Guide to Buying Neckties

Maybe it’s the economy, but after a period of decline, neckties are becoming more popular again, especially with men in their twenties. Even if you find the necktie is more like a noose than a necessary accessory, more workplaces are demanding that their workers wear ties and dress shirts because they look more professional. A good set of silk ties can be quite pricy, but don’t worry, you don’t really need to have more than eight or ten ties for everyday wear. Once you start wearing them, though, you may find yourself collecting many more.

Silk Ties

Club ties

The University stripe or club tie is a wardrobe staple as well as a good place to start. The club tie was concocted in England many years ago. A tie’s colors are meant to be an indication of the “club” in which you belong. Even the shade of a certain color has meaning. For example, the Middlesex Cricket Club and Eton graduates both have maroon stripes in the middle of their ties and they match perfectly except that each maroon is a slightly different shade. You might be thinking that you have to be a member of such clubs in order to have the privilege to wear such ties. Not to worry – because knock-offs abound. And there are many club-style ties whose colors have no significance at all. But who’s to know?

Club Ties

Pin-dot ties

I know that when you think about dots on clothing, you picture polka dots and little girl’s dresses. Pin-dot ties don’t have large, gaudy dots and the dots are simply there to give the tie some texture, which will make it pop and stand out from the shirt without overpowering it. Always get a nice silk pin-dot tie because a purer silk will breathe better and feel better, especially when you sweat. If you aren’t sure what colors to buy, go for the navy blue with white or pink dots because they tend to go with everything.

Pin-Dot Ties

Foulard tie

These ties are fantastic because they never go out of style so you never have to shove it in the back of your closet and hope that the trend returns. Foulard ties have patterns that, at distance, look like geometric shapes but are actually repeated images intertwined. Usually the image is an object or an animal like a horse or fish. They aren’t silly or novelties in any way and you can wear them if you’re working at or cubicle or if you’re a major executive.

Foulard Ties

Other styles

There are many other designs, from solid color ties to ties with little gold shields or tiny whales. You can even get them ties with the logo of the your favorite sports team or rock band. But if you stick with the classics, they’re less likely to distract other people. You don’t want to be the guy who is remembered mainly for his many wacky, attention-getting ties. You really don’t.

Patterned Ties

How wide is it?

Wearing a tie that’s just too wide looks silly and not flattering. Besides, it’s extra fabric dangling from your neck and weighing you down. Skinny ties? Sure, they’re trendy at times, especially with the retro-new-wave suit, but will you be able to effectively pull off that look in the future? No. It can just look comical, especially if you aren’t a skinny guy to begin with. The standard is 3.5 inches wide, never goes out of style and is for all ages and professions.

How long is it?

The length of a tie is important to consider as well. An extra-long tie is meant for a longer torso and if your tie is too long for your body, you’ll a) look goofy and b) sit on it. When knotted, the tip of the wide part the tie should hang to the middle of your belt buckle, no further.

Quality Control

You can buy a silk necktie for anywhere from about $15 to $50 or even $75. You want to get a tie for a decent price without sacrificing quality, and you can if you know what to look for. The good thing about buying ties is that you can pick them up and inspect them and even try them on without bothering with a change room. First, inspect the tie at the store before you buy it. Don’t just grab what catches your eye. Read the tag, remembering that you’re looking for silk most of all, then blends. Look for loose threads or nicks in the fabric or any other imperfections you don’t want to pay for. Rough silk ties are no good; they are made from poor quality silk and not only are uncomfortable but also won’t last as long. A high-quality tie has a lining made of pure wool that holds the shape of the tie and is cut on a bias (at an angle) to prevent the tie from curling up after it’s knotted. You want your tie to sit flat against your shirt without popping up like a joke tie. The more you spend, the higher quality the tie. Clip-ons? No. Just no. What does it say to your co-workers and other professionals if you can’t even tie a proper tie? You will never find a classy clip-on tie. It is an oxymoron.

Matching tie and clothes

Colors, patterns and textures should not clash with your suit or sportcoat. You generally want your tie to be darker than your shirt, not the same color. But you want the texture of the shirt and tie to match. Silk ties go with silk shirts and other fine materials. Patterns need to complement the suit and can be different as long as secondary colors don’t clash with your shirt. And remember, no clip-ons.