Bow ties galore—Laurent Desgrange

The bow tie, once regulated to strict preppies and conservative college professors, has exploded into a men’s fashion staple over the past few years…and it shows no sign of waning. This simple rectangle of fabric, tied into a bowknot, can add a jolt of personality to any gentlemen’s wardrobe.

Above: A playful display of Laurent Desgrange’s exuberant bow ties in a smorgasbord of colors, shapes and sizes.

French designer, Laurent Desgrange, has been pushing the boundaries of the traditional bow tie (albeit the clip on bow tie) with some wit and panache for the past few years...and he doesn’t disappoint with his look book for Spring/Summer 2011.

Mr. Desgrange playfully experiments with the scale of the bow tie.

And he even elevates a sneaker with playful bows.

Of course Mr. Peacock adores the toile shirt (which will be available in blue and red).

You don’t have to wait until next spring to wear one of Mr. Desgrange's hand made bow ties.

This dark blue satin tie, with tiny bead detailing, would be chic for summer weddings.

And I love this black & white houndstooth “origami” tie.

Each tie comes with satin ribbon and a clip—so you can wear it however you prefer. They’re not just for the gents either; the ladies can wear them as a belt, headband, or hair clip.

Admittedly, Mr. Desgranges daring use of bow ties might not suit every gentleman peacock, however, his exquisite shapes and fabrics will seduce even the most conservative of old-school bow tie aficionados.

Crazy for khaki!

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After a weekend of rainbow colors, khaki seems like a nice respite. Don’t get me wrong, Mr. Peacock loves colors, but I also like a nice khaki too. The color khaki comes from the Persian word khak which means dust. Many armies around the world have used the color khaki for their uniforms and camouflage. To many gents, Khakis have become synonymous for meaning casual pants (think chinos), but don’t limit your wardrobe to just khaki colored pants. Here’s some of Mr. Peacock’s favorite khaki colored items:

1) Mr. Peacock adores this cotton khaki tuxedo with contrasting black silk twill detailing and notched collar. The underside of the collar lining is embroidered with tiny contrasting skull-and-cross bones. The pants have black silk twill taping down the legs, with unfinished cuffs (to either roll or have hemmed).

2) This khaki tie is unlined and has selvage at both ends and made with fabric from Japan.

3) I’ve worn out many pairs of checkered Vans, and blue or white Keds over the years…but I’ve never had a pair of khaki canvas Keds like these!

4) A khaki colored twill briefcase, with chocolate leather trim, that is seasonably chic and utilitarian too!

5) This military inspired khaki hat would be great while reading a book at the beach, or just running errands.

6) This mid-century inspired chair is upholstered in a khaki colored army duck fabric—similar to what was used by armies for tents and uniforms. I think the khaki fabric gives it a warm masculine touch and would integrate well with most interiors. It's on sale here.

7) This khaki and black color blocked button down shirt would look great addition to any wardrobe—and would be a great year-round piece.

8) I also like these khaki canvas sneakers with an espadrille inspired jute detailing, and a leather detail in the back. They’re made of canvas, leather, hemp, and rubber.

Khaki, beige, tan, dust...whatever you want to call the color, is a great addition to any gentleman’s wardrobe. Do you have any khaki colored items, besides pants, in your wardrobe?

Mr. P's favorite T's

The weather is heating up and it's time for flip-flops, shorts and t-shirts. "A picture speaks a thousand words"…and so can a t-shirt. T-shirts can become very sentimental possessions referencing a special event or time in your life. Here's some of Mr. Peacock's current favorite t-shirts, maybe one of these will become your favorite too.

Mr. Peacock loves the Danish label Wood Wood, created in 2002. This Wood Wood tee is a pie chart showing the religions of the world.

There's a plethora of t-shirts that give homage to The Smiths.

This Charming Man, How Soon is Now? Oh the memories….

You either love or hate The Smiths….

And it the people…, Death of a Disco Dancer, To be gentle and kind.

These Laurent Desgrange t-shirts are made from collages.

They are packaged like vinyl LP records.

Is your head is in the clouds…or do you feel like a sad cloud?

American Apparel has created a series of "Library" t-shirts using historical images such as juveniles dispersing from the Los Angeles police on Sunset Strip in 1966, or a pair at a Gay Pride Parade in West Hollywood in1984. It will be interesting to see if they continue this series of t-shirts.

Arthur Conan Doyle wrote Hound of the Baskervilles (see my homage to Sherlock Holmes). It's immortalized as a t-shirt here. This lady cop t-shirt is by Patrick Nagel (remember the Duran Duran Rio cover?).

