- Published on
TIL: Paisley
- Authors
- Name
- Teddy Xinyuan Chen
Paisley or paisley pattern is an ornamental textile design using the boteh (Persian: بته) or buta, a teardrop-shaped motif with a curved upper end. Of Persian origin, paisley designs became popular in the West in the 18th and 19th centuries, following imports of post-Mughal Empire versions of the design from India, especially in the form of Kashmir shawls, and were then replicated locally.
- Wikipedia
Google Images: https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&q=paisley&udm=2
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Paisley_(design)
Table of Contents
The Story
I am interested in classic men's neckwear, AKA cravat (the word came from Croats / Croatian in French).
Cravat is an umbrella term for any kinds of things you wear on the neck, including neck ties, bow ties, and the more casual and classical version of neck ties called ascot (originally worn by polo players in Scotland IIRC).
A lot of ascot sold online seem to feature the paisley patterns, and the pattern can look really good on ascot or pocket squares (esp. if you fold it in a more nonchalant way, like a puff fold).
I wanted to buy an ascot (think how much more intesting it can make any shirt look, and how few people are wearing it today! Most people don't even know what an ascot is.) but was discouraged by people on Reddit, who said that few people can pull it off, and they thought it's bascially fedora for the neck and just creates an eccentric look.
I really don't care much about what people thinks but since I already decided to try club collar contrast shirt, I think an ascot might be too much for me at this time so I decided to put the idea on hold for now.
Some people suggested bandana, which is a larger piece of square shaped cloth (larger than a pocket square), that's cheaper and easier to buy, so I went with that trying to create an ascot look, while also trying different ways to wear it.
Anyway, the head band looks nicer than I thought on me! And it makes my hair even more puffier, which is fun.
Update: screw what random redditors think! I'm going to wear the ascot.
Other Patterns
Ever seen a button up shirt with check pattern of black and red and other colors, where the stripes meet the color is the mix of 2 colors? Well, it could be tartan.
Turns out every patterns has a name! There's not just horizontal / verticle stripes / checks, but so many sub categories in each on of them.