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?

1. 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.
2. 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

UNK6TYFNNVS6

Popularity: 10% [?]

June 30th, 2010 by Michael in Celebrity ties, Tie Trends | Permalink