Blog

Win a Free Bow Tie

Click over here to win a free bow tie from the editor of Southern Weddings Magazine.  She has a nice batch of bow ties from The Cordial Churchman as well as some other bow tie makers.  Last day to enter is today and all you have to do is comment on her post!

Bows & Squares in Southern Weddings Magazine!

Nearly 8 years ago I married Andy.  I told him in no uncertain terms that he was not wearing a bow tie* with his tuxedo in our wedding.  They were silly.  Clown-like.  Costumey.  That was in Ohio, in 2002.  It was a thoroughly Rust Belt-ish sort of position to take.

Fast-forward to 2010, South Carolina.  Today, I not only own and operate a bow tie business, but now my bow ties have appeared in--yep--Southern Weddings magazine.  

The ladies at Southern Weddings have, quite aside from my bow ties, put together a gorgeous volume 3 of their magazine.  There are a zillion brilliant ideas and a phenomenal spread of real wedding photographs in these pages. I think you'll love this magazine whether you've long been married, plan never to be, or are in the very process of planning a wedding.  There's nothing stuffy here. Rather, creativity and beauty abound.

Here's Editor-in-Chief Lara Casey with a collection of bow ties from various makers featured in the magazine.

Even the most Southern of Southerners I meet think my run with The Cordial Churchman is pretty weird.  I'd have to agree.  This is a pretty fun story to tell now.  I imagine it will make our grandkids chuckle, too.

PS--I'll see about scanning the pages that feature my wares.  But don't hold your breath.  You should just go get the magazine.

*I had never even heard of a pocket square then.  I have some of them in SW v.3, too.

Square-end Neck Ties

It is felicitous that square-end neck ties are coming back into style, because making those points on standard long ties is a pain in the neck.  And really, these are pretty cool, no?  Put on one of these slim (2 1/4'') bad boys, and you're tipping your hat to The Beatles and throwing some smart casual into your neck tie collection.  

The Joshua Madras Square-End is named after our second-most handsome model.  The navy blue base color scheme makes this patchwork madras workable for Indian Summer, and perhaps beyond.

Josh and Andy demonstrate the versatility of the Gray Chambray square-end neck tie.  Chilled the heck out with jeans and an unbuttoned top button; a subtle lean toward casual with a navy blazer, white oxford, and a pocket square.

The Samuel Square-End was donned by our friend last week at a very important job interview.  The guy hadn't a clue how to tie the thing.  Rumor has it the interview went really well.  Surely it had much to do with the volumes spoken by The Samuel with a white oxford, blue blazer, and khakis.

For all you folks in the Southern Hemisphere, consider the Owen Madras (left) or the Jeremiah Madras (below) for the spring and summer.

With any square-end neck tie purchase, The Cordial Churchman will send you one brown vintage knit wool square-end necktie free.

Head over to the square-end corner of the store and before you know it, the courier will be at your door with your new piece of haberdashery.

Preview: One-of-a-kind reversible bow ties

Some of The Cordial Churchman's customers are prefer traditional, understated bow ties, if there is such a thing.  You're already wearing a piece of fabric wrapped around your neck, tied---yes---into the shape of a bow.  Sometimes that's enough.

But sometimes you figure that since you're already doing all of that, you might as well go all out.  When this jolt of confidence and impulse toward sartorial abandon strikes, you need to have one of The Cordial Churchman's one-of-a-kind reversible bow ties ready to rock.

Ellie has taken some quirky patterns and tamed them a bit by pairing them with classic patterns in complementary colors.  As you can see, there are a number of ways to twist and turn a reversible bow tie.

Hot Air Balloons and Stripes

French Horns and Tartan Plaid

Charcoal Grills and Geometry

Donkeys and Stripes

Chicks, Flowers and Stripes

Bugs and Stripes (for one of you pediatricians, perhaps?)

These are heading to the STORE next week, but they are available to you, loyal blog readers, immediately.  Email ellielaveer@gmail.com and snatch up the one you want.  There's only one of each.  No pussyfooting.  Then again, the kind of gentleman who wears a bow tie like this is not likely to be the pussyfooting sort.

We're on Twitter

You can now follow The Cordial Churchman on Twitter!

We'll be tweeting about new items as they become available on the store.  When The Cordial Churchman gets some complimentary 'press,' we'll pass such links on to you.  From time to time there'll be exclusive Twitter contests, drawings, and other concise marketing ploys--er...um...--opportunities to experience cordial community with fellow rockers of the bow tie.

This is the point at which we're supposed to say something like "see you in the Twittersphere."  But since that sounds silly, we shall refrain.

Edited - Many thanks to Eric for the awesome bow tied twitterbird!

Raleigh Denim

I thought this was a pretty cool video.  Here's a couple who started making their own jeans out of their apartment just up in Raleigh, NC.  I really resonate with their story.

Hannah Miller music video with my Bow Ties!

This is great! One of my favorite singer/songwriters and a good friend of mine, Hannah Miller, has made a music video with lots of Cordial Churchman Bow ties in it! You can even see my husband...the Cordial Churchman himself rollerskating by at about the 41 second mark.

If you like Hannah Miller, then support her by buying her music on itunes or bandcamp (I hear it's cheaper on bandcamp).

James Miller is wearing the Thomas Wool bow tie in the classic 2 3/8" butterfly style.

Oxford Patch Wool Scarf now available

We have these beautiful scarves pre-made and listed in my online store!  Last year they were a big hit and I've had quite a few gentlemen request that I make them again this year.  Each scarf is made with 100% wool patches and lined with soft corduroy.  It is a lovingly made product, carefully crafted with every seam topstitched.  You will not find anything like this in stores.

A very special thanks to project life photography for taking these pictures.  They show off so much more detail than my pictures would have!

Showcase Friday and The Winner is...

My friends at Random.org helped me select the winner of the free bow tie - so without further ado:

Jeanfi

Big fan of the blue chambray.
Will be great with my pink Oxford.

Well it looks like you will be getting a new blue chambray bow tie!

And here's some Friday showcase photos for you.

OK, These are some of the cutest boys I've ever seen!  And aren't the boat shoes so adorable?

And here's a fun picture of G sporting the Owen Madras - one of the summer's best sellers.  Perfectly accessorized with the straw hat.

Thank-you for sharing your photos!  If you have a photo, send it to me at ellielaveer@gmail.com.  I'd love to see some pictures of my bow ties out on the town.  So if you have a cool city, take a picture of yourself in the bow tie while you're out on the town.  I don't get out much so if my bow ties do, I feel like atleast part of me gets to travel the world.  

Hey, I'd even be willing to send out freebies in exchange for awesome photos.

Handmade Ring Bearer Pillow

I wanted to show off this sweet ring bearer pillow that I made for a customer a few months back.  I made lots of things for her wedding party - but this was my favorite.  I used the green seersucker we purchased from Thread Design - the company that made her bridesmaid dresses.  I hand stitched their monogram in the corner to make it extra special.