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366 Bow Ties, Day 129: Of bow ties and juice fasting

So I did this crazy thing. I have taken into my body nothing but air, a couple cups of coffee, and fresh pressed vegetable and fruit juice. For the last 6 days. Whoa.

The second day is the worst, so I brightened things up a bit with this snappy madras, made out of scraps from a men's shirt. And with watermelon juice. Yum.

The usual rule is that you mix complementary colors and varied scales. Technically, this university stripe oxford shirt has its scale represented in this bow tie, but I don't believe it ends up being too busy, since the small stripe pattern on the bow tie is actually a sub-pattern of the much larger-scaled plaid. Makes perfect sense, right? Just sound like you know what you're talking about, and wear it with confidence, and everyone thinks you're a genius. A fly genius.

Until they see that you're juice fasting. Then they think you're crazy and stupid. I kind of think they're right. Either way, it's over tomorrow evening. Can't wait to chew again.

In the mean time, chew on this: I'll give you this great, one-of-a-kind bow tie for a whole dollar off the usual price. Buy it here.

Cordially,

Andy

366 Bow Ties: Day 105

Spring is a big deal for Rock Hill, our beloved town. A big part of that big deal is the Come See Me festival, which begins with a parade. We set up shop with a whole slew of potters, artists, and crafters in conjunction with the parade festivities.

Just when I thought we had stolen the show, the Shriners came by doing their crazy stunts in their go carts. Forgot about them. They always steal the show.

I think our display is pretty snazzy if you ask me. Valet for hanging bow ties. Bunting. Hand-painted sign by Stephen. Our model Winthrop sporting our wares. Photo of our adorable kiddos sporting bow ties. And lots of bow ties.

I reached for a standard blue seersucker in classic cut. Hard to believe I haven't already worn this. But I guess Easter was just a month ago. Still.

Get hold of this Cordial Churchman classic. The tie that really got us all started.

Enjoy,

Andy

366 Bow Ties: Day 131

The Old Town Market has become one of our favorite events in our beloved city. Our neighbor-farmers set up tables full of their delicious produce and meats. Our neighbor-artisans set up tables full of their fine craftsmanship. And we get to hop up on a stage a few times each summer as The Perfect Melancholies (which, coincidentally, is the same line-up as the Hill City Church band) and provide entertainment.

About the time our neighbor-farmers were picking fresh produce for the market from the earth, our Belles picked a red silk necktie with pretty blue flowers (sorry for the lack of specificity; I'm no gardener) from the box full of would-be bow ties and made this classic bow tie for our market performance.

We'd be delighted to come and play at your neighborhood farmer's market---or better yet, in a quaint old theater on your Main St. Just let us know. In a couple weeks we are providing entertainment for a Chester County church's community BBQ. That sounds about right.

We'd also be delighted if you took this gorgeous bow tie off our hands, and put the cash into our project to bring beauty and delight to children in Haiti. Grab it here.

Cordially,

Andy

366 Bow Ties: Day 130

This shouldn't happen. Gingham. And then more gingham, in a different scale. On the same bow tie. On a gingham shirt, with yet a different scale. And a gingham pocket square too? All blue? With blue jeans? And a blue blazer?

Ah, but the blues are rescued by the green boots. Still, what's the deal?

I don't know. Something about having a beautiful wife makes me not care about having 4 pieces of gingham on at the same time.

Happy birthday, Ellie! You are gorgeous.

If you look closely, you'll see that the larger gingham ('buffalo check', my man Mr. Goodwill Hunting calls it) is on a smaller paddle than the smaller gingham on the back side. So it's got all this 'depth perspective' or whatever Dominique the abstract artist and Churchbelle who made it might want to call it. Add the smaller check on the shirt, and it's like you're wearing 3D goggles.

But still, Ellie's pretty, so I'm good, right? Go ahead. Make fun of me. It's her birthday (yesterday), and she's pretty. Boom.

We close this blog post with a public service announcement that's sure to keep your children in line when playing with light sabers. Just use logic with them. It cures everything.

Cordially, if a little bizarrely,

Andy

366 Bow Ties: Day 103

In my mind, there's nothing more classic and, well, just plain awesome, than a striped tie. It says "look, no need to reinvent the wheel here." In this instance, I kind of went for blue overkill: jeans, belt, shirt, bow tie.

Like that there nautical flag belt? Me too. I've never sailed, so I've definitely never hoisted such a flag. The New England elite would think it scandalous that I'm wearing this belt. So be it. (I'm not really being a punk, even though it sounds like it.)

The bow tie is a linen/cotton blend: Waite by name. A gorgeous bow tie. Rendered here in diamond point, this one can be had at a small discount.

