Pee Wee Herman is the 7th Most Famous Tie Wearer of the Past Century

#7 of my Top 10 Most Famous Tie Wearers is Pee Wee Herman. When it comes to characters that have had a lasting impact on the entertainment industry, there are few names that come to mind in the same way as Pee-Wee Herman. Portrayed by acclaimed actor Paul Reubens, the “comedian who could never make it” took starring roles in both film and television, and soon went on to become a household name as a result of Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, a popular children’s television show. Much of what made Pee-Wee Herman so instantly recognizable was his appearance, which was unique to the point that it’d be next to impossible to confuse the character with someone else; it was the bow tie, though, that truly made Pee-Wee Herman so recognizable. The following are just a few things to learn about the look of this iconic character, much of which made the character who he is.

Pee-Wee’s Formal Look
Throughout a great deal of the character’s career (especially in the early years), Pee-Wee Herman was known for wearing a grey plaid suit, which was originally borrowed from Reuben’s comedic colleague Gary Austin. The suit was well-tailored, featuring notched lapels and a perceived texture that really made the character stand out. Pee-Wee Herman would usually accent the suit with a white pocket square, as well as a crisp white dress shirt that featured an extremely stiff collar. Many people dubbed this Pee-Wee’s “formal look,” although it should be noted that this was the look that the character embodied 90% of the time he was in the public eye; even at awards shows and interviews.

The Red Bow Tie
While Pee-Wee already had a look all his own, it was his small red bow tie that pulled everything together and made his appearance what it was. This was the only piece of neckwear that Herman wore, and was characterized by its bright, attention-grabbing solid-red color. The bow tie was originally given to Reubens by an acquaintance of his, who quickly determined that it would be a huge part of his character’s look. One of the things that makes the tie stand out is its size; it’s much smaller than a typically bow tie, yet it adds balance to the character’s appearance when up against the slim, well-tailored suit that characterized his style. Without the red bow tie, it’s safe to say that Pee-Wee Herman simply wouldn’t have looked anywhere near the way he’s come to be remembered.

Takeaways for the Modern Man
It’s true that Pee-Wee Herman was a unique looking character, but most men would agree that he was just that; a character. Trying to copy this look and pull it off will, for the most part, not do anyone any favors. That said, you can learn a lot about the way Herman wears his bold bow tie with a subdued grey suit; the contrast that this creates is perhaps the most important aspect of his look. Contrast can be very effective in an ensemble, and you can utilize a similar method to create it in your own outfits. Just be sure to avoid going too far with it, as Herman’s look is exemplary of what too much contrast can do to an ensemble. On a final note, Pee Wee Herman didn’t bother learning to tie his own bow tie, but instead chose a clip-on. My tip: Unless it is part of a costume, never step out of the house with a pre-tied bow tie. If you need help, I created a tutorial on How to tie a bow tie

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The 6th Most Famous Tie Wearer of the Past Century: Cary Grant

When people hear the name Cary Grant, fashion and style come to mind almost automatically. This is especially true for those who consider themselves to be fashion-forward and pay attention to men’s fashion as a whole, as Cary Grant is very much a style icon from the past. His style and sophistication would never have gotten to the point that they did without his ability to truly pull off wearing a tie as if it was his job, however, making Cary Grant one of the 10 most famous tie wearers of all time. The following are just a few things to take into consideration about how Cary Grant approached fashion and style, as well as the approach he took to wearing ties in a fashionable manner. Suffice to say, modern men can learn quite a bit from Cary Grant and the look he embodied.

Timeless Qualities
Perhaps what made Grant such an important player in the world of men’s fashion during his heyday was the fact that his ensembles were nothing short of timeless. The suit and tie were mainstays of Grant’s appearance, and had a huge impact on how he was perceived by the public. Grant went with slim-cut jackets, which perfectly fit his frame and allowed him to look his best even on off-days. His trousers were equally slim, often featuring a single pleat. Exposed cuffs were definitely a big part of Grant’s appearance, as he tended to wear his jacket sleeves a bit higher up than most people might say is common. Finally, Grant usually went with suit jackets that featured relatively wide lapels; the perfect frame for the ties he seemed to wear so effortlessly.

