I think we’re long overdue for the return of the ascot. You remember, that weird neck scarf that Fred from Scooby Doo wore? of course, I would never go for the way he tied it. I much prefer the Thurston Howell approach to wearing the ascot, under the shirt collar, in a style often referred to as the “day cravat”.

I managed to find a number of resources on the ascot, though only a few vendors. Here’s a good compendium of methods of wearing an ascot. And here’s a good instruction guide as to how to tie one on in the manner of a day cravat. Here’s another how-to. I managed to find a few vendors here, here and here. I particularly like this one here.

I think the presence of ascots in this video must say something about their resurgence:

And then there’s this:

A Milwaukee judge known as a fastidious dresser held up a sentencing hearing for three hours yesterday because a prosecutor came to court wearing an ascot.

Judge William Sosnay said the ascot violates a court rule that requires lawyers to wear neckties and “borders on contemptuous,” the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

“This is not about the definition of an ascot or a necktie,” Sosnay said. “This is an issue which I believe deals with the integrity of the court.”

The prosecutor, Warren Zier, wore a red ascot that matched the handkerchief in the breast pocket of his pinstriped suit. The newspaper has a picture of Zier’s courtroom attire.

The manager of Harleys for Men haberdashery begged to differ with the judge. Ben Norris told the Journal Sentinel that ascots are considered formal and might be worn to a fancy dinner party. He pointed out that Hugh Hefner has worn them for decades.

Now really, how can you go wrong imitating Hef?

UPDATE: Jay mentioned American Idol in the comments. Found a link here.