If a woman — like Diane Keaton, who consistently (?!) covers her hands with gloves indoors — wears something so consistently that’s also a little weird and show-offy (we know you’re old, Diane and that your hands will reveal this) it bears comment.

When I see a guy in a bow-tie I wonder what made him choose it…is he specifically seeking additional attention and why?

But I admire the ability to tie one and, on the right man and the right clothing, a bowtie can look great.

There are times when a man must absolutely wear a bow tie, such as formal wear. Otherwise they are taboo. Here’s why:

Most men hate wearing ties; they’re hard to tie, they’re uncomfortable and, since tie tacks/clips, etc. have vanished, if you’re not careful you’ll get them in your food –hence the fashion statement of men tossing the end of their tie over their shoulder at meals, a maneuver that says: “No matter how mature and powerful I am, I have the table manners of a 6-year-old.”

And men being men, most would wear the same tie forever (and probably just slip it off over their heads rather than retie it every day) if it weren’t for the whims of fashion (wide-thin-wide-thin-wide-thin-wide-thin).

The discomfort and the matter of tying a complicated knot on oneself are only compounded with bow ties, which are nearly impossible to tie (I’ve tried … with a Harvard bow tie, no less) and as uncomfortable as a regular tie. As a result, very few men wear them.

In the ancient era when I was young (the 1950s and early ’60s), little boys were given bow ties until they were old enough to wear regular ties — of course, being the ancient era, these were clip-ons. Having your dad show you how to tie a necktie was as much a rite of passage as learning to drive.

About the only adult male from that era who wore a bow tie was the father in the “Dennis the Menace” cartoon strip, which speaks volumes about them.

In the years that followed, neckties went through many iterations (wide-thin, paisley, stripes, dots, black, long, short, you name it). I quit wearing a tie to the office years ago and they have just about vanished from my workplace, even among top management.

So what does all this say about the bow tie? Well think about who wears them regularly: Men like Dennis the Menace’s dad. Men who want to show off by sending the message that “I can tie this complicated torture device on myself,” “I’m a nonconformist” and “I don’t care if I look comical and eccentric.”

In other words, men who wear bow ties are sending the message that: “I’m a showoff, I’m a maverick, I’m eccentric and I don’t care what people think.”

Think about it: Ever seen Cary Grant in a bow tie? Would you want to?

Hillary Clinton’s pant suits were spoken of/written about so frequently that she referred to them in her speech at the Democratic Convention.
http://www.sitv.com/blogs/politics/day-2-sisterhood-traveling-pant-suits

On top of that, her apparel was given a year in review:
http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=5656295

And, they were scrutinized by newspeople, designers and self proclaimed fashionistas (and fashionistos)
http://www.thestar.com/living/article/301465

http://zeldalily.com/index.php/2009/10/the-politics-of-dress-political-women-in-power-and-pantsuits/

Your point remains of course – it’s all silly – bow ties or pant suits, but I just would disagree with the idea that this fascination applies only to bow ties.