GUTSY Q&A: It's a tie

Dear GUTSY,

I came across dozens of my dad's old neckties from the 60's to the late 90's. We're giving them away but one caught my eye--I think it's just awesome! I'm keeping it. Any suggestions on how I can turn it to an accessory? Like a scarf or even a "ladies' tie" or something. It's yellow-green, grass green, with a touch of orange and damask(?)-like prints. Thanks!


What an interesting question! While a necktie is specifically made for men to wear around their neck, we women can make this fashion piece "our own," too. How? Here are a few tips from GUTSY girls:

Photo from mycherrymagazine.com

"Why not wear the tie as a belt? [According to Katherine Swan for the article 'Ties for Women: Ways to Accessorize' for Neckties.com] 'Accessorizing with a tie doesn’t have to mean wearing it around your neck. You can wear a tie in all of the same ways that you might wear a skinny scarf: not just around the neck, but also as a belt or in your hair. These looks best accessorize a casual outfit, so be sure that you are dressing appropriately for the occasion. The idea here is to hit just the right note: funky, without going over the top.'"
-Gabi

"She can use the tie as a belt if the length of the tie can cinch her waist."
-Kathy

Photo from etsy.com

"Some suggestions:

• use it as belt,
• combine it with an obi belt,
• use it as ribbon tie, or
• make a rose brooch out of it."

-Lani

Photo from etsy.com

"She can use it as a decor for her bag--tie it around the bag or roll it up and pin it. Better not to use it as is (i.e. as neck tie)--so punky! She can combine it with other belts and make a belt. Another option is to use it as a headband. Just add a ribbon or any brooch to spice it up. That's all."
-Pia Lor

Photo from etsy.com

"She can wear it as a scarf, ladies tie, bracelet or belt. If she wants her dad's necktie to stand out, she should wear it with the monochromatic colors of black and white. What I mean is, she'll wear full colors so that the necktie will be the first thing noticeable because it's the only one with the prints."
-Lennor

If you have a style question, send it to us by leaving a comment in this blog!

The S word

Just last week, a friend and I had a mini tiff because we both did not understand what the other meant by the word "sexy." While my friend was going on about how fun and exciting it was to be "sexy," I got especially concerned and said maybe it's best to tone down "sexy" because it's one surefire way of making people forget you're more than just a pair of legs (or whatever else you have). It turns out that all she meant by sexy was make-up and heels--and basically looking pleasant, attractive and approachable--while there I was worrying that, living amidst this mumbo jumbo of media-propagated beauty culture, my dear friend has become sort of numb.

I honestly don't like using the word "sexy" because it is too overused in media that it's become "diluted." You know what I mean: you see a person with celebrity wearing something very stylish and elegant and they call her sexy; then in the next page, a not-so-well-sheathed actress is described with the same word used as a praise, too. What, is "sexy" some sort of catch-all term that means "I don't have any other word to use so here's one I'd like to throw and hopefully you'd all think I gave a compliment"?

I'm like this with words, so please forgive me. I looked up sexy in the dictionary and this is what I learned:

sexy–adjective, sex·i·er, sex·i·est.
1. concerned predominantly or excessively with sex; risqué: a sexy novel.
2. sexually interesting or exciting; radiating sexuality: the sexiest professor on campus.
3. excitingly appealing; glamorous: a sexy new car.

Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada

Sexy is probably overused for it's third meaning because it's much easier to say Anne Hathaway's green coat is sexy than Anne Hathaway's green coat is excitingly appealing. (Besides, if we're going to be all grammatical about it, I may as well point out that: a. "sexy" referring to any item or article of clothing means number 3; b. referring to a person means number 2; and c. referring to an attitude or being, number 1.)

If we just consider meaning number 3, then there really is nothing wrong with sexy--I mean, what's wrong with being glamorous? We all want to be glamorous! and beautiful! and elegant!

The problem, then, lies in the other meanings attached to the S word. Number 2 entails "radiating sexuality," which means putting sexuality above personhood. Some may argue that if you're a woman, you can't help looking like a woman--but of course! I'm not saying we should all dress androgynously. The fact is: there's "ladylike" and then there's dangling one's sexuality for all to see. (At best, the latter just makes you attractive to the opposite sex; at worst, it takes the liberty to scream "Look at me! I'm sexually available!" for you.)

And number 1, of course, is just plain tasteless.

GUTSY Fashion LIVE: Spotted at Dad's, SM Megamall

Architect Shamcey Supsup, July 2010 Board Topnotcher and Stylish Lady

Beauty and brains in one package!! We like how effortlessly put-together her outfit looks, yet the carefully chosen matching accessories indicate that considerable (but not too much!) thought went into the clothes.

We also like how fittingly the outfit's smart casual nature took her from a day at work to a dinner with friends. Versatility, "put-together-ness," and appropriateness... isn't this what all winning outfits are made of? :)

What, for you, constitutes a "winner" outfit?

Got any photos of dignified, stylish dressing? Send them over to the GUTSY fashion team! :-)