Tucked-In Ties Are a Preppy Proposition
While the traditional preppy look hasn’t been considered new for the past 15 years, there are still some traces of it around if you search hard enough. Look at the large number of young guys who, like their dads once did, tuck their ties into their shirts after the second or third button. While they may view their appearance as classic, it’s important that they remember where they’re going with a tucked-in tie.
“It’s more of a ‘club’ look, for a nice casual evening,” says Ziva Adams of Tie Rack in MainPlace/Santa Ana. “For a traditional office setting, you may look out of place.”
If you’re going for the tucked look, try it with a denim or chambray shirt. That gives you a mix of Western and preppy fashion. And try not to wear a tie with a great design on the bottom; no one will see it.
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Chuck those shoes: Along with the punk movement’s music and fashion came an old-fashioned pair of athletic shoes almost forgotten in an era of flashy air-and-gel togs. The old canvas Converse Chuck Taylor model, in traditional black or white, was the footwear of choice for millions of punks, and--while punk fashion has faded--that canvas shoe keeps moving right along.
“It’s a cheap classic,” says fashion consultant Brian Mayne of Mission Viejo. “It’s never been completely out of style, and it probably never will be.”
What has changed about the old canvas high tops is color. For a while, red was chasing black as the most popular hue, while green was coming on strong. If you’re going for that punkish look, is it OK to go with black? Absolutely, especially if you want to avoid today’s trend toward wild shades of purple and tie-dye. Chuck must be shaking his head.
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Good tie-ming: At many of the local proms, there’s been talk about how the “cool” guys are showing up for their dates without the traditional bow tie accenting their tuxedo. Instead, they’re just buttoning the top of the shirt and leaving the tie in the box.
“At the Academy Awards, lots of stars were wearing tuxedos designed to be worn without a tie,” says clothing buyer Blaine Keil of Laguna Beach. “That’s now become the hip thing in formal wear.”
If you want to try the tie-less look, you may be better off not using the traditional tuxedo shirt. Try finding a formal, white collarless shirt.
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Finger fashion: It’s hip, and a way of being a part of that retro-’60s aura of macrame and love beads without going over the edge. It’s the little gold or silver ring that decorates the pinky.
“If you have to dress conservatively for work, and if it’s a plain band or it has a simple design, it’s OK to wear one,” says clothing designer Ellen Corcoran of Yorba Linda. “But stick with just one. These are playful pieces of jewelry, things you wear for fun, which may not be something you want to project (in an office).”
If you want to hang onto your rings, remember that gold is a little dressier than silver, and something with a stone is likely to look more formal than a plain band. And those small, fabric rings? They’re strictly taboo at work.
