Bow Ties & the Beatles: Sporting Menswear on the First Day

On August 19, 1964 the Beatles kicked off their first tour in the United States with a concert at San Francisco's Cow Palace. Only just four years old, the band had been taking Britain by storm. Although they started small by playing in intimate venues in Liverpool and Hamburg, their song "Love Me Do" skyrocketed the group to new fame in Europe. Once the Beatles came stateside, Beatlemania swept the nation as they wowed audiences on The Ed Sullivan Show. The concert in August of 1964 became an historic moment for the band as they launched their new song "Twist and Shout" to a venue packed full of more than 17,000 screaming fans. Interestingly, the Beatles were escorted out by an ambulance and police because the overly enthusiastic fans had heard that their favorite candy was jelly beans and proceeded to pelt the band with the candy on stage. This was the first of four tours that the Beatles performed in the United States.

The Beatles in San Francisco August 19, 1964

The Beatles brought about many social changes in western society and one of those distinct influences was fashion. Especially early on, the young men were often seen sporting suits in their performances, interviews, and photo shoots. There's nothing that screams professional and classy like a well cut suit, sleek bow tie, and oxford shoes. I love finding ways to incorporate these classic menswear pieces into my outfits as they really have a way of dressing it up, yet making it fun if juxtaposed well.

So for the first day of school, I incorporated one of these menswear elements into my outfit: the bow tie. To be fair, I didn't tie it as a real bow tie would, but instead using a strip of gingham fabric I tied a bow under the collar of my chambray shirt. By adding a large statement necklace as an extra layer, it kept the look feminine and chic. With the pop of red on my feet and red lipstick, I made sure to keep the look balanced and fun. Oh and the first day went really well! My students are all wonderful and it was really fantastic to meet them all! I know that this year will be a great one with these women in my classes.

J.Crew Chambray, Forever 21 Skirt, Antonio Melani Shoes, Gifted Necklace