Vintage

Craig McInnes of the Vancouver Sun has me aghast this week. Since it's the season for Spring Cleaning, he suggests we all dig through our closets and get rid of the junk. That's good advice, except that he suggests we throw out all the neckwear.

"Why don't we dive into our collective closet as a society and just get rid of ties altogether? Sure I'm lazy, but other than tailors, who really benefits?

"As a cultural signal, they demonstrate that men know how to conform to a dress code. They assure people we meet in business or politics that they have nothing to fear, that we respect the same values as they do, worry about the same niceties."

If you put no thought into the ties you wear, then yes, you are conforming. But for people who care what they look like and put thought into the clothes and ties they wear, a tie can surely help a man to stand out amongst the crowd. The right flash of colour, the right pattern, the right width -- a sharp looking tie can make the difference between looking like every other crumb and a million bucks....

And men should consider themselves lucky for this! Ties are not expensive if you know where to look and they help to create variety in our wardrobes. Most men today really only need two suits (but really!). Mix and match the shirts and the ties with these two suits and you've got variety at reasonable cost. Women don't have that option. Each outfit is constructed top to bottom, and they pay for it, too!

But you know what? Go ahead and throw out all your ties... no wait! Give them to the second hand and vintage stores on Main Street, then I can buy them, wear them, and look so much better than you.