On Style: Cravats...

I’m a firm believer in the cravat. Not just in its existence – that is, unlike that of unicorns, a certainty – but in its applicability to modern menswear.

To wear a cravat and not look like a Victorian dandy is difficult, although possible. The alternative is coming across as a pretentious, merlot-sipping, Wittgenstein quoting, Lautrec licking bottom feeder of a student painter. In short, the latter should be avoided and the former embraced.

There is nothing wrong with a bit of dandyism in the first place.

So you’ve decided to wear a cravat – good on you! Now how to pull is off with style?

If you want to go the whole hog, get your hands on a decent (and it must be decent otherwise it’ll look awful and like a fancy dress costume) morning coat (or frock coat) for really formal occasions. Make sure you get your hands on a white shirt with a wing or Gladstone collar – this is especially important if you want to tie the cravat in a knot.

Personally, I’m a big fan of the open collared shirt (either turned-down or Gladstone look awesome with a luscious silk cravat in navy blue or dark brown, draped around the neck, crossing the left point over the right front and sliding the left point behind the right, near the Adam’s apple, and pulling down to form a flat front (like a scarf)) in this instance. If you want a super-formal look, and want to avoid looking like a best man (scrunched cravats are too popular for weddings these days) try and pick-up an Ascot from eBay, a vintage store or a gentlemen’s tailors. An Ascot tie in, say, pale grey, is a great addition to any wardrobe. It can easily be pinned to the shirt with either a gold or silver tack and, due to its cut, lies very flat against the chest, providing a royal band of colour that draws the focus.

Team the cravat with a waistcoat. I love the dishevelled dandy look – a uniform of my own invention:

• 1 white Gladstone collared shirt, open three buttons at the neck with the sleeves rolled up.
• A Brown silk cravat in the recess, covering all skin below the Adam’s apple.
• A brown waistcoat with beige pinstripe and matching trousers.
• Gold watch with brown leather strap (check out the Argos discount store on eBay to pick-up a cheap Gold plated Rotary Moonphase, which looks the business with all these 19th century style outfits.
• Brown, square toed slip-ons, either highly polished OR caked in mud (never neglected – either pristine or preposterous)
• Brown belt with gold buckle.
• Tussle hair.
• Roguish smile.

Enjoy!


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