Even though I regard Edward VIII as a Jedi Warrior of classic men's clothing, I couldn't help but shake my head when I saw this picture. Either the man had a little too much to drink the night before, or the lights were out in his manor house while dressing that fine morning. Individually, the items are great, but the clustering is a bit much for my taste.
7 comments:
has to be some type of joke
Photoshopped
ZOUNDS!!!! It MUST be a gag.
During his LSD period
I think you have it all wrong. Edward VIII shows his sartorial genius by allowing himself to be photographed in this outfit once and only once. Prince Charles repeated the tact 60 years later when he allowed himself to be photographed in a plaid kilt and loud Hawaiian print shirt by the river bank in Scotland with the two boys (I challenge you to find that photo) . What better way for them to say that in spite of highly cultivated and refined style and taste, at heart, they really don't care. GENIUS! Very Windsor. Don' you just love them.
More on this outfit. The photo was taken about the time of the abdication. Edward was hammered in the press. Justified or not, he was taking a beating in public. Royal protocol would not allow him a middle finger salute, either physically or verbally. Edward expressed that middle finger salute the only way protocol would allow - through his dress. If you study the photo, you realize it was not a haphazard combination. Go to your wardrobe blindfolded. Pick out ten combinations of cravat, shirt, pants and socks. My guess is that you would not come close to the visual offensiveness of this outfit. Also consider that Edward knew that the photo would be reproduced in black and white, necessitating the need for high contrast patters of the expansive areas in the shirt, the pants, and yes, the sofa - nothing muted would do. Complete the effect by adding an offensive contrast of textures in the use of the ancient madder or wool challis cravat and the "to die for" argyle socks. Voila, perfectly offensive - except for the shoes. This would be too much even for Edward. In this he confirms his sartorial royalty by wearing a tried and true pair of John Lobb oxfords made on his personal last at the Saint James Street boot maker's shop. The man's sartorial royalty is not compromised by this outfit, it is confirmed. Long live the King!
Fast forward sixty years. Diane was dead. Prince Charles was hammered in the press. He was blamed for the Princess's tragic life. The press speculated that he would never be King. Put the plaid kilt and Loud Hawaiian print shirt in this context. Middle finger salute. You have got to post that photo.
I would be happy to post it, but I can't find it. Send it to me, and we will see what we can do.
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