Demystifying the tie

Just about every man has to wear a tie at some point in his life, even if his typical everyday out fit is jeans and a shirt. Weddings, funerals, proms and other special events require that men come in suits; hence, the inescapable need for a tie.  Rather than dodging the issue entirely, it helps to learn all that one might, so that when the need does arise, one isn’t caught flatfooted and clueless.

“It usually is a good idea for men to have at least a small selection of ties from which to choose, especially since different colors work better for different situations,” according to Steve Thompson, writer for men’s fashion on www.life123.com.  He adds that, “You might wear the Tweety Bird ties your daughter gave you for Christmas on Casual Friday at work but it would be inappropriate for a funeral.”

One must always make sure that the tie matches the outfit: one wouldn’t want to wear a black tie with a navy suit. Also, if one opts for a patterned tie, he must make sure the pattern on the tie doesn’t clash with any pattern on the shirt, even if it is subtle.  He doesn’t want to look like a migraine waiting to happen.

Thompson says that one can start window-shopping for ties at the local department store. Browse through their tie selection and keep tabs of which ties jump out at you and, and which you would never wear in a million years. Some men prefer stripes, while others like solid colors or motifs. 

Picking out ties doesn’t require some major epiphany; the best one will not automatically fall into your lap from the heavens after some time choosing. It all depends on personal taste and sense of style — there are no right answers. What might look dapper on one man may make another look like a surrealist painting on human legs.

But don’t be intimidated; these little pieces of silk can really complement your wardrobe. Choosing a tie to match your shirt may be the most creative opportunity you will get when it comes to fashion. It is one place where you can flex your color and print muscle and unleash your inner Tom Ford.

All About Ties

Picking a tie isn’t rocket science and here are some rules as prescribed on the website www.theguidetomens-suits.com:

1. When tied, the tip of the tie should hang down to the top of your pants.

2.  Always buy silk ties— anything else will look cheap.

3. When in doubt, buy the more conservative-looking tie.

4. Solid color shirts and conservatively printed ties always work. Try simple diagonal lines, easy geometric prints, or small polka dots in a basic color scheme.

5. Get a color that goes with both the shirt and the suit.

6. If you have an expensive suit on, you will look better with a completely solid tie.

7. Don’t buy a tie without a particular shirt and suit in mind. Not all good ties will look nice with just anything.

8. Red ties are powerful; blue are compassionate. So if you are out to intimidate someone at work, wear a red tie. If you’re planning on groveling to win your ex-girlfriend back, wear a blue one.

9. Make sure your tie has a bit of the shirt or suit color in it, unless the shirt is white.

10. If you’re starting out a gentleman’s wardrobe, buy two suits, seven shirts and three ties, and build from there.

How To Tie A Tie

Thompson shows a step-by-step how-to guide for those who are unfamiliar with the process:

1. Drape the tie around your neck, with the wide end four to five inches longer than the narrow end. Cross the two ends across your chest, with the wider end on top.

2. Slip the wider end back up through the V at your neck, and then pull it down in front of the narrow end again.

3. Pull the wider end back up underneath the narrow end, pulling it toward your right, and then bring it back to the left.

4. Repeat the first step by bringing the wider end up through the V at your neck, and then slip it through the knot underneath.

5. Tighten the tie carefully, making sure you don’t cinch the knot too quickly. Otherwise, you’ll wind up with an uneven tie.

This standard method of tying ties is known as the “Windsor Method” and is the most popular one. It is important that the tie doesn’t appear too short or too long. The tip of the wider strand should drape down to belt level, or just above. Men who are slightly overweight might want to wear their ties a bit longer for a slimming effect, while taller men with lanky bodies can get away with shorter lengths.

Just as one needs to learn how to tie a tie properly, he should also know how to remove it. At the end of the day, when one is ready to jump back into a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, he shouldn’t just rip off the tie and pull down on it until it comes loose. Ties will last much longer if one cares for them from beginning to end, so ties must be removed by reversing the steps for tying. This preserves the tie’s natural shape and keeps it from getting stretched out. Also, ties are best stored hanging, preferably on a tie rack, to avoid folds and creases that might be caused by storing them stacked on a closet drawer.

Putting Shirts And Ties Together

Here are some tips on putting together shirts and ties according to the website www.shopwiki.com:

1. Balance is the key. When it comes to ties, the brighter the color, the more conservative the pattern and vice versa.  When it comes to pairing a shirt and tie, the brighter the tie, the plainer the shirt and vice versa. You can mix prints on ties and shirts, as long as they are not the same size. In other words, small dots with large stripes are okay, but large stripes with large dots unleash that cringe effect on most people.  And please leave that printed tie-printed shirt-patterned suit triple whammy to circus artists.

2. White and blue shirts always work!

3. 100-percent silk ties and the best quality and are easiest to knot.

4. 100-percent cotton shirts are the only dress shirts worth your time.

5. Never wear a button-down collar with a double-breasted suit.

6. Collars should flatter your face: narrow faces should wear straight collars; round faces should wear straight collar points. Straight collars need a Half Windsor knot in ties.  Wide collars also known as spread collar shirts, need a Full Windsor knot. Button-down collars need a Four In Hand knot.

7. Sad but true: the monochrome look ended when Who Wants to Be a Millionaire went off the air.

8. And novelty ties (Singing Santas, big-mouth bass, cartoon characters, etc.) should be reserved for people who do not want to be taken seriously.

9. As the classic film Legally Blonde reminded us, “No one looks good in paisley.” (Don’t lie; you’ve seen it.)

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Thank you for your letters. You may reach me at cecilelilles@yahoo.com.