All My Ties - Part 2

Mad as hell ties and they're not going to take it anymore.  In part one of All My Ties one very distinguished necktie pleads his case to be worn to work on the following day.  Ties that talk, "I'm subtle, understated, I won't over power and yet I contribute to an impression of quiet confidence."   The following morning that collection of unique ties from across the spectrum of fashion leads a revolution against the casual dress code.  If you love neckties you'll love part 2 of All My Ties.

Talking Zealous Neckties With Personality

All My Neckties

A revolution against the casual dress code led by a band of zealous neckties seems like a cheap 50's Saturday Horror film.  It's Attack of the Killer Neckties, not much unlike Attack of the Killer Tomatoes.  These are angry neckties and they are out to make a change.  One man sees it a bit different. 

Check out part one of All My Ties.

    

What Casual Really Means

Casual Friday Gone Too Far

CAS-U-AL
Pronunciation: ( Kazh’OO-ul )

This photo is a bit exagerated but it does get the point across rather nicely.  It is funny how the same word with just two extra letters - CASUALTY - takes on a whole new meaning. Becoming the casualty of not being well groomed - the outcome of being casual in attire - which can result in the un-welcome result of losing the faith and respect of peers. Not achieving the full potential of one’s position in career or perhaps not realizing opportunity that is forgiven due to being over looked.  In the not so distant past, a man who wanted to really be taken seriously in his carreer and in his life usually wore a suit and necktie. It was simply a way of acheiving distinction.  Dressing up for work and when socializing showed respect and as well earned its share of the same.

By chance, without definite or serious intention, careless, apathetic, unconcerned, irregular, mishap, uncertain. These are some of the words that are associated with the definition of the word casual. All of which are words that most men would prefer not being used to describe their character.

Casual - Taken from an on-line dictionay. 

ADJECTIVE

1. happening by chance; fortuitous: a casual meeting.

2. without definite or serious intention: careless or offhand: passing: a casual remark.

3. seeming or tending to be indifferent to what is happening; apathetic: unconcerned: a casual, or nonchalant appearance.

4. appropriate for wear or use on informal occasions; not dressy: casual clothes; casual wear.

5. irregular; occasional: a casual visitor.

6. accidental: a casual mishap.

7. Obs. uncertain.


NOUN

1. a worker employed only irregularly.

Would Beethoven Ever Have Worn a Music Tie



Ludwig van Beethoven wearing a cravatte

Music theme ties are for the music lover in all of us, not just musicians.

Would Beethoven ever have worn a music necktie? This hypothetical question could be answered as, yes - well probably, would be a better answer. He was a bit of an eccentric, not that it is a bad thing to be a little crazy.  After all, aren’t all artists eccentric?  Being eccentric is what makes them artists.  Not that you have to be nuts to wear novelty neckties, you just have to have the right personality and you would need to be comfortable with receiving a lot of attention. 

Music neckties could never have been imagined by Beethoven at the end of the 18th century, a little more than 200 years ago, The tie, or cravatte as it was called at the time, was a serious accessory to a man’s attire.  Any garment that was customary in that era would not have been designed as novelty themed fashion.

Born in 1770 in Bonn Germany, he became musically recognized as a court musician when he began supporting himself and his family at a very young age do to his father's alcoholism. At twenty years old, a composition of great value while under the tutelage of German composer Christian Gottlob Neefe became cause for his study in Vienna with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Mozart’s death in 1791 prevented this from occurring; however Beethoven went to Vienna and became the student of Austrian composer Joseph Haydn. Surely Mozart was no easy act to follow at the turn of the 19th Century in Vienna.  The sensational composer that he would become, Ludwig Von Beethoven was at first stigmatized having to measure up to Mozart.

Vienna Opera House

At the age of 18 he started experiencing a loss of hearing which of all things was the most important of the five senses to a musician.   Despite the severity of his condition he was capable of composing works that to this day are valued as timeless symphonies.  Truly a testament to his genius was the fact that could hear the notes in his head.