This double trouble t-shirt will make anyone smile. Mr. Peacock likes the "tennis tail" on this iconic number tee.

Opposites attract. This love/hate t-shirt weighs in on timely issues. "Okay is not okay"…..references the Berlin dj duo, but it could be a mantra for anyone.

Mr. Peacock likes this architectural mustache man t-shirt. It reminds me of the interior of my kitchen cabinets. The bearded man t-shirt looks like an illustration from a fable.

This scientific illustration of mushrooms looks striking on this tee.

Color block t-shirts always look good. I like the combination of red, yellow, ivory and blue of this t-shirt.

Even if you don't party at The Chateau Marmont, you can still own a souvenir t-shirt.

You can peek at my previous favorite t-shirts here. What's going to be your favorite t-shirt this summer?

Stoned Soul Picnic*

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Summertime is quickly approaching and that means picnics, festivals, barbecues, the beach, et all. Whether you’re dining al fresco at Dolores Park, Fire Island, Hollywood Forever Cemetery, or just your own backyard or terrace…here’s some goodies for your outdoor soiree.

1) Mr.Peacock loves these exotic looking Bongenre Melamine plates in vivid colors with swirls and mandala patterns. They are available in 9", 10" or 12" plates.

2) This clever ice orb is a vertical ice tray. It can be used as an ice bucket, a cold vessel for foods (ie dips), or as a champagne or wine cooler. It makes 21 cubes and can store up to 51 cubes.

3) These eco-friendly bamboo utensils can be used over and over again at all of your outdoor parties.

4) Dwell Studio designed these chic black & white cotton napkins for Target. What a bargain for $9.99 for a set of four!

5) Any gentleman peacock would appreciate this self-contained folding hardwood picnic table. Don’t limit it to picnics, it would also make a great indoor bar table for your next party.

6) This inexpensive polywoven picnic basket and flatware caddy would come in handy for hauling or organizing goodies for your alfresco feast. The colors and woven pattern reminds me of a sewing basket my mother had when I was kid.

7) This little lime green charcoal picnic grill (15"d, 12"h) will come in handy for grilling kabobs and quesadillas this summer. The lid locks in place and features vent holes and a silicone-topped handle. And the compact design makes it great for setting up just about anywhere.

Don't wait until the last minute (like Mr. Peacock), be prepared for your next summer event and organize your goodies now! Surry down to a stoned soul picnic! *homage to Laura Nyro

Elbows to the Grindstone…

As of late, Mr. Peacock has noticed some of his favorite jackets and shirts are showing some wear on the elbows—specifically the right elbow. It's probably from rubbing my elbow on my desktop when I use the computer mouse. I guess I need to add some elbow patches.

The past few years have seen a revival in elbow pads in menswear. For some of us peacocks, however, elbow pads have always been a mainstay in our wardrobes.

Elbow patches began as a strictly functional repair—a way to hide wear and tear on jackets, shirts or sweaters. Over time they became mere decoration...and somewhat of a cliché...think of a pipe-smoking gent in a tweedy jacket with oval suede elbow patches standing by a fireplace. The elbow patches of today are far from cliché, and aren’t limited to just oval swatches of suede.

This jacket is traditional tweed, but the elongated rectangle elbow patches are very modern.

This corduroy blazer with suede elbow patches is a classic piece—and I love the lining too!

Mr. Peacock loves this modernized tweed hunting jacket with beautiful pocket detailing...

...and elbow patches. It's at the top of my holiday wish list! (here's another tweed jacket—with tweed elbow pads).

You won’t feel like Mr. Rodgers in this simple and elegant camel colored wool cardigan sweater with leather patches. It's also available in navy.

This slim red cardigan with leather buttons and suede elbow patches and would be festive this season.

Mr. Peacock likes the contrasting red wool buffalo plaid elbow pads on this navy crew knit sweater.

Here’s a navy merino wool turtleneck with elbow patches.

This vintage inspired Pendleton shirt with suede elbow pads looks cozy.

Another vintage inspired shirt with elbow pads.

Buffalo plaid is given a different twist as a rugby shirt with elbow pads.

You can find ready-made elbow patches at your local fabric store and sew them onto your own garments—or have a tailor sew them on for you.

Remember to keep your elbows to the grindstone and stay warm!

Can you spare a dime?

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Money is on the mind of everyone right now! My neighborhood grocery store has one of those self-service automated machines that counts your coins and gives you a receipt with your total, which you then exchange for cash at the front counter. Each time I’m at the store, someone is pouring a large container of saved coins into this machine hoping for a large total.

