Ties that bind
I shall be tieless in a make-believe Gaza today and tomorrow, on a “hostile environment” refresher course.
A couple of people have asked me about those ties and the socks. My view is that if a man is going to wear a tie he should wear a tie. What’s the point of putting some lightly spotted old maroon rag round his neck?
I was once offered Tieman of the Year, but then I discovered it was effectively a PR stunt to promote British tie manufacturing. A glance at their produce told me I should refuse the award at once. I couldn’t see one tie that even approached what I wore. They may have got better since, but I fear they may not have.
All my ties come from craft shows, most of them from Victoria Richards, a designer in south London. They have to be abstract. They mustn’t say something that might clash with the news of the day – or worse, comment on the day’s news.
As for the socks, they are hard to find. Decent cotton socks with bright colours are a statement of independence. Who wants to wear old grey ones, or worse, old black ones? Socks and ties are the only ostentatious statement a well dressed man can make.
They told me once never to wear bright colours on the telly. So naturally I did. I have never looked back.
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Your sense of (good) humour shines through. That’s great imo.
I just assumed Jon wore socks by Missoni.
Of course, some ties are not viable for purely technical reasons:
http://failblog.org/2009/03/02/tie-color-fail/
Spread the word Jon! I have always found a very positive response when complimenting a man on his tie – sometimes it flusters them and is a useful way to start flirting as it is often the only way they get to express themselves in a suit!
On some days, Jon, it’s worth watching the news just for your ties.
Why wear ties at all? Silly covention and not at all comfortable
My sister and I take great inspiration from such a statement of funky colours and patterns, and wear funky socks whereever we can – they do a myriad of patterns and colours for women these days. We most like the ties and socks that complement the studio colours lol
I remember the day that Jon wore that sandy coloured brown spots tie – my mom, sister and I wondered whether Jon was feeling alright. It was so unlike his other ties, it was almost trying to tell a story of its own. [in video above]
I appreciate the socks. Well done on matching eccentric ties to different but equally independent socks.
Jon, your ties are lovely and you are a national treasure. However…
A note on the US/UK ‘special relationship’. I watched the 1981 report of when Thatcher met Reagen on the Channel 4 site today. Chillingly jingostic propaganda. For “We believe that the solutions lie within the people” read we will support big corporations and merciless dictators in their lust for power and wealth and we don’t give a toss about the people… anywhere.
Reagan and Thatcher supported Pinochet. It is well documented that the US undermined democracies in Chile, Guatemala, Nicaragua and recently Venezuela, including giving training in torture. Pinochet bombed the presidential palace of Salvadore Allende with British jets. More recently, the US multinational Betchel tried to take over Bolivian water supply. And even more recently, a little jaunt into Iraq… The US/UK special relationship
Does Pinochet also wear nice ties? Not sure what your point is.
What’s the point of putting some lightly spotted old maroon rag round his neck?
If you did that -
i) further proof that you read these blogs
ii) more people would come here to find out why!
I’ve got a fabulously awful tie from the 1953 Coronation. A collector’s item I suppose. Haven’t had the nerve to wear it myself.
I’d rather see a giant version one of Jon’s colourful ties at Ebbsfleet in Kent instead of that silly horse statue.
Ouch. I have quite a few old black socks to get rid of then…
Good for you Jon. I often see ties and socks and think – ‘Jon Snow would like that!’ I should be your personal shopper – I’ll find you plenty of fabulous socks!
Jon, nothing is wrong with your choice of ties and the bright stripy socks. I like them anyway. They put some colours in a cold studio and make me smile…
Stripes in the socks are essential. The bright colours less so. My humble opinion anyway
lol!! I wasn’t paying attention – that was cool tie – I didn’t realise it did that!
JS is possibly the only newsreader that truly understands that he is part of the picture.
Innovative dressing in the context of the background hasn’t been done so well since another JS in ‘The Avengers’ at it’s prime.
Now the ‘double-cuff overhang’ problem seems to have been solved, easily the best dressed man on telly!
BR
I seem to recall from the distant 60s that a tie was “to stop your head falling off”.
No. there really is no point in a tie – however gaudy.
[...] She makes these tea cosies as well as cushions, bags, scarves and ties (seen adorning the neck of Jon Snow no [...]
@ simon gardner
i feel i have to inform you, as a girl, that ties are attractive. if you wear a suit without a tie, you look a bit crap. if you wear a suit with a tie, that’s sexy :p
x