He became quite popular due to his piano improvising none the less his compositions with Viennese music publishers. His style of music veered from what many thought to be a refinement of Mozart’s work which afforded him great success with the market for published music, something that had evaded Mozart a decade earlier. In the first decade of the 19th century he illustrated the complete Viennese classical style of symphony, concerto, string quartet, and sonata.

Perhaps Beethoven's best known classical work ever is his 5th Symphony which took about four years to complete in 1808; performed in Vienna's Theater an der Wien.   Other popular works remembered in modern times evolved from the Symphony number 3 – Erotica, 1803 and Symphony number. 8 – 1812.    

Much of Europe was at the mercy of Napoleon from 1804 to 1815 with an occupation of Vienna in 1805 creating political stress in Austria.  Although he had achieved success as a composer he was distraught with his personal life and the world.  The height of his fame was realized in this period however his hearing impairment worsened, causing him great difficulty in his life as he was ofter ridiculed and laughed at due to his flawed hearing. He became socially isolated as a result which isolation which resulted in eccentric behavior becoming more apparent. Increasingly avoiding public appearances, 1814 saw his last performance. His difficulty with his love for women who were not within his reach due to their social status or the fact that were married caused him great pain. By 1818 he had become virtually deaf. This and other conflicts he had with family caused him to become a recluse with only a small circle of friends that he valued. His music became less fashionable with the exception of his Symphony Number 9. Although he had fallen from grace his funeral was attended by tens of thousands on March 26th 1827 in Vienna.

Beethoven's Ninth Symphony

In all he composed 9 symphonies, 7 concertos ( 5 for pianos ), 17 string quartets, 32 piano sonatas for cello and piano, an opera, 2 masses, several overtures, and numerous sets of piano variations. He is regarded as the representation of romanticism music style, and the greatest example of the classical style of Vienna. He personified the image of an artist being romantic through his symphonic style of drama.

The passion in his music has won the hearts and appreciation of generation after generation. For those who love Ludwig van Beethoven, or for those who just love music -  wearing music ties is a ritual more than like the habit of wearing such a fashion accessory. A necktie, especially a novelty tie illustrates a man’s artistic values and is a clue to his character better than anything else; save possibly having a half shaved head and a rainbow spiked hair doo highlighted with music note tattoos on your forehead. Wearing novelty theme music ties illustrating your love for music is much less severe and certainly a more socially accepted method of expression for sure.

Ludwig van Beethoven - Wikipedia the Internet encyclopedia

Beethoven.com - Classical music radio station on line

Check out our music neckties



Silk Classical Music Necktie

Music Scales Tie

Handsome Men Wearing Neckties

Jose Brandt, a very handsome man
 wearing a necktie

Left off the list of the 75 best dressed men in history by Esquire Magazine. 

Its hard to imagine how Esquire Magazine could overlook such a handsome guy, however they did just that.  It's possible that they just made a simple mistake.

Jose Brandt is a friend of mine's son and since this photo was taken at Wallmart over one year ago, he has become quite fond of ties.  Now, he has several "real" neckties that I have given him.   In his collection is an Xmen tie, a Disney Mickey Mouse tie, and a Yogi the Bear tie.  He is quite a busy guy so we have not had the time to schedule another photo shoot.  I guess his agent will have to impress upon him the value of being included in this blog.


Checkout our previous post Best Dressed Men of All Time

Neckties On The Menu

Mikheil Saakashvili nervous chewing his tie

Eat Your Tie

Got the munchies? When a Snickers or a slice of pizza just will not suffice you can eat your necktie. Finally someone came up with the perfect use for ties besides just being a fashion accessory as a form of personal artistic expression. It's not your ordinary run of the mill silk or poly tie that will fill this need. Well, maybe an ordinary tie could serve the same purpose as the “ Edible Reformist Tie,” latest contribution to men’s fashion however a regular necktie may not tastes as sweet and certainly will have no nutritional value. These neckties are actually sweet snacks made of traditional Georgian dried plum puree.