Grant’s Ties
A lot of people get hung up on wearing one specific type of tie. This couldn’t be further from the truth for Cary Grant, who happens to have worn a variety of different types of ties over the years. When he was just throwing on a nice suit jacket, Grant would go with a rich, bold solid-colored tie; patterns weren’t generally for him. The neckties worn by Grant tended to be relatively wide, without being anywhere near what might be considered “over the top.” It was when Grant would don a tuxedo that his appearance would truly come to life, however, in which case a moderately-large black bow tie was always his neckwear of choice. If anyone is known for understanding Black Tie Dress Code, it would be Cary Grant (along with James Bond maybe). Finally, Grant was known to wear an ascot in more casual scenarios, rounding him out as being one of the most versatile tie wearers in the history of pop culture.

Takeaways for the Modern Man
One thing that modern men can learn from how Grant wore ties is that it’s important to find your style without getting into a rut. For example, some people choose to only wear neckties or bow ties, while Grant was able to pull both styles off without a hitch. Modern men can also learn from the way Grant approached wearing suits; a neat fit was everything, and there was simply no room for suits that were boxy in appearance.

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Winston Churchill: The Most Famous Tie Wearer

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James Bond is the 2nd Most Famous Tie Wearer of All Time

Some characters are created for the sole purpose of being timeless, yet simply fade away within a few years. After all, the public tends to crave “newness,” which causes certain characters to simply fall through the cracks. That being said, there are some film and television characters that become instantly classic, and are destined to withstand the test of time; James Bond fits nicely into this category. The British secret agent has been portrayed by a number of excellent actors over the years, yet his overall style has remained the same since the character first made it into the public eye. Sleek and sophisticated, James Bond’s look is truly the embodiment of British style and class, and is a huge part of what has made the character so popular and timeless. His bow tie is certainly a big part of his look, along with the following elements of what makes James Bond who he is. All this convinced me to put Mr Bond on the #2 spot of my “Most Famous Tie Wearer” list.

The Tuxedo
Being the subject of over 20 films, it should come as no surprise that James Bond has donned a great deal of different outfits over the years. This being said, the character is most famous for his approach to wearing a tuxedo – aka Black Tie Attire. The tux is an incredibly important part of Bond’s look, and has a huge impact on how he appears on screen. Bond’s tux has gone through a few changes over the years, with buttons/cuff links added/removed, but the general look and feel has remained the same. The character prefers tuxedos that feature wide lapels, often pairing them with stark white pleated dress shirts. The classic tuxedo is an ensemble that every man can benefit from experimenting with, and Bond would never have gotten his “look” without it.

The Bow Tie
The bow tie is a huge part of James Bond’s look, and he simply wouldn’t be the same character without it. Bond’s bow tie is about as classic as it gets, characterized by its midnight black color and very “present” appearance in his ensembles. It’s interesting to note that the character’s bow ties have changed in size and appearance over the years to a rather dramatic extent. Sean Connery, for example, wore a relatively small, thin bow tie (aka Batwing bowtie), while Roger Moore’s bow tie was oversized (aka Butterfly bow tie) to the point of being perhaps a bit too big for the ensembles he wore them with. Today’s James Bond sports a modern, more moderately-sized bow tie that perfectly fits in with his tuxedos, resulting in a look that can only be described as classy. Whatever the style was, James Bond never wore a tacky clip-on bow tie, but instead tied his own bow tie. For instructions, please view by Bow Tie Knot page.

Takeaways for the Modern Man
There is quite a bit for the modern man to take away from how James Bond approaches fashion. Perhaps most important is to realize that the importance of looking good should not be underestimated, and that wearing a tuxedo from time to time can do a great deal for one’s overall appearance. Indeed, Bond wears the tuxedo with such confidence and class that it wouldn’t be surprising to learn that he sleeps in it. Stick to a modern-cut tuxedo, avoiding bow ties that might be considered to be either too small or too large. Ideally you choose a bow tie that is proportionate to your body type, and, possibly even more important, proportionate to your jacket’s lapels. For best results, you should strive to work with a tailor who can help you to find the look that is right for you, as choosing formalwear often be rather tricky.

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