Okay, here is the blog that ALL of you have been waiting for.  Why the Bow Tie?  Why do I wear it? Where did it come from?  Do you tie it yourself?

First of all, yes.  My bow ties are real and I tie them myself.  Tying one is very similar to a shoelace, it’s not hard, just takes some practice.

Where do I get them?  Most any place that has ties.  I get most from Belk or similar type stores.  I have a few really “nice” ones from fine men’s haberdasheries, but their quality is not far superior to any others. I have a few from on-line places and several were gifts. Always a good gift. Hint, hint.

Several years ago I was having lunch with Mark Chinn (legal mentor, former boss, and still great friend ) and we were discussing branding. Mark wears nice suits and wears a hat. He has a fedora hat, actually several, and he wears them in part as his style, but also for practical reasons like sun protection.  He is well-known and identifiable by his hat(s).  As we discussed my brand, I wanted something simple, memorable, different and not a hat.

If I had started wearing hats and stood next to Mark in his, I would look ridiculous. Like Twins with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito ridiculous.

What about a bow tie?  We had a firm event coming up, our annual divorce firm Valentine’s party (aren’t we clever), and I thought that would be a fine time to unveil the bow tie.  I went to Mozingo Clothiers, just up the street from my office and with Charlie’s help picked out a fine pinkish, purplish bow tie, that looked quite festive. Charlie showed me how he ties them, tied it for me and I left with the tie pre-tied.  It had buttons on the back, as most do.

As I mulled over wearing the bow tie, I thought, “everyone is going to ask if I tied it…I have to say yes, truthfully.”  I untied it, having never tied a bow tie before and on my second attempt did a pretty fine job, with the help of Charlie’s lesson and a great you tube video.

That night I had lots of compliments and of course, “Did you tie it yourself?”  I crowed “absolutely”.  I have worn a bow tie ever since.

I have had many compliments in Court, at Court, and from Court on the bow tie.  My best story from Court was when I appeared for the first time in front of an out of county Judge, meaning a Judge I do not appear before regularly .  She commented on my tie approvingly.  Court went fine.  I was back in her Courtroom some weeks later and had my back turned as the Judge approached me and asked me to turn around so she could see what color bow tie I was wearing that day. I knew I was on to something.

That is why I enjoy and wear bow ties. To be different, to be remembered and because its my style.