Why anyone would decide to make ties that can be eaten is not the usual brainstorm of an idea. The “Edible Tie” is result of a need to make a political statement by some clever and proud Georgians in Tbilisi that felt a need to answer back to anti-Georgian propaganda in the Russian media. It seems that the Russian media and Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin are making fun of the fact that Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili nervous chewing of his necktie from a television interview concerning the Georgian - Russia War of 2008 during what he thought was an “off camera.”  Referring to the infamous necktie eating Saakashvili, Putin joked that a meeting of Western leaders in Kiev in 2008 should be ”tie-less” as the Georgian president would scarf up the ties of the other leaders. So it is politics and national pride that is actual the brain child of this not-for-wearing necktie.


For the full explanation check out the article from news24 as it appeared on line Sept 13, 2011. 
Edible tribute to tie-chewing president

Read more here and see the television new broadcast
Radio Free Europe - Radio Liberty

Checkout the You Tube Video of Saakashvili chewing his tie. 

The 75 Best Dressed Men of All Time





Cary Grant, smooth operator, taught the world that there is
no substitute for good tailoring, and that there is no better
tailoring than the  kind found on Savile Row.

Esquire's 75 best dressed men ever

This is something worth checking out.  Some of these guys are naturals and others you may be surprised to find here.  My favorites are posted here.

Click the link to view the entire list Esquire's 75 Best Dressed Men of All Time




Al Pacino as Michael Corleon, gangster. An
important lesson in personal style. If you
want to look  important, dress important.





Marlon Brando, because he wore the clothes - not the
 other way around.

 
 



Hugh Hefner - Playboy, the former Esquire
editor epitomized mid-century swagger with
 suits, skinny ties, and his ever-present pipe.



Fred Astaire, “People think I was born in
top hat and tail.” He could dance like no one
else, and he always looked really good at it.




Al Capone, gangster this pinstripe suits, loved polka  dots.
  He used clothing to express his larger than life  personality.




Sean Connery as James Bond,  nobody made
it look easier. 




Muhammad Ali, heavyweight champion of the world
 as much precision with his suiting as he did in the ring.



Guy Style Guide - Fashion Tips on Neckties

Necktie Style

For a business staple, many men still get this garment so badly wrong, so keep these quick tips in mind at all times. Quick Mens Fashion Tips 4 Neckties - The Guys Style Guide

Here you will find some great advice about necktie selection, and tie knotting.  There is a great wealth of information regarding men's fashion and style on Guy Style Guide  
 


Another post of interest that is related is The Ultimate Mens Clothing Fit Guide

Necktie Strangler by Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock Another necktie strangling
(Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images) 

Murder by Necktie

Film director Sir Alfred Hitchcock buys a copy of the Evening Standard, with a chilling headline on July 26, 1971. He was in London publicizing his film "Frenzy," in which a serial killer uses a necktie to strangle his victims.

It is called serendipity - when as if by accident an event is orchestrated without planning or direction.  Sometimes things just fall into place perfectly.  This could not be illustrated greater than when Alfred Hitchcock was on a promotional visit to England regarding his novel Frensy.  The "Master of Suspense" became quite astonished to confront a sensational London Evening Standard Newspaper cover, "Another Necktie Strangling,"

His tale of a serial killer's unique method of murder by necktie strangulation was coincidentally an almost exact mirror reflection of reality.  In his chilling novel, very similar to a real serial murder spree in London,  the victims - all women - are turning up naked, raped and strangled by neckties. The Necktie Murderer is terrorizing London and police are desperate to track him down. All evidence leads to an innocent man, who must elude the law to prove his innocence. Finding the real murderer is the only way he can salvage his freedom.


Read more here Culture Vulture Alfred Hitchcock Frensy
 
watch the trailer on Squidoo Hitchcock's Frenzy
 
Read about Hitchcock Wikipedia Alfred Hitchcock

Table Napkins Shaped Like Neckties



Table Napkin Neckties

Your table dressing will never be complete until Napkin Neckties are gracing the silverwear, and plates.  If ever a gentleman felt like wiping his hands with his tie this will relieve that temptation.

Maybe this is the beginning of a resurgence in ties.  At this point anything cannot hurt.

For complete instructions on how to create such a wonderful table necktie napkin and other table napkin folding tricks visit Napkin Folding Guide