Red Makes a Bold Rise as Fall Color for Ties
A man’s tie is his statement of individuality. He may wear the same oxford-cloth shirt as everyone else in the office, but he intends that the tie he wears be distinctively his, as if his signature were embroidered across the knot.
The tie of the ‘80s was bright, bold and yellow. It made an aggressive statement, perfect for the predatory corporate raider who was a symbol for the decade. But as the ‘80s ended and the raider lost his punch, the yellow power tie was pushed out of the way.
“After yellow faded, green seemed to pick up in popularity,” says Kirsten Kwatec of Lauren Downing in Laguna Beach. “That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wear yellow anymore. There are some great yellow ties, but yellow’s not the hot color right now.”
This fall, sober, earthy green will probably be replaced by big, bad red. “We’re seeing lots more red ties coming out,” says Kwatec. “It’s a hot, grabbing color.”
What will the rise of red mean for the workplace? Only the annual reports will know for sure.
Dot dilemma: A few summers ago, it was the season of dots. Polka dots in a variety of colors and patterns showed up on blouses, pants, scarves, even shoes. Those dot fabrics have faded this year more quickly than the Wicked Witch of the West in a Jacuzzi. Yet some women still bravely wear their loud polka dots. Are they oblivious to fashion trends?
“In some ways, polka dots will never go out of style,” says Susan Le Valley at Le Valleys Designer Discount Clothing in Fountain Valley. “They’re a classic. They may not be seen as much, but you can still get away with wearing them.”
If you have the big, Eisenhower dollar-sized dots on a blouse or slack, you can give yourself a hip, retro ‘60s or ‘70s look with platform shoes, wild earrings and beads. Remember, too, that the loud, bright polka-dot jacket or blouse may not be suitable for the office. Work dots are generally low-key, small and conservative.
Stain pain: There are countless numbers of men who are forced to throw out almost perfectly good dress shirts that are only a few months old because of one embarrassing factor: ugly, yellowed underarm stains. Unfortunately, there are also many who still keep the offending shirt in their work-wear rotation.
“Usually, people wash, dry and iron the shirt, then ask if I can get the underarm stain out. I can’t,” says dry cleaner Bill Snyder of Yorba Linda. “Heat from the dryer and iron locks the stain in place.”
When you find a stained underarm, and the shirt is washable, pre-soak it in warm, salty water for up to an hour before washing. Also, check the antiperspirant you’ve been using. It can contribute to the staining, although some on the market claim not to leave a residue.
