Tie it up

When a man wears a bow tie, he is representing more then just a look, the silk cloth tied around his neck gives off a image of power and authority; an image that has been seen over and over again for several centuries. The bow tie was worn first by Croatian mercenaries during the Persian Wars in the early 1600s. The necktie was used to hold there uniform in place during times of battle. The bow tie eventually made its way to France in the early 18th and 19th century where men on highest class status would wear the item on a daily basis. Shortly after this the bow tie was seen throughout Europe where men of all social and economic classes began sporting the fashion piece.

As the trend made its way through Europe, a majority of political and military officials would wear the item to signify their power and intellect. Winston Churchill was most notably seen wearing the neckpiece throughout his time as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II, his icon look was personified into being a representation of the relentless fighting of the allies during this time.

So now fast forward a half-century or so and the bow tie has not gone anywhere—in fact its presence in pop culture could be more prevalent then ever. From an IPhone application (yeah seriously) to the neck of some of societies most popular celebrities, the bow tie still allows its wearer to represent the power and sophistication it has signified for hundreds of years.
Designer Ralph Lauren Created a new branch of his company in 2004; Ralph Lauren Rugby designs its clothing for the fashion motivated young adult, it uses the bow tie in a variety of different ways to bring together new and old fashions.

I love bow ties, I really do. But I will be the first to admit that they are a pain in the ass to tie. I have been sporting clip-ons for about a year now and only recently decided to transition to the authentic tie-it-your-self bow tie in an effort to look classy on a date. After what seemed to be 5 or 6 hours of attempting to tie the thing I finally tied what I thought was a decent bow tie, twenty minutes later it untied its self and my attempt at sophistication was crushed. With that said I do endorse the wearing of a bow tie—just read this first.

The Pea Coat

It is always around this time when you have the realization, “ oh shit I need a winter jacket”. Your best bet for surviving the city slush is purchasing a pea coat immediately. Pea Coats originated in Holland in the early to mid 1900s under the name “pijjekker” or pilot clothe. The name commented on the type of material used in the construction of the jacket. The garment was used primarily in Europe where many of the European navel institutions adopted the jacket as a staple of their uniforms. It was around the same time when the United States Navy began using the item as well.
The jacket represents more then just a practical garment; its large lapels signify authority while its double-breasted front have become an iconic look for the United States Navy. It was not in till the 1970s that the pea coat became a popular fashion item outside of the military. Retailers from all parts of the world started to produce facsimiles of the jacket, often copying the exact structure and details of the original item. The popularity of the pea coat is a double edge sword, for the consumer, you know have a variety of options in color, size and style but for the military, you know have an essential component of your uniform being worn as an every day fashion item. If you are interested in purchasing an official Navy surplus jacket there are a few things you can look for to assure its authenticity. The first is its weight, because of the material used in its construction (Melton cloth), the jacket weighs a hefty 30 ounces. The second would be its color, official navy jackets are only made in a dark navy as well as a matte black.
By adopting the pea coat into your winter fashion repertoire, you are stating several key things. The first is you want to warm. The second is that you want to make a statement with your jacket, a statement that allows you tell the public that you want a classic and sleek look with your jacket. The third is the statement of power the jacket gives off, because of its connection with global military institutions the idea of pea coat represents something much more then just warmth and comfort in the winter month. If you can see your self wearing such an item you can get it at a variety of retailers world wide, I personally recommend Ralph Lauren because of there signature style and quality all of there items represent.