EDIT: It’s been brought to my attention that when Barbie says, “Nice ascot,” it could be a clever way of disguising Barbie’s compliment about Ken’s behind. That’s possible, but I don’t think she had actually seen the backside at that point in the movie.
I’d been looking forward to seeing Toy Story 3 solely on the basis of Ken’s outfit. Well, maybe not solely. But this screen gives me much to chew on:
- Boat shoes without socks (great look, though I guess it’s easy when your manufacturer doesn’t provide you with socks)
- Shorts that shouldn’t be pleated (though the rolled cuff look is totally in)
- A very interesting shirt. I’d like it if: 1. His collar wasn’t popped (he’s in a daycare, thus he has no need to shield his plastic visage from the wind) 2. The top wasn’t unbuttoned. I understand, Ken, that your plastic mold gives you a rock hard bod. But please, one button is enough. 3. It wasn’t a leopard print. Ok, so I dislike everything except the color.
To top it off, Ken’s got something tied around his neck. My first reaction was that it’s a neckerchief. It’s tied to the side, it’s fairly narrow, without a lot of width variation…
Then I saw Toy Story 3. In the first scene with Ken, love-struck Barbie remarks, “Nice ascot.”
WHAT. C’MON BARBIE. (let’s go party). That’s not an ascot, is it? My immediate reaction was pleasure, since I knew that “ascot” would soon enter the vocabulary of millions. But is Barbie spreading false notions about men’s style?
- Unfolded ascots are wide at both ends. Imagine the wide end of the tie x 2, with a little skinny section in the middle. Ken’s neckwear appears to be much skinnier. One end seems to be a little wide, but nowhere near the shape of an ascot. Heck, it almost looks like an oddly shaped bow tie.
- Most ascots are folded in front. Like Ken, men wear ascots under their collar, but they look like this:
Ken appears to have simply folded his in a scarf-ish knot on the side. However, it’s a little too small to be a scarf. I think it’s a neckerchief.
For the final verdict on Barbie’s knowledge of men’s style, I went straight to the source, the movie website. “His accessories include matching scarf, sensible loafers, and a fashion-forward gold belt.”
Huh. I’m not a scarf expert, though I do find it odd that Ken would wear a scarf in a room unplagued by any sort of weather. (Remember the popped collar? Pointless.) Because, after all, mens wear is practical at its core.
I guess me AND Barbie have some reading to do. Or maybe Pixar needs to hire a proper dandy as a costume consultant, since that does not look like a scarf. And Barbie…you were way off.
PS – blue loafers? Really?
Movie pics photo credit: Disney
RDJ photo credit: I Watch Stuff
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