In which G.M. Norton pens piffle about wool and beards.
In readiness for the cold months ahead, I've been plotting some purchases to help keep me warm. I've already managed to snaffle a couple of jumpers - a lovely cream Norwegian style number made from 100% British wool for just £30 and a big thick M&S navy sweater from their Autograph range. This one was acquired from one of the beneficiary boutiques that I frequent, and set me back the princely cost of £1.99 (being a generous sole, I put the penny in the collection box).
I have a real thing for knitwear at the moment. They seem a perfect match for my beard.
One year ago, I foolishly shaved my beard off. All in the name of dressing up as Gomez Addams for a Halloween soiree.
I refer to this moment as foolish simply because afterwards, my face wasn't half cold. I wouldn't mind, but it was quite a mild autumn and winter.
So this year, I'm tickled pink to have a growth of the chin. And as I mentioned a few moments ago, a beard complements a jumper perfectly. Win-win, chumrades, win-win.
Here are some beards that I've also been admiring recently. Note the warm clothing too.
James Mason as Captain Nemo in Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
I do love James Mason; apart from sporting some first-rate clobber, his beard looks simply majestic.
Next up is Roger Livesey, who played the kindly Dr Reeves in A Matter of Life and Death, which starred David Niven.
Roger has what a beard expert may term 'an extended goatee'. I also like that it's ginger. I have a real soft spot for ginger hair.
Then finally, we have Orson Welles, from Tomorrow Is Forever (and perhaps elsewhere).
I must confess to never having watched Citizen Kane. There, I've said it. But I did enjoy Mr Welles in The Third Man. I need to watch more of Mr Welles, beard or not. But his beard is a beauty, as are his deeply etched frown lines.
Hello there squire,
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that the face furniture is doing a useful function (ie, keeping the fizzog toasty in this Baltic weather). One gets attached to them - or should I say they attach themselves to you. Without my beard I would be unrecognisable AND I would look like a squashed duck in profile.
Having just come back from China, I think that it certainly helped me. Now that the beard is snow white, the Chinese students I was teaching thought I was some sort of very wise sage - and paid me a huge amount of respect accordingly. They (all 30 of them) wanted photographs of themselves taken with me on their smartphones - I suppose this is the modern day equivalent of autographs and a good luck charm for them in their exams.
Hope the face fungus stays throughout the winter!
Regards
Niall McGuinness
Edinburgh
You can't go wrong with pure wool - not only is it warmer than synthetics, its moisture-absorbing properties mean it's not as 'sweaty' as acrylic. Knitwear is one of the few good things about winter.
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