Like many others, I enjoyed reading the Oxford Cloth Button Down blog back in the early to mid 2010s (and eventually on Instagram too). It found me at my most impressionable, right as I was wrapping up college, and helped me understand the finer details of Ivy, as u/OxfordClothBD chronicled his explorations of the style and discovery of personal preferences. In many ways, my own taste descends from his slightly stodgy, rumpled-but-neat take on things. That, and a fondness for Wallabees–though I like mine low.
Another cue that landed deeply was a love for foulard ties, especially of the neat floral variety, printed on matte silk twill or wool. My Dad had some of these when I was growing up, and every time I see one out in the wild (or on here), makes me smile. One particular tie on the blog instantly burned itself into my memory: Rooster-made, small red and blue flowers, outlined in black, on a ground of deep green. Just about the best tie I’ve ever seen, with such a cool-toned richness. I’ve been looking for one of my own ever since and, though I’ve found three near matches (some of my very favorites), never the very one.
The thing I like about this tie is the way it perfectly brings together red, blue, and green, the Ivy color triumvirate. Many of my other favorite clothes highlight the mix of these. I’ve noticed I particularly like when green is the dominant of the three, and that I like to collect other objects with a similar balance of shades, my favorite tea mug being a good example. Another peculiarity is that I tend to avoid mixing in yellow with the other three. It’s often an objectively nice addition, but something about it’s just not what I’m looking for, usually (Argyll & Sutherland excepted). Changes the balance of things, the temperature slightly. Accent colors I prefer are black, white, or shades of brown.
As a career librarian (aka search-maker), I’m confident I’ll get a ping should this tie ever appear on the internet. But, since I’ve been at it over a decade with no luck…if anyone were able and willing to help end my quest: hit a brother up. And indeed, would love to hear any stories you wanted to share, about favorite neckties, the reasoning behind favorite colors, formative influences, etc.
