What My Tie Says About Me

There is something special about a tie. What that is, I can’t quite say, but there is something to be said about a man who knows how to coordinate his attire such that his tie tells a person everything that needs to be known about this man. Ties have been woven (no pun intended) into modern society since the European Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648), and they are the national souvenir of Croatia, where ties originated. Despite their interconnectedness with renaissance men and Gordon Gecko, proper tie etiquette can be rather difficult to understand.    

 

It takes nothing but forethought to understand the ins and outs of tie etiquette. There are five major elements of a tie that one should consider before wearing a tie: the man, the occasion, the color, the pattern, and the knot. Let’s start with the man.

 

Contrary to what our founding fathers may have thought, all men were not created equal. Some men are tall, some are short, some are very thin, and some have wide frames. Whenever a man is going to wear a tie, he should keep two thoughts in his mind: Know how you are and know your comfort zone. Skinny ties look great on men with a thin frame, but funny on wider men like me. Also, it is important to allow your personality to dictate your tie selections. If you are an extremely outgoing person, go with a vibrant pattern and color scheme. If not, then stay towards the simpler ties. No matter what you do, BE COMFORTABLE! This does not mean you should wear a tie with your top button undone, but do wear something that you feel confident wearing.

 

When you start getting ready for any event that dictates that you wear a tie, please think about what you are about to attend. If you are going to a formal event, wear a simpler tie. When it comes to ties, less is not more; less is classic. If you are going to a spring or summer outdoor event, feel free to wear lighter colors and fun patterns. If you are going to the Kentucky Derby, it is traditional to wear a bow tie. Also, keep in mind whom you will be meeting. If you are going to an interview and you know that you will be meeting with a woman, do not be afraid to pull out that pink or light purple tie in the back of your closet.

 

Men, we have to learn how to match at some point. This is simple if we allow it to be. First, stay within your color families. This will keep you from looking like an Andy Worhol piece. Also, look at the colors of your clothing in natural light. Follow your gut. If you feel that the colors don’t match, then take the time to find a tie that matches everything else you are wearing. Don’t be too proud to ask for a second opinion, especially one from a woman. You might actually learn something from this experience.

 

The pattern can be where a great deal of men struggle. I live by a rule of thumb that dictates you should only allow either your shirt or your tie to have a pattern - never both. If you are wearing a suit, then two of the three can have a pattern if they are similar patterns. This will keep people from straining their eyes when they look at you; with a multitude of patterns, you grow closer and closer to becoming an optical illusion. Also, understand who you are again. Men with squarer faces tend to look better in striped ties; men with rounder faces tend to look great with floral or paisley ties.

 

Lastly, the knot. Oscar Wilde once said, “A well-tied tie is the first serious step in life.” The secret to tying a great tie is practice. Take some time to learn how to tie a variety of knots,  as different knots say different things. A double or full Windsor is understood to be a power knot, while a French knot is a great knot for a date. The instructional site tie-a-tie.net is a great resource where you can look up new ways to fashion a knot.

 

My last piece of advice is to embrace the idea of wearing a tie. The more confident you are in ties, and the more ties you have to choose from in your wardrobe, the more options you will have when it comes time for that big interview or your spouse’s birthday. A great place to look for ties is The Tie Bar (thetiebar.com). They have a great selection and every tie is $15, a steal in the U.S.

 

Have fun, look great, and enjoy the compliments you receive because of a great tie!

 

Resources:

www.thetiebar.com

http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/cravate.html

http://www.tie-a-tie.net/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKeuucjpckA

  

Ken Tubbs (John Carroll, 2011) has a degree in Classical Languages and a minor in French. While at the Iota Iota Chapter, Tubbs held the positions of director of risk management, president and guide. In addition to his chapter positions, he also served as the President of the IFC. He works for Delta Tau Delta Fraternity as a chapter consultant. 

 

Comments

[JeffBC94]

Great post Ken - a tie worn well makes a big difference in a lot of arenas.
--Jeff

[Andy]

Nice job Ken. Good, sound advice.

[SocialSpud]

You're right. there is something special about owning and wearing ties. Thanks for the post.

http://gentelmanjoe.com/

[SocialSpud]

I've always liked ties and worn them throughout my life. even though I've put on some pounds these days, I can still feel good about myself when I dress up and put on my best tie.

http://tiesandneckties.com/
http://babygerber.org/