BEAU-Ties

CEBU, Philippines - Renowned fashion designer Michael Kors has said, "Accessories are the exclamation point of a woman." Many believe that the same goes for men as well.

Since the beginning of time, men have maintained a certain mark on societal functions, exuding gender superiority or class. And fashion has recognized this image of men. Among many creative expressions, one of the ways that fashion uses to manifest the male persona is through bowties.

During the Prussian wars of the 17th century, Croatian soldiers used a scarf around their necks to hold the opening of their shirts together. These bowties were soon adopted under the name cravat, which is the French term for "Croat." Bowties were heavily used by the upper classes in France, to complement the outfits and enhance the wearers' overall look.

Bowties have since been used like any other accessory. These are common among guys who want to make some kind of fashion statement. For sure many more want to wear them, but don't know how to make it work. Men's fashion websites www.beautiesltd.com and www.brandongaille.com are kind enough to share some points to consider in choosing the right bowtie for the right look:

Normal Bowtie.

With a width at 2.5 inches, this is the standard bowtie size which always looks appropriately proportionate on almost everyone. It is the most subtle kind as it doesn't draw too much attention to itself because of its size. But its class is undisputable.

Butterfly Bowtie.

This one is probably the most formal of bowties. The Butterfly, also commonly called "Flare" ties are frequently in and out of the popular fashion style, but it has never been out of the formal spectrum. Because of its size, at 3 inches, a Butterfly Bowtie typically works better on guys with larger heads, or even larger personalities.

Diamond Bowtie.

This type is the diva of bowties. It's known as the attention-seeker, a pump-up of class and versatility from the classic, normal bowtie. Its sharp and edgy look invokes more superiority such that it has been dubbed as the "James Bond" tie.

Skinny Bowtie.

While the classics remain a staple among most men, other men want a little tweak. Hence, the Skinny bowties, which are quite "in" right now. These are mostly favored by younger men, although red carpet fashion also proves that even older men wear Skinny bowties to give themselves a younger and fresher look. At only 1.5 inches wide, this type is perfect for a formal yet groovy evening.

Batwing Bowtie.

Thanks to fashion evolution, here's something for the young and daring dressers. The Batwings are ultra modern, slightly less formal, just perfect for both formal and casual approaches. Batwings also come in two different cuts, the straight-cut and the pointed-cut, which is similar to the Diamond bowtie, but at an incredibly smaller size of only 1 to 1.5 inches wide.

Men's style elements have some kind of charm. In the case of bowties, the charm happens when the tie is done just right. Adjusting is key. Each and every time, adjusting the bowtie adjusts the image of the wearer.

What kind of look are you trying to portray? What kind of aura do you want to exude? What message are you trying to say? Then let your bowtie help you attain just that. (FREEMAN)