As Scott Russell sauntered down the runway in Bond, James Bond fashion (toy gun in hand), the woman sitting next to me at the Point Defiance Zoo Society Fashion Tea raised her eyebrows in horror.

Apparently she’d not been to a Zoobilee, to realize that, in point of fact, Russell was wearing the de rigueur tux for the summertime event.

And while Top Hat Formal Wear will rent you the cut-off tux trousers, Russell’s checkerboard Vans weren’t obtained there.

But the grey and white polka dot tie, an exquisite choice of neckwear pulling together the checkerboard pattern with a pop, was.

Bring on July 20 — Zoobilee, here I come!



[Top Hat Formal Wear, 2505 S. 38th St., Tacoma, 253.471.7650]