Kip Holden’s ties

Mayor Kip Holden can’t argue with a well-made Italian suit. “They just fit better,” he says. Custom suits aside, his worldwide travels have amassed him a collection of some 200 ties. Always the sharp dresser, he became mayor-president with nary a fashion faux pas under his belt. Unless you count his one-time wardrobe staple, bright suits once likened to Motel 6 shower curtains. “I’m more conservative than in my legislative days,” he laughs. This month he’ll add another hyphen to his title: king of Spanish Town Mardi Gras. Although the mayor-president describes his mix-and-match style as “not overly flashy,” the quirky, irreverent parade just might be the perfect time for the infamous suits to make a comeback.