Pattern Matching, Volume 2

by Steve Brinkman (OCT-09)

Sticking with the last analogy we’re now ready to make a martini. Your suit is the basic equipment and therefore can be likened to the shaker and strainer. Your shirt is the gin or vodka; your tie is the vermouth. And your socks represent the olive- the simplest part of the martini, yet no ordinary olive will do. This month we will move all the way up to 4 patterns, as 3 is very easy to accomplish by just eating the olive. Hopefully you’ve all mastered color combinations by now. And we will still keep things relatively simple.

1.      The Olive

a.      For a conservative choice, try a sample discreet pattern in a color that matches your trousers.

b.      For a racier look, try a small pattern that is the color of something else in your ensemble- perhaps a color in your shirt or tie. However it’s a good idea to make the color different than that of your shoes. Otherwise you’ll appear to be wearing booties.

c.      If you’ve decided to become a really confident bartender, add an onion and change your martini to a Gibson. Wear something bright that matches a similar color in your shirt or tie. In my opinion socks don’t have to match anything as long as they’re not garish.

2.      The Shaker and Strainer

a.      Solid

b.      Pinstripe

c.      Plaid or Window Pane Suit (See my book or e-mail me for the difference between these classifications)

3.      Gin or Vodka

a.      Solid Suit:

1)      Tattersall

2)      Striped

b.      Pinstripe

Striped ONLY

c.      Plaid or Window Pane

Tattersall, Window Pane, or Small Check ONLY

4.      Vermouth

a.      Tatersall or Window Pane Shirt

1)      Pin dot

2)      Small Geometric Print

3)      Small paisley print

b.      Striped Shirt- Narrow Stripes

1)      Striped Tie Narrow Stripes

2)      Striped Tie Wide Stripes

3)      Pin dot

4)      Small Geometric Print, roughly the same size or scale

5)      Small Paisley, also to scale.

c.      Striped Shirt Wide Stripes

1)      Striped Tie Wide Stripes

2)      Larger Geometric Print (to scale)

3)      Larger Paisley (again to scale). Not IMMENSE and SPLASHY, like I get to wear, but I work for myself, where garish is good.

4)      Narrow Stripes don’t work; they’re not the right scale.

I hope everyone now understands how to make a martini. Like every good bartender you’ll need to practice. And get ready for margaritas next time.

To help you with the above Click Here