Here’s some of Mr. Peacock’s numismatic inspired goodies on his wish list right now:

1) I like the way this foreign coin necklace looks! I think it would look interesting draped around the neck of a gourd style lamp. You could also make your own charm necklace with all of the souvenir coins from your own travels.

2) Mr. Peacock has been obsessed lately with the estate of the late floral designer/party planner extraordinaire—Robert Isabell (and fellow Gemini). He was a keen collector with exquisite taste...and what treasure-box home he created (see more here)! His estate will be auctioned at Southeby's on December 17th.

He had an amazing coin sofa (shown above in a room at his home, from the NY Times) designed by the artist Johnny Swing, made up of over 7,000 nickels and 35,000 welds (detail below left).

The sofa is too large for my apartment, but the butterfly chair (#2 at top) would fit quite nicely. It’s made up of over 1,500 half-dollars and 7,000 welds (detail above right). It would be very luxurious lounging on money!

3) This vintage inspired gold coin and ribbon necklace would be a handsome gift for any hero in your life.

4) There are many different cuff links available made of vintage or replica coins. I like these elegant cuff links made with vintage Mercury dimes embellished with black enamel.

5) Everyone needs a touch of Fornasetti in his or her home! This brass and wood tripod occasional table decorated with drawings of Roman coins would add a chic decorative accent to your décor.

6) Mr. Peacock has always liked anything with a secret compartment (especially my Pee Wee Herman watch!), and these “Spy Coins” are no exception. The tops of these real coins pop off revealing a hidden hollow space perfect for hiding an illicit piece of paper, your bank code, or some high tech tracking device. These coins are the perfect stocking stuffer for the person who has everything!

7) This decorative lidded box (14.5"H x 11.5"W x 8.5"D) adorned with faux Roman coins reminds me of my mom’s vintage faux Roman coin medallion brooch. It would be a perfect vessel for saving cherished cards and letters.

8) Mr. Peacock has amassed a collection of exonumia (flattened embossed souvenir pennies) from various destinations across the United States. The machines are frequently located at touristy spots. Each one costs fifty cents, plus one sacrificial penny.

I just love watching the penny roll down the gears and get rolled flat, and then embossed with the tourist location...and plop out as a warm oval disc at the bottom of the machine. I’m not sure what I’ll do with my collection of embossed pennies...I guess I could make a charm necklace.

Anyway, I’m very glad to be back after a brief blog sojourn. Thank you for all of the kind emails and wonderful comments—I appreciate it! I hope everyone has an abundance of coins this holiday season!

The Power of Pockets

Mr. Peacock has always had a thing for jackets (and shirts) with lots of pockets—the more the merrier. Pockets, historically speaking, always served a utilitarian purpose on a garment (form follows function).

Above: Mr. Peacock’s cherished vintage Osh Kosh denim work wear jacket with functional pockets (see pocket detail at top).

Each pocket was there for a reason, whether it was to hold a tool, identification cards, hunting accouterments, or even just keys. I guess that’s why I like pockets too—they hold all the stuff I like to carry with me including my subway pass, post-it notes, business cards, and various other bits.

There are many great garments, with pockets, this season for gentlemen peacocks. And the wonderful vintage work wear vibe is strong. Admittedly, the pockets are now often more decorative than utilitarian...but hey, everyone can use an extra pocket now and then. Here are some of Mr. Peacock’s pocketed favorites.

Contrasting grays make this wooly shirt jacket both good looking and functional.

The jacket has a hidden front zipper and button placket.

Mr. Peacock is swooning over this charcoal gray heavy Melton jacket, although it may be a too warm for San Francisco (with the exception of a handful of very cold days).
The detailing on the backside. I like the contrasting white stitching too!

This cotton bomber jacket with detachable pockets is more military inspired than work wear inspired. There’s even pockets on the backside.

I love the detachable pockets, and the chunky gold zipper and gold hardware.

Mr. Peacock also loves this denim shirt with 5 pockets. The smaller fifth pocket would hold my subway pass quite nicely.

A pocket detail of this work wear inspired denim shirt.

This engineer’s jacket is homage to the workers of the American Machine Age.

But you don’t have to be a construction worker on a skyscraper to appreciate the details and practical construction of this amazing jacket.

This utility chambray shirt also has many wonderful details including the front placket...

...and the chest pockets and elbow seams.

A pocket protector would be difficult to insert on this black cotton shirt with layered chest pockets (at right).

What do you carry in your pockets?