All About Ties

Almost like "Neckties For Dummies"
image,  The Awl

Ties are where guys most get to be themselves, so pefectly expressed by the author The Awl - Choire Sicha

I found this post about six months ago and should have placed this short intro and a link to it long ago, but the necktie business is very time consuming and there is only so many hours in a day.  I really enjoyed reading this especially the first paragraph - certainly the part I have high-lighted in blue text font.  Even though he states that men need only a few ties.  My theory on that is that no one should ever notice, save your wife, that you have worn a certain tie before.  So at least a hundred will suffice to make that possible. 

The Awl, How You Do and Do Not Wear a Tie
by Choire Sicha , The Awl

While I am indisputably correct on most matters of men's office fashion, I have a somewhat minority opinion on ties. Among them: I do not believe that men need very many, nor need those ties be very elaborate. Most men can get by with maybe three or four great ties: one fun, one somber and one a nice solid blue. Those who wear ties to the office each day can get by with just seven to ten, if they wish, though it's more fun to have a hundred. Read more here - The Awl, How You Do and Do Not Wear a Tie

There are dos and don'ts - some of things your father may have forgotten to pass on.  It really is like a short version of what I intend to collaborate on - my soon to be New York Times best seller book for sure "Neckties for Dummies."  There is some very useful info here, tie knotting videos, understanding what kind of tie is right for you, and some general fashion education for the color or otherwise fashion co-ordination blind.


I especially appreciated his knowledge of necktie knots particularly concerning the "Matrix Merovingian" necktie knot which is actually not a new tie knot at all, just re-named to be superficially correct and cool.  It is modified and a reversed version so I guess it deserves to be named after that smooth hustler of deal making, "The Merv" did look great, in his tailored suit with a dynamic necktie knotted so precisely, so daring and in command - at least until he faced Neo and company.  There's even a Matrix tie knot video lesson as well so you can be the coolest guy on your block sporting the Matrix Tie Knot.  That's one more way to strike up conversation and meet that girl of dreams.


The full post is worth a look-see.  I will add that I firmly disagree with his distain of paisley ties, every man should own at least one,  Jeffrey Hunter, About Neckties - Buy Ties

Sexy Necktie Design - Polka Dot Ties

Women influence men's tie design

Since before the turn of the 20th Century retailers had started to notice a trend in shopping that had a profound influence on the fashion design of men’s neckties. Since it was women that buying ties for their husbands; manufactures started producing ties that had flair - vibrant patterns and bold colors. Prior to this ties we more or less mundane in style and design, mostly striped and not in loud, regarding colors, or contrast. Appealing to their sence of color and style was a natural for the designers of neckties.

With this, the modern necktie was born regarding the use of color and design. Wearing sexy ties, if you may, soon became a fashion trend that lives on to this day. At first the British produced polka dot ties, and it was not long before paisley ties, abstract patterns, Art Deco designs, novelty themes and almost every creative possibility was explored as a design for men’s neckties.

Happy Face tie

So if you think women do not have any authority in what men wear and how just consider the fact that even men’s under ware is designed with women in mind. As for neckties men would still be wