Each week, Esquire's Fashion Director, Catherine Hayward answers your style conundrums.
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It's my first week in a new graphic design job. Will a tie make me look old fashioned?
Steve (via email)
When the Arctic Monkeys played their headlining set at Glastonbury, lead singer Alex Turner, bassist Nick and drummer Matt rocked the Pyramid Stage resplendent in denim, leather and an Elvis quiff. But to the left of Turner stood lead guitarist Jamie Cook making a definite stand. No rock 'n'roll threads for him. Instead, he wore a dark, single breasted mohair suit by Savile Row tailor Spencer Hart with – stop the press – a tie.
A few days later, Hollywood actors Bradley Cooper and Gerard Butler were spotted at Wimbledon in navy and striped versions. Hell, even Wayne Rooney was wearing one. So what's going on? At a time when Obama and Cameron are giving serious political speeches with open necks and shirt sleeves rolled up and the latest summer fashion collections in Milan and Paris sounding the death knell for ties with sports luxe trending its way up the Twitter feed, why are such high profile rebels sporting them?
Well, here's the clue: mutiny, resistance, rebellion. It's in the air at the moment. Like the leather jackets of the '50s, the punk nose rings of the '70s or the tattoos of the Noughties, the humble necktie seems to have been appropriated by the types usually proud to reject them. So, for a short while – at least on the fickle fashion calendar – it will be cool to wear a tie on stage or on film because stuffy politicians, bankers, corrupt world leaders aren't. Vive Savile Row!