So, to recap: lots of blue is a good look if you ask me. Stripes are awesome. Wear things that aren't indigenous to your people group. Buy this bow tie.

Cordially,

Andy

366 Bow Ties: Day 101

If you were to mistake me for the President of Winthrop University in a bow tie like this, you could be forgiven. Garnet and Gold look pretty handsome with our fabulous local garden, Glencairn, in the background. In fact, the whole thing makes one think "school's great, but it's almost out."

366 Bow Ties: Easter and Seersucker

We started things off with a sunrise service at Glencairn Gardens, which was eaaarrrrlllllyyy, but felt quite right. It's easy to take for granted the fact that we have such a stunning garden right in the middle of town. Add to it sunrise and Easter, and, well---you get the picture.

Easter, of course, means seersucker. No, that's not all it means. But sartorially, speaking, the joy of what Easter essentially means is expressed through the donning of seersucker.

Our seersucker-donning friends took the occasion to pose together joyfully. I began the day with pale blue trousers, white oxford, and a pink/blue reversible seersucker bow tie in club diamond shape. The bow tie stayed all day, but the aforementioned blue trousers, of course, fell victim to a stream of coffee flowing from my defective 'travel mug'. Darn those travel mugs! Oh well. That just means I got to rock the Nantucket Reds, made by Bill's Khakis, with a blue oxford, for the afternoon. I continue to be amazed at the quality and fit of Bill's M3s. They're not hipster-fit skinny nonsense. But they're also not swimming pools. They look classy in weathered red, and not costumey and ridiculous---I'm sure this has a lot to do with the fit. Kudos to you, my favorite maker of khakis!

You do know, of course, that you can get a ton of seersucker colors on our webstore, right? And you can combine them just about any way imaginable, and in any shape we offer.  This one's yours for the astonishing price of $20. Just this one, just today. Maybe even just in the next 10 minutes if the deal is as sweet as I think it is.

We ate a lot of food, wore a lot of seersucker, and did a lot of church. I even took 2 naps, as I recall. In other words, a glorious day, as it should be.

Don't forget that all the proceeds from our 366 Bow Ties project are going to help the children of Haiti through MTW. Every last dollar. We've already generated more than $3,000 and we're aiming for $10,000 in 2012. Our first project is to provide tables and chairs for children to eat and learn upon at a very special school, which we hope to visit ourselves before too long. Thanks for your help.

Cordially,

Andy

366 Bow Ties: Day 97

Good Friday.

It was one of those gorgeous Spring days when you wished that it was seersucker season. But you don't go jumping the gun on seersucker---especially on Good Friday. So what do you do? You reach for this linen striped bow tie in that classic seersucker blue. But of course it's not seersucker. It's not even cotton---it's linen.

And it's gorgeous. And it's yours here.  We call it the Grantham.

We had a little Good Friday service in my artist friend's living room.

Thanks for bearing with us while we get caught up on all these blog posts and bow tie listings. Happy Friday.

Cordially,

Andy

366 Bow Ties: Days 92, 93, 94 .......

Day 92: Linen. Bold, blue, no-nonsense linen in all its versatile, goes-with-anything-but-black, textured, breathable, linen.  The Craig, we say.

...goes especially well with a folksy postlude.

Grab this bow tie at a discount now.

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And then there's Day 93: A patch madras day. Diamond point (classic is shown directly above; Day 93 is a diamond-point.) A double-date with the parents Uptown day. A blue blazer and khakis to keep things simple so that patch madras can do its thing day. A photo in front of the restaurant which is also in front of the historic First Presbyterian Church day.

And of course, an Oak Street Bootmakers penny loafer day. Oh---and a Bill's M3 khakis day.

In other words, a good day! Get this Emmett Madras.

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Day 94 meant pale blue-green linen. As plain and straight-forward as the bold navy blue in Day 92, but subtle. Kind of like my Classic Concentration props to my adopted town. Like that?

Nice, huh? Luxurious linen. The Day 94 one is in straight batwing shape. We call it the Bates. Grab this one.

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Day 95 called for navy gingham on a green linen button-down. I think you'll agree this is a strong combination. A good combo to wear while sitting on your intern's front porch doing sermon prep. We call it the Garrison. And it's handsome. Grab it.

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I think that's sufficient for one post, no? A couple more catch-up posts (and listings), and we'll be all caught up!

366 Bow Ties: Day 91 - The Bow-Stache Birthday!

[slideshow] In an effort to catch up, I'm going to have to just cut to the chase and rapid-fire some posts, mostly letting the pictures provide you--postmodern interpretation-style--with whatever 1,000 words you want them to provide. I will say this, however: get this classic silk bow tie now or it's gone forever. And enjoy the photos of the Bow-Stache Birthday party. A splendid surprise, and a wonderful time.

Cordially,

Andy