Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Bow Tied…by The Cordial Churchman

This Paul Stuart yellow club tie was purchased specifically to replace…
…this one.
But I never discarded this old tattered Polo tie that I bought in the early 1980’s. As a matter of fact, I still wore this one even when the new Paul Stuart one was sitting atop it, amongst the litter of neckwear all curled up in my tie drawer.

I’ll steal a phrase from LPC and call this a “Sturdy Tie.” I literally wore it with everything and usually wore it well…because it matched almost every conceivable contrivance of colour—pattern—texture. But it’s kinda like a few other inanimate things that I refuse to discard. I begin to attach memories, feelings and events to the object and then it’s never gonna make the proverbial Goodwill Pile.
Three things come to mind specifically that land in this ADG realm of silly eccentricities. My first pair of LL Bean Camp Mocs…too fragile to wear; my Polo cotton Boatneck sweater…no logos…no nothing but the sturdiest all purpose sweater I own—and still in good service. And of finally this tie…long out of service but always nearby.
I knew that Ellie over at The Cordial Churchman created great bow ties and even offered to transform old neckties into a bow tie creation. She made Toad a great scarf and Giuseppe over at an Affordable Wardrobe has posited on her handcrafted gems.
So I sent my memory laden strip of silk to Ellie and alternated a syncopated back story of the tie’s importance to me with an apology for sending her something so tattered that there might not be enough unspoiled surface left to make a bow tie.
But Ellie manifested the same craftsmanship and love that I’m certain she and her husband, THE churchman, manifest in raising their lovely boys and building their life of service. It’s the small gestures and clever touches that sometimes end up being huge differentiators. And I love how she wraps the transformed creation in a remnant sliver of the old, remaindered canvas from which she transforms.
What’s more is that she was able to work her magic and find enough unworn surface to transform this object of maudlin over-sentimentality into a vehicle assured to now host another few decades of memories.
My hastily tied first wearing tells me a thing or two. Neither I nor the bowtie are yet comfortable with this new circumstance. After manifesting twenty seven years as a necktie—even with the skilled hands of Ellie transforming it, we aren’t yet confident in manifesting ourselves as a bow tie and bow tie wearer. 
And I wasn’t prone to sling it around by the short hairs…showing it who daddy was, is and will continue to be…treating it like I own it…like you must do with a pocket handkerchief or Belgian shoes…in an effort for it to unfurl in bow tied perfection on my maiden securitization of bow assemblage.
It doesn’t yet know that it’s a bowtie and I’m willing to be patient as it reorders it’s patination and broken-in cured-ness. I liken it to sitting down with one of my paternal grandmother’s seventy year old, beautifully cured cast iron frying pans and telling it that “from this moment forward, you are no longer a frying pan but a saucier.”  No doubt, the tenured frying pan could make the transition, but patience during the renovation would be required by all involved.

So I’ll tie my new creation with patience for a while. Allowing the manifestation of Ellie’s transformative gift to develop its stride and jaunty swagger in due form and time.
Thank you Ellie, for this…my repurposed fryer…my saucier.

Onward. Bow Tied. ADG, II

34 comments:

Rob Boddice said...

This lady seems to have something of the genius about her. Splendid transformation.
VB
beingmanly.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Ah, you and your accessories . . . you got me to thinkin', and my little mind found its way to David Sedaris: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBdymtyXt8Y.

Pretty tie. - Anon

Mr. Blue said...

I am of the opinion that not tying a bow tie well is the only step needed for wearing a bow tie well . . . a little sprezzatura as they say (Italian for f-u, pardon my French). Bravo!

Silk Regimental said...

WOW... great tie... and a second life!

CeceliaMc said...

A snappy,resplendent yellow tulip.

Very nice!

Suburban Princess said...

How wonderful! I love that you get to enjoy your it as a whole new tie! The note is the perfect touch!

Barry said...

It looks great....I just recently purchased one of Ellie's wool houndstooth bows, and am anxiously waiting for it.

The jacket is superb also!

All The Best,

Barry B.

Atticus C. said...

Sir,

Congrats on your first "Ellie" custom. She has made a similar conversion for me and I have ordered several other ties for various events...

I will admit I only recently stumbled across your blog, but it has become a fast favorite...

Kathie Truitt said...

WHat a great idea and I like it even better as a bow-tie. Plus, I learned a new word today - 'patination.'

Kathie

Let The Tide Pull Your Dreams Ashore said...

Love that bowtie...what a great company! xx

Mal said...

I saw that service on her website and had wondered how it would turn out. Looks sharp and glad to see ties can be "recycled".

Anonymous said...

Scratch my question re: does Ellie do this for others. I have my answer. When I commented before, none of the other comments were posted. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Who knew your first name was Dustin... wow!

SouthernProletariat said...

Amazing what a master craftsman (or woman in this case) can do with something that has led such an abused life. Treat it well this time around, why don'tchya?

Surely even you won't go poking a fuzzy dice adornment in a bow tie now will you? ;)

LPC said...

Quite sturdy. Also adorable.:)

Toad said...

Ellie is a treasure. God Bless she and her family

ilovelimegreen said...

ADG, if you would only disclose the Goodwill to which you donate your cast-offs, wannabe well-dressed Washington men would be lining up there before you even make your donations.

Anonymous said...

Please do not make a bow tie out of your Bohemian owl tie when it "goes bad". We will make a wristlet out of it for your next camp prom in the grove.

Scale Worm said...

Thank you, I saw Giuseppe's post a few back on this service as well. I did very much enjoy your post on the gentleman singing. More of us humans need to stop running all of the time and just breathe!
Too many impoverished folks, too much illness, too many folks sensorially deprived: "deprived" of the wonders around them. Bravery takes many forms.

Unknown said...

Don't take this the wrong way--it was a gorgeous tie--but I think it's much better as a bowtie. There's something about its hand (the patina has something to do with this, of course) that allows a much greater luminosity of the silk than merely hanging there. Erm, that doesn't quite sound G rated does it...yet I think, with a few wears, you'll find you love it even more than you ever has precisely because it has a whole new personality now. And, having a "spare" in a new tie gives you a backup for those days where it doesn't feel "right." Way to go, ADG. Repurpose, reuse, and reamaze, eh??? Lovely!

Kathie Truitt said...

ilovelimegreen - forget the men. They would have to beat this gal. ;)

yoga teacher said...

I like your new tie! Educate me, please. When do you choose the bow tie? I only know one person who wears them, and it's all the time for him, like a little personal tag line. For the rest of you, do certain *rigs* dictate wearing bow vs. regular? Or do you decide by mood, like I might choose between pants or a dress when either is appropriate?

NCJack said...

Is that top tie cut upside down?

Laguna Beach Fogey said...

Wow! I had an identical Polo boatneck sweater in my teens. An old standby. Along with Sebago/Bass loafers and Sperry boat shoes.

As for the bow tie? Well, we can all do without it. However, as you say--"Showing it who daddy was, is and will continue to be...treating it like I own it"--might be the best way forward as far as the females are concerned and will probably pay some sweet dividends in near future.

Keep us posted ol' chum.

Summer is a Verb said...

Great post! That's right, no snark today. That's cuz I'm already scheming about a few projects for the Churchman. Btw, I would kill to still have my orig Camps and Bluchers. Had to toss them once the mold set in...XXOO

RHW said...

Very nicely done. I like the personal note, and the remnant of the former tie. Nice touch.

I like bow ties, but sadly just don't have the confidence needed to pull it off. With formalwear I always wear a bow tie, of course, and am the envy of friends who use the pre-tied type. I always say that the bow tie should be well tied, but not so well that a lovely lady won't stop by to adjust it for you now and again.

For daily workwear, I'm a straight on neck tie wearer. In the bank, bow ties just look a little to "silly". However, I know a stockbroker in coastal SC who only wears bow ties, brightly colored ones at that, and he makes the look his own. I wish I could do that.

You make it look terrific ADG, and thanks for the needed push to revisit my tie collection.

RHW

j.mosby said...

Great bow tie let's go beagling sometime!

CeceliaMc said...

RHW says "I like bow ties, but sadly just don't have the confidence needed to pull it off."

RHW, from your picture you're the perfect sort to wear a bow tie.

It's my theory that clothes can be particularly intriguing, on occasion, when they're worn against type.

Elegant sorts (for example- Hugh Grant)look good in everything, but they look very appealing in classically masculine attire such as leather jackets, turtleneck sweaters, etc.

Rugged types look PARTICULARLY interesting in things on the dainty side (for lack of a better term)-- bow ties, round glasses, the color pink, etc.

Of course, this is subjective, and it doesn't play out so well with women, however, I think it's fairly accurate and always fun (and it's particularly true with my man).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE1VrzT6RrQ

ADG said...

Thanks everyone for your comments. I've been too busy to even look at much of this and obviously, too engaged work-wise, to offer comments in response. But I'm home now, after two weeks away so I might have a moment to catch up.

ADG said...

Ok. I was too tired to answer any specific questions last night. But I'm rockin' now...after sleeping in a strange bed...my own.

1. NC Jack... I be damn if I know re if the tie is constructed upside down. I'm gonna look at it today and get back with you on that.

2. And to all who commented so favorably on Ellie's work. Yes, it's clever and magical but to me, the key differentiator is that it's so grounded in good intent and goodness in general that it makes it even more special.

3. When do you wear I bow tie versus other choices? That's an easy answer for me...When I want to assure a celibate day.

4. The Bohemian Club tie would make a GREAT bow tie but the Bohemian Club member who gifted it to me might be pissed if I convert it. So I'm considering in lieu of making a bow tie from it that I'll do a clever and jaunty codpiece.

Anonymous said...

The codpiece as an accoutrement for the Stadium Pal? Perfection! Enjoy! - A

Anonymous said...

Hmmm. Jaunty little owls perched on your cod. I guess that works. Just make sure you construct it so the label shows. (Arrrrhh. Theer be many nights o' grove cavortin' in the codpiece, I've heerd tell.)

and no..........I would not be pissed off..........

Sandra said...

Re: "Memory laden strip of silk" - I still have all of my husband's ties. My son has taken ownership of several, but others are still here. I've kept them too long now to ever part with them. I need to figure out a new life for them. You understand. xoxo

Easy and Elegant Life said...

Great re-purposing of a favourite. Mine usually become belts. But I love this idea and will take it to a friend of mine who now wears bow-ties almost exclusively.