It’s Good Friday, and if you’re wondering what to wear on Easter, here’s an idea from the pantheon of prep. You might never have tried it. Or you used to wear this combination, but it’s been so long you’ve forgotten about it. It’s a simple formula: conservative suit (pinstriped is ideal) combined with a ribbon belt. The photo below was posted recently on the Talk Ivy forum to point out this very combo. It features George HW Bush on William F. Buckley‘s TV show “Firing Line” in 1974. Of course Bush’s tie is an eyesore — as well as this low-resolution screen shot — but you get the idea.
The formula was also immortalized in the early days of Internet trad with this “Choatie” graphic. If you can’t quite tell what you’re looking at, it’s a navy pinstriped suit, pink oxford, green tie, ribbon belt, tassel loafers, and yellow socks:
I could swear I had numerous Ralph Lauren images showing this combo, but all I could find were images of pinstriped suits with colorful shirts and ties, so you’ll just have to imagine the belt.
Good Friday wishes to all of you. When your heart is ready, begin to seek and eventually you will find the light you need. — CC
The bearded girl in the first picture is wearing a very nice suit.
Cheers,
Will
I posted that screenshot on TI – glad you saw it and liked it, Christian. I was also bummed about GHWB’s tie, and resolution. Great post. Happy Easter to all.
Lapels too narrow for me, except for the suit
w/ the green striped shirt. Looks like RL is channeling
Suit Supply.
Re:
sacksuit | April 19, 2019 at 4:16 pm |
The bearded girl in the first picture is wearing a very nice suit.
That lad is in desperate need of carbohydrates!
Given that it’s Good Friday, I say the man in the first picture looks like a disciple!
I love slender lapels,but not so narrow.
Nice chairs. The suits are not DB, so lapel width is irrelevant to me.
Quibbles about lapel width, darts, skinny hirsute models, tight fit, etc. aside, I like most of these a great deal, and would be happy if there were more of this sort of thing around in real life. I have seen lapel and tie widths expand (see GHWB above) and contract over the years, sometimes to the point of downright silliness. However, the pics above are vastly superior to the daily dress of most of the chaps out and about these days. I think the young fellow in the 6th one down wearing stripes and bluchers is particularly well turned out; elegant, traditional and, unlike so many models in contemporary ads, neither slouching nor pouting. I’d give him a job if he turned up for an interview with a half-decent resume.
A joyous Easter and Passover to all.
wow this is cool!
Oh well, I’ll be the outlier (again). To me, pinstripes reek of Wall Street and big business. There’s nothing wrong with those things, but they just don’t strike me as an image befitting a christian (or is that Christian) church. It’s that elephant getting through the eye of the needle thing.
But this striped belt strikes me is just plain odd. It’s a patently informal accessory to a very formal outfit. It sticks out, which, to me, is breaking the rules.
Now, it would be fine with my idea of an Easter outfit: a gray seersucker suit, pink shirt, lilac tie, and perhaps a semi-splashy pocket square. Easter is a celebration of the resurrection, so let some color loose. This is no time to be somber. Besides, it’s already getting hot down here in Texas.
Regardless, I hope y’all have a great day tomorrow. As my dad used to say, “Happy Easter bunny!”
I’m partial to brown suits, and this one with pinstripes, is especially attrctive.
To all, Easter blessings.
Pinky rings look awful. They scream fop (Prince Charles) or sleazy (Frank, Dino & the Rat Pack). Otherwise, the pinstripe suit looks great. Anyway, I will be playing golf tomorrow instead of getting dressed up!
I do not believe I have ever seen a striped belt such as this with a suit. Maybe a seersucker long ago.