"Never Trust a Man in a Bow tie.”

“Never Trust a Man in a Bow tie.”

Recently one of our twitter peeps shared with us the above statement in reference to grandparents’ advice about used cars salesmen and other bow tie-wearing professionals. The implication of their advice is of course, to “beware of the bow tie wearers.” Because after all, everybody knows how untrustworthy and perhaps even dangerous our kind is, right? Although there are far more serious prejudices that need to be addressed in the world, it’s interesting to explore for the purposes of this blog, how our fashion, or more specifically, how bow ties, can potentially engender discrimination about our character. In other words, what do people think of us when we wear a bow tie?

Back in 2005, Warren St. John wrote an article for the New York Times entitled “A Red Flag that Comes in Many Colors,” describing many of the prejudices fellow bow tie lovers have faced over the years:

"To its devotees the bow tie suggests iconoclasm of an Old World sort, a fusty adherence to a contrarian point of view. The bow tie hints at intellectualism, real or feigned, and sometimes suggests technical acumen, perhaps because it is so hard to tie. Bow ties are worn by magicians, country doctors, lawyers and professors and by people hoping to look like the above. But perhaps most of all, wearing a bow tie is a way of broadcasting an aggressive lack of concern for what other people think."

What’s important to recognize from the different stereotypes enforced upon our fashion choices, is that many of these prejudices that St. John points out to us can easily be transformed into positives. For instance, the bow tie almost magically boost our IQ, giving off the impression that we have a master’s or PhD in Applied Physics, without necessarily having passed it as an undergrad, let alone having taken it. He also goes on to point out that we’re up for a challenge, as we’re willing to go the extra mile for style, and wrestle with the “technical acumen” in life, simply by figuring out the proper way to tie a bow tie.

No doubt his list of bow tie wearers needs to be updated. I have a hard time remembering David Blaine fixing his bow tie when his body was embedded in a block of ice in the middle of Times Square. But nonetheless, his comment still suggests that bow ties make us look professionally successful, even if our bank accounts beg to differ. However, the most important thing to keep in mind is his last remark about how the bow tie propels this idea that it is a symbol of “an aggressive lack of concern for what other people think.” It’s more than okay to be confident about who you are as a person, and to have a wardrobe that mirrors this feeling. After all, the homeless- hipster look has never been referred to as chic in Vogue or GQ. Remember: Wear the bow tie, but don’t let it wear you!

Still afraid to rock the bow tie? Here's a list of bow tie-wearing celebrities who are proud to show that bow ties are the way to go!

Bow tie-Lover of the Week

Unless you’ve been living under a rock the past few years, Kid Cudi is one of the biggest sensations in the world of hip hop since the gold chain. He proves to be a true bow tie- wearing inspiration, as Cudi knows how to keep it real. Easily able to transition from streetwear to formal, as well as have fun and mix the two, he’s able to pull almost any kind of look together with modest, yet classic black and solid -colored bow ties. Kid Cudi does the bow tie right by making it a showpiece itself, despite the frills of a tux, he’s able to display the bow tie’s versatility with the help of a neutral casual collared- shirt. His bow tie enhances his swagger by giving it a level of Old World sophistication.

OoOTie Picks: The Black Tie, Black on Copper, Cocoa, or Paisley.

Fun Fact: Oh yeah, aside from being an aspiring bow tie fashion icon, I guess he makes time to rap? Dance your way into the weekend with a sample from Kid Cudi’s latest album, Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Ranger.

Wise Words From a Fellow Bow tie Wearer:

“I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else.” ---Winston Churchill

Question of the Week: What do you think about people who wear bow ties?

**** Bow tie Fans-- OoOTie wants to hear from you! Please feel free to comment and email us suggestions about how to improve our blog. Do you have a bow tie-related story to share? What do and don't you want to see here? The OoOTie blog is as much about bow ties as it is about the people who wear them!