Blue Eyes and
Bow Ties
I think there comes a time in most people’s lives when something happens to make one’s outlook on life change. It may be a subtle, almost imperceptible, change or it could be a fundamental, staggeringly important, re-direction of one’s outlook on life.
What the trigger or triggers might be, I don’t know…..just something happens.
A milestone in age reached, a change in personal circumstance or relationship. It could be anything, but something happens and one reacts.
In my case it was retirement — thirty nine years as a classroom teacher of 11–18 year olds suddenly ended.
I was asked how I took to retirement. I think the question was posed by someone who expected me to say something like, ‘I feel lost, life has no meaning anymore’ and, let’s face it, retirement can have that effect on those that have to change their daily, weekly, yearly routine.
To their surprise, my answer was; ‘It took me a weekend to get used to it’.
I was worn out, I was tired, I was ready for retirement. Retirement from the classroom, that is, not retirement from life!
It’s not that change I want to dwell on here, but one of the effects retirement had on me and which I’ve hinted at earlier.
I suddenly found myself thinking about my clothes, my dress sense and my wardrobe far more than I ever had before. The semi-formal dress of a classroom teacher in the UK — shirt, tie, suit, sports jacket or blazer and trousers, shiny black or brown leather shoes were gone.
It was easy to adopt what almost every other retiree went for, or a version of it — jeans, T-shirt, trainers…..you get the idea, I’m sure.
And I did, for the most part…..but not always. Sometimes I fancied the somewhat more flamboyant, the colourful, the unusual.
And so began, slowly at first, the accumulation of clothes that previously had not even crossed my mind to consider buying. Some I now have, some I plan to add to my ‘special’ wardrobe.
It started with an inherited Ascot cravat. I’d never worn one previously and rarely, if ever, seen anyone else wear one — so I took to the one I was given. I have written about cravats previously on Medium. Here, in fact.
But that was just the start. Another cravat followed. It was a gift from my sister. It also included a matching pocket square. Something else that isn’t everyday wear for most people.
I also have a brightly coloured pink striped lightweight summer blazer — bought on impulse. That surprised me as much as anyone that knew me!
Designer Italian shirts soon followed, as did a few other items of uncommon clothing, and I have my eyes on these these for the future!
All this soon developed into an interest in internet research for the next ‘thing to buy’, and the reason I am writing this piece now.
I discovered bow ties!
In particular, I discovered Blue Eyes Bow Ties.
That’s me, in the title picture, wearing my latest acquisition from Helen and Alex — the married couple behind the online business of manufacturing, promoting and selling of their bow ties — and I love it.
The tie that first caught my attention — and the one I just had to have is here;
So far I have just three of their products, but I will have more before too long. Each will be a self-tie bow tie, though pre-tied ones are available.
I may also go for one of their cuff-link sets — did I mention they make cuff links, too?
Tying a bow tie can be a bit of a conundrum — though is surprisingly easy to understand (if not do!) when you’ve been shown how to tie it.
I was unsure, I’ll admit. So what does Blue Eyes Bow Ties do? They provide a video tutorial, featuring Alex, to show you a step-by-step method to bow tie tying!
Thanks Alex!
The company is run from their home and has already won several accolades, including one of their ties worn by Jodie Whittaker as Dr Who!
They’ve also featured in national newspapers and style-magazines having won a number of prestigious awards for their products.
Blue Eyes Bow Ties is already known internationally, offering their products worldwide. American readers may well already have come across their products. If not, they will fulfil orders from pretty well anywhere.
I could spend a lot of time extolling the virtues of this little business, because I think so highly of them. I do urge any readers here to follow the link to their website, read the story (the personal bit is at the bottom of this page) behind Helen and Alex’s adventure and explore the range of products on offer for yourselves.
You won’t be disappointed and will probably be pleasantly surprised at what you find.
Just look at this lot and the following three pages, if you need to whet your appetite for bow ties!
