Tie it, knot it - The bow tie is cheeky

Garfene Grandison, Gleaner Writer

It's one of of the season's accessories that conjures Bogart and Sinatra - two style icons who possessed effortless star quality. Worn with blazers, striped shirts or polo shirts, the bow tie is the cheeky addition to every wardrobe. It adds a certain, "I'm-back-from-the-beach-and-now-it's-time-for-the-casino-star appeal.

The bow tie has been edging its way back into fashion for a few seasons now. Interpreted as geek chic, or vintage elegance, the floppy, the patterned, the multicoloured, and oversize printed bow tie is dandyish and glamorous.

From Ermenegildo Zegna to Salvatore Ferragamo, the bow tie is hot on the runways.

One local designer who has tapped into this niche market is Jamaican-born Sarah Armstrong Osborne who now resides in Atlanta, Georgia. Even in high school and college back in the United Kingdom, Armstrong states that she always undertook electives that were practical. She started dressing her son in vogue suits without any lapels and her daughter in dresses with pantaloons underneath.

To get started with her idea, she confessed that she often start by googling entire sentences to inspire the creative process. She tells Outlook, "I came across three stories and also found examples of the items they made. One was the Beau tie company, featuring a 60-year-old couple who were retired, wanted to supplement their income and started to make bow ties in their spare bedroom," she said.

She continued: "The second story that impressed me was of two ladies who used vintage clothes, whatever they could find, and used these to make fashion purses. After actually speaking with one of the ladies who repurposed old clothes into personal garments, she decided to make a trendy shoulder bag from a pair of jeans.

Vitolisogreen neckwear was derived from the Christian name of her sister-in-laws' father and she added the word 'so green'. So Vitolisogreen neckwear was inspired by anyone who likes to sport an interesting and colourful bow tie which complements a stylish attire, whether formal or casual.

Armstrong believes bow ties add confidence to the wearer and can jazz up any outfit, taking it to another level.

The ties are really versatile. All her silk, formal Jamaican flags can be worn three different ways. "For the conservative man attending a black-tie event, it may be retied to expose only all black. A touch of yellow or green may be shown in the centre or yellow or green may be shown in front," said Armstrong.

She came up with her own two designs while creating a bow tie for a little girl's birthday gift. While cutting and folding, she accidentally stitched the folded fabric the wrong way. Determined not to unpick, she tried to work around the error and was overjoyed to see what had evolved. "I quickly grabbed another piece of fabric and worked the mistake again drawing myself a diagram and attached the sample fabric to my notepaper," she explained.

Armstrong is optimistic about the future of Vitolisogreen neckwear, bags, other accessories. "There are numerous possibilities that I see for bow ties apart from being an accessory item for the ladies and men. Beyond that, I just want to continue to create things that people will enjoy wearing and to also inspire others to acquire skills that they are able to use to support themselves," she told Outlook.

Currently working on her website, Armstrong can be reached via email at vitolisogreen@yahoo.com. Some of her works can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/vitolisogreen.

Photos by Gladstone Taylor/Photographer