The House of Lords has long been derided as a stuffy relic of the past. But now its benches, usually filled with haughtily dressed men, could soon resemble something more akin to “dress-down Friday”. One of the nation’s most storied chambers of power has enacted a rule change: men are no longer required to wear a tie in the House of Lords.
Instead, they should opt for “business attire”. Ties have long been a knotty item of neckwear. For some, they are a nuisance: too tight and they are uncomfortable, too loose and they look a bit shabby.
For others, such as Stephen Fry, who professed his love for ties in a 256-page book, they can add a touch of undeniable class. Peter York, a writer and style commentator, is firmly on the traditional side of the debate, saying the dumbed-down dress code will “end in tears”. If they can go without ties, they can also wear plimsolls and stuff like that.
They will look silly,” said York, who owns hundreds of ties. He called them “little works of art”, and decried those who shunned them while dressing formally. On Savile Row, views on ties were mixed.
Something else was also green: his moustache. He said his dyed facial hair might be allowed in the House of Lords, and is in support of the relaxed dress code, believing that members have a responsibility to keep up with fashion trends. They would go to their tailors and try to outdo each other.
When you stop all that, and it becomes like a living museum, then the whole menswear fashion world stops,” he said. Hills usually has something around his neck. But Thursday afternoon was, unluckily, one of the rare occasions he was without a silk scarf or cravat.
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