The Sart and Fine Ties for Suiting from Motto & Crest.

Inarguably, Dublin is not on a par with style-centres like Milan, NY, London or Paris but that’s not to say Irish style is nothing of interest. For such a small nation, we’ve always punched above our weight and in the sartorial stakes, it’s no different. Thus, hearing that The Sartorialist was planning a brief sojourn in our currently quite cold capital, wasn’t that surprising but still news that induced excitement for myself and a lot of others.

Yesterday, myself and friend, C, made our way to Dundrum’s Harvey Nichols to toast fashion’s favourite streetstyle photog’s first book ever. Like any Irish soirée worth its salt, it involved rivers of champagne, some aural pleasantness provided by some of Dublin’s best DJs and stellar company. The Sart, himself, was late due to dinner-engagements but when he did arrive (no fanfare…think the crowd was too engrossed in champagne-guzzling…no bad thing) myself and Cat of Offshoot ever-so-nonchalantly (not) approached the man himself for a bituva chat and an obligatory congratulations.

Oh and the rumours are true, he’s more than charming….

Anyway, the crux of this post was neckwear, not nattering with the fashion cognoscenti. When introduced to one of Cat’s friends (the lovely Anna, otherwise known as the girl with the best blonde asymmetric bob in Dublin), I was asked why I didn’t wear more bowties. I didn’t really have an answer, but it’s probably due to the dearth of decent bowties available. Neckties, on the other hand, have a new quality purveyor.

Motto & Crest, independent and British through-and-through, was founded by Christopher Moyle when he identified the lack of classic British club- and college-inspired neckwear on the market. By working with local manufacturers and making use of traditional techniques, Moyle has debuted a line of v. wearable yet highly distinctive ties.

The Black Tie collection has me hooked. From the Prince (black silk satin with a panel of black suiting wool) to the Poole (silk satin with a panel of black leather), it’s classic with a v. luxe, v. gothic twist. For collegiate with a more geometric severity, check out First Form.