopped when it started to ruin the line of my trousers...

Best,

Eden

[Cufflink79]

Cary Grant could carry off French cuffs on a button down shirt, and there are girls who can make said g-string poking out of their jeans look heavenly. Imagine what havoc they would wreak on our feelings if they decided to dress elegantly!

I agree that Cary Grant could carry off BDC with FC. He could carry off just about anything because he was Cary Grant. As for women, all it takes for me to get excited is to see her in a business suit, evening dress, or a dress shirt, tie, & cufflinks and nothing else .

Best Regards,

Cufflink79

[Wakefield]

Gentlemen

As a first time poster to this (and, in fact to any) forum I hope to break myself in gently by adding another 'film spot' for the button down collar and french cuff combination.

I believe that Frank Sinatra wore this combination in several scenes in 'High Society'. I am straining my memory to the limit here but recall that it was a white shirt (possibly broadcloth) teamed with a sports jacket and trousers and was worn in the early scenes of the film.

I have always taken Sinatra's dress in that film to be a means of reinforcing the juxtaposition of his character's street-smart credentials against the upper class circles he found himself unwillingly thrown into. As he was wandering around dressed as above he was meeting the likes of Bing Crosby sporting flannels, spectators and blazers.

Regards

G A H

[silver]

Good morning every honorable members.
Although the topic has been inactive for a while now, it has created the utmost interest amongst all of you, so that I have chosen it to introduce my self here.
My humble contribution could be such as follows: what about button down collars and double cuffs, if the latter are not buttonable, as those worn by mr. Connery, and designed by Turnbull and Asser.
To me the idea is simply repulsive, but alas, when I first heard of mr.Grant wearing that wrong wrong wrong..."thing", I felt dizzy enough to imagine another devilish combination

S.

[exigent]

Good morning every honorable members.
Although the topic has been inactive for a while now, it has created the utmost interest amongst all of you, so that I have chosen it to introduce my self here.
My humble contribution could be such as follows: what about button down collars and double cuffs, if the latter are not buttonable, as those worn by mr. Connery, and designed by Turnbull and Asser.
To me the idea is simply repulsive, but alas, when I first heard of mr.Grant wearing that wrong wrong wrong..."thing", I felt dizzy enough to imagine another devilish combination

S.

I don't wish to be unkind, young fellow, but this post is simply incomprehensible. Take a deep breath. And please note that among the contributions found above, there are several which address your concerns.

Welcome to the forum and good luck to you.

[BirdofSydney]

I suspect the fellow is referring to "casino" cuffs.

I second the welcome!

Best,

E

[alden]

I read something yesterday while doing some research that may shed light on Cary Grant's dress in films and in private.



Firstly, it appears that Grant always chose the clothes he wore in films. This was a bit of a throw back to the days of early cinema when actors were obliged to provide their own clothes. Grant chose to stick with this throughout his career. When it came to Hitchcock, he made sure the director approved. The blue/grey suits we so admire from "North by Northwest" were cut in Cannes. Grant had five identical suits made for the filming.

The second interesting revelation is that Grant had a personal rule regarding shirts (and it is a rule that some of us may have grown up with too): "White shirts are only to be worn with "French" cuffs." This explains the white shirt button down, double cuff choice. Grant's personal rule put him in conflict with what one would normally assume to be the accepted usage. And his sense of taste, or his priorities of taste with respect to what he knew to be the established rules, was sufficiently strong to allow him to pull the combination off with ease.

My hat is off to all who have participated in this thread as it is one that has been conducted thoughtfully.

[exigent]

I appreciate your intelligent contribution here, Mr Alden. And while I stand four-square behind my original post on the subject, the rule which Grant applied to his dilemma makes complete sense...at last. In addition, good to note once again that Alan Flusser was selling the heck out of button-down shirts with French cuffs in the late 1980s. I thought the style an abortion then, and I haven't changed my mind, but your thoughtful clarification absolves Grant, to some degree.