This is an ad from a recent Brooks Brothers catalog, and they continue to feature the ascot as one of their featured items, and I applaud them. The picture above demonstrates how to wear an ascot in a casual home setting. I like the look, and I think this gentleman/model looks relaxed and distinguished. However, the general public does not accept the ascot as an acceptable garment. This was not the case during the hay day of Cary Grant and Fred Astaire. During their time period, it was common and stylish to wear such a garment. Personally, I don't see anything obtrusive or pompous about the ascot. I had much rather see an ascot displayed with an open collar than a white t-shirt or even worse, chest hair. Mentally remove the ascot from the model and visualize him with a white t-shirt or a big patch of hair. Would he look as sophisticated? I leave you with my one an only ascot story. Last year while on a weekend getaway with my wife, I decided I would wear a paisley ascot with my herringbone tweed suit and light blue dress shirt to a casual but elegant dinner. While enjoying our meal, our waitress informed me that the gentleman across the way wanted to know why I was wearing an ascot. I discreetly told our waitress to tell him, "because I can". I continued to notice laughter and I overheard a couple rude comments. So finally, I walked over to the table with the rude gentleman, and I asked him how his dinner was. He said, "good" with a smirk on his face, and I followed with an additional comment. "I am glad you enjoyed your dinner, and I am happy I could provide such entertainment for you, but how would you like to leave here with a black eye and have to tell your friends the guy wearing an ascot gave it to you". The stunned rude gentleman had nothing further to say, and because he was so rude to me and my wife, I should have given him one anyway :)
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Long Live The Ascot
This is an ad from a recent Brooks Brothers catalog, and they continue to feature the ascot as one of their featured items, and I applaud them. The picture above demonstrates how to wear an ascot in a casual home setting. I like the look, and I think this gentleman/model looks relaxed and distinguished. However, the general public does not accept the ascot as an acceptable garment. This was not the case during the hay day of Cary Grant and Fred Astaire. During their time period, it was common and stylish to wear such a garment. Personally, I don't see anything obtrusive or pompous about the ascot. I had much rather see an ascot displayed with an open collar than a white t-shirt or even worse, chest hair. Mentally remove the ascot from the model and visualize him with a white t-shirt or a big patch of hair. Would he look as sophisticated? I leave you with my one an only ascot story. Last year while on a weekend getaway with my wife, I decided I would wear a paisley ascot with my herringbone tweed suit and light blue dress shirt to a casual but elegant dinner. While enjoying our meal, our waitress informed me that the gentleman across the way wanted to know why I was wearing an ascot. I discreetly told our waitress to tell him, "because I can". I continued to notice laughter and I overheard a couple rude comments. So finally, I walked over to the table with the rude gentleman, and I asked him how his dinner was. He said, "good" with a smirk on his face, and I followed with an additional comment. "I am glad you enjoyed your dinner, and I am happy I could provide such entertainment for you, but how would you like to leave here with a black eye and have to tell your friends the guy wearing an ascot gave it to you". The stunned rude gentleman had nothing further to say, and because he was so rude to me and my wife, I should have given him one anyway :)
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16 comments:
Very odd how people who object to ascots, show no such antipathy to turtlenecks, although both serve the same purpose: Safeguarding others from cumpulsory exposure to the wearer's undershirt or chest hair. Ascots do it in a far more refined way, and are much more comfortable, to boot.
Please read "compulsory"for "cumpulsory".
Orthographical exactitude is as much a sign of courtesy as sartorial exactitude is.
Mea culpa.
Very sorry to hear of your tribulations, Richard. I myself wear ascots regularly, and they attract only compliments. Perhaps you are patronising the wrong dining establishments?
Incidentally, I suspect that this kind of egregious offence would decrease greatly if they reintroduced the duel of honour.
Pearls....swine...etc, etc,
oy, what a jackhole! you should have given him what-for.
Good post. Though I would cherish the day when ascot-wearing would become in favour again, mostly because open-shirtedness is just appalling (a moral sin really), I also don't want to be a carbon copy of a wal-mart ad or gap mannequin. So, in a way it would be best that only the enlightened don the ascot.
And what a terrible story! Sounds like the opening scene from Shaft 2000.
Thanks for the blog; I'm quite enjoying your posts. Keep up the good sartorial work. Makes me feel like I'm not alone in this poorly dressed world.
how ironic. I'm wearing one today!!
While I do not don an ascot, my son took one of my pocket squares weeks back and stuffed it down his front collar and proceeded to wear it a good portion of the day. He has done it several times, since, as well. Apparently, Fred from Scooby-Doo has quite the affect on 5-year olds.
Keep up the effort.
well hopefully the style pendulum will pivot back into the ascot's favor.
really loving the blog Richard.
Excellent post, Richard. It takes courage to wear an ascot in today's sartorial climate and therefore I sympathise greatly. Just think, if you had assaulted the rude man and were detained by the constabulary as a result, I'm sure you would have looked absolutely smashing in your mug shot.
I went through a brief ascot phase from age 17 to 18 and my abiding memory from that time is wandering with friends through Bishop's Park in Fulham, with bottle of champagne in hand, wearing a rowing club blazer and a vintage ascot from Sam Walker in Covent Garden. I no longer wear an ascot, but I support those who do so.
laguna,
I never thought about the possible mug shot, but thanks for pointing that out.
I have three ascots. I like 'em. But you gotta have some major testicles to wear them. So, good for you. Although, be careful wearing an ascot with a suit. Even a tweed suit. The ascot pairs well in a leisure way with a sports jacket or sweater. I think a suit denotes a more formal attitude and demands a tie or bow tie. Only rubes and dictators from the middle east wear suits without ties.
i just happened across your ascot post. seriously, after writing the one on the smoking jacket! i hadn't even seen this one... ESP?
first of all, anyone who sends a waitress over with anything except a complimentary drink or gift is someone i would tear apart in an instant too. (how weak is he?)
love how you sported your ascot with confidence and insulted him with wit.
it's very chic in my circle of friends to stand apart with wonderful details who certainly would have oohed and aahed over your handsome ascot.
I have a supreme affection for my collection of silk ascots. I wear them all the time when I am in Palm Beach and have gotten numerous compliments. I have also collected a few different 14k gold & diamond stick pins to keep the ascot in place. It gives my velvet blazers a supremely upscale look and allows the ensemble to remain fresh looking.
I wear the ascot as well in today's society no know how to dress elegant to me i have to say neck ties me me sick to me there cumbersome in a way. Where the ascot fall right in place. As they say in Italia bella.
Remember when it comes to ascots the whole world deserves to see you and for those that can't handle it let them be the clown.
Hi Great blog! I surely love some of the posts.
I too wear ascots occasionally and the few comments I have had about it were all positive.
This might be due to the fact that I live in Holland and am still a student.
However, I wanted to point out that ascots may come into favour again as Chuck Bass has been wearing them (one of the main protagonists of Gossip Girl)
I do not know whether you have posted about it yet. (I'm simply reading the blog from start to finish) But I just had to point it out anyways.
Love it!
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