"I took to wearing a black tie known as the Ascot, with long drooping ends. I had seen pictures of painters, sculptors, poets, wearing this style of tie"

In this quote, Carl Sandburg is explaining his own fashion option of using an Ascot tie. An Ascot tie is a kind of necktie with long, drooping ends. Sandburg was motivated to wear this design of tie after seeing images of famous artists, such as painters, carvers, and poets, using it. This quote suggests that Sandburg was attempting to emulate the style of these imaginative figures, and that he was motivated by their style options. It likewise implies that Sandburg was interested in the creative lifestyle, and wanted to be associated with it. By wearing the same kind of tie, he had the ability to reveal his affection for these imaginative figures and their work.