The House of Lords has long been derided as a stuffy relic of the past.
asserted
House → deride → past
But now its benches, usually filled with haughtily dressed men, could soon resemble something more akin to “dress-down Friday”.
uncertain
benches → fill → Friday
One of the nation’s most storied chambers of power has enacted a rule change: men are no longer required to wear a tie in the House of Lords.
asserted
men → enact → Lords
Instead, they should opt for “business attire”.
asserted
they → opt → attire
For some, they are a nuisance: too tight and they are uncomfortable, too loose and they look a bit shabby.
asserted
they → look → some
For others, such as Stephen Fry, who professed his love for ties in a 256-page book, they can add a touch of undeniable class.
asserted
they → profess → class
Peter York, a writer and style commentator, is firmly on the traditional side of the debate, saying the dumbed-down dress code will “end in tears”.
“Lords are not famous for being well-dressed at the best of times.
asserted
Lords → say → times
If they can go without ties, they can also wear plimsolls and stuff like that.
asserted
they → go → that
They will look silly,” said York, who owns hundreds of ties.
asserted
who → look → ties
He called them “little works of art”, and decried those who shunned them while dressing formally.
asserted
who → call → them
“It looks as if you’re not completely dressed, or you’ve forgotten something,” he said.
asserted
he → look → something
On Savile Row, views on ties were mixed.
asserted
views → mix → ties
“I don’t think ties are completely dead, they’re just having a down moment,” said Guy Hills, 58, a fashion photographer and owner of Dashing Tweed, who was sauntering down the street in a green tweed suit.
asserted
who → think → suit
He said his dyed facial hair might be allowed in the House of Lords, and is in support of the relaxed dress code, believing that members have a responsibility to keep up with fashion trends.
uncertain
members → say → trends
“They used to be the driving force of fashion, especially around Savile Row.
asserted
They → use → Row
They would go to their tailors and try to outdo each other.
asserted
They → go → other
When you stop all that, and it becomes like a living museum, then the whole menswear fashion world stops,” he said.
asserted
he → stop → museum
Hills usually has something around his neck.
asserted
Hills → have → neck
“I can’t go out without a scarf because it looks too slovenly,” he said.
asserted
it → go → scarf
While ties aren’t totally “in”, Hills thinks they could make a comeback.
uncertain
they → think → comeback
“The younger generation is now getting more interested in sustainability and proper clothing.
asserted
generation → get → sustainability
A tie really finishes a whole outfit off,” he said.
asserted
he → finish → outfit
Among the few wearing a tie on Savile Row was Chaand Singh.
asserted
Singh → wear → Row
The 25-year-old, who works in marketing, had decided to wear a navy tie from Next because of an important work meeting.
asserted
who → work → meeting
“Dressing up and adding a tie elevates the look,” he said – so much so that he had received compliments from people.
asserted
he → dress → people
“Someone said that I look a bit more sharp today.”
asserted
I → say → ?
Ties were no longer an office must, said Singh – but he thinks they still have their place.
asserted
they → say → place
“I’ve got some from the 80s with cool patterns.
asserted
I → get → patterns
They’re usually wider and designed when fashion was a bit more experimental,” he said.
asserted
he → ’re → ?
“I would wear them at work for the right scenario, but casually as well.
asserted
I → wear → scenario
Some girls even wear ties as belts.”
asserted
girls → wear → belts
What do tailors on the Row think?
asserted
tailors → think → Row
What better way of doing it than reflecting current trends?” said James Sleater, 45, the owner of Norton & Sons.
asserted
Sleater → do → Norton
“Women don’t have to wear ties, and if men have the option, it’s OK by me.”
asserted
it → have → me
Sleater said that in the “post-Covid era, there has been a huge decline in neckwear and the number of people wearing ties to the office”, adding that the “relaxation of dress codes is symptomatic of people working several days a week at home”.
asserted
relaxation → say → home
Norton & Sons sees people from all walks of life.
asserted
Norton → see → life
“Yesterday we had an ex-prime minister and today we’ve got a Hollywood star having a fitting.
asserted
star → have → fitting
We also see people wanting a suit for their first job and people celebrating a wedding,” he says.
asserted
he → see → wedding
Have these customers shunned ties and other neckwear in droves?
asserted
customers → shun → droves
“We’re seeing the reversal of this trend,” says Sleater.
asserted
Sleater → see → trend
…and 10 more, not listed.
The Aporia
