"Writers and Painters" was the theme. The writer was Alan Bennett; the painter was David Hockney. Like Bailey, they are both from Yorkshire. His friend Alex Jennings happens to be playing Bennett in the West End at the moment. Bailey was impressed by the ties he wears in the role. They made their way into the collection. So did Hockney's sartorial singularities: primary colors, kooky glasses frames, vivid footwear, the slouch of his clothes. The muted presence of Yorkshire itself could be felt in shades of nature, like the blue of sky or the new greenery of spring. A handful of brightly colored waterproofs co-opted the role of the classic trench.
