Commonly regarded as sartorial shorthand for being an insufferable, preppy douchebag, tying a sweater around one’s neck has been considered a lamentably objectionable stylistic flourish pretty much as long as, say, popping the collar of one’s polo shirt and/or perching one's eyeglasses atop one's head have been. It’s just one of those things that immediately sends a specific message. But, people still do it. They even write defensive blog posts about it.
While it’s not my preferred means of employing a sweater, I realize that times and sensibilities change and that maybe —just maybe— it’s just an absurd “rule” to begin with. Still, you probably won’t catch me doing it. For what it's worth, my 20-year-old daughter declared that while she’d never date someone who wore a tied sweater, the sweater-`round-the-waist look is “way worse” on a man, although I'm not entirely sold on that point.
That all said, in recent days, I have twice been confronted with evidence of individuals from well outside of the nefarious realm of oppressive douchebaggery rocking the tied sweater look. These photos don’t excuse or defend the practice, but serve only to give one pause for thought.
Seen below are the Sex Pistols in March of 1977, captured upon the signing of their ill-fated contract to A&M Records in front of the well-appointed grounds of Buckingham Palace. Just to the left of the late Sid Vicious is stalwart drummer Paul Cook, smiling broadly at the camera and sporting a fuzzy mohair sweater doubtlessly procured from the collection of Vivienne Westwood. He sports it, fetchingly, around his shoulders like a J. Crew model.
Despite their comparatively grand, indelible entrance into pop culture, the Sex Pistols would messily flame out shortly after the above photo was taken, prompting lead singer/provocateur Johnny “Rotten” Lydon to form the significantly more adventurous and experimental Public Image Ltd. The original line-up of same is pictured below, comprised of Lydon, guitarist Keith Levene, drummer Jim Walker and — pictured far left — bassist John Wardle, a.k.a. Jah Wobble, whose signature dub-influenced playing helped forge post-punk’s trajectory.
For all his insouciant iconoclasm, however, the estimable Mr. Wobble is seen …. with a sweater around his neck and shoulders.
So, if Punk Rock royalty like Cook & Wobble can get away it, … could it be so bad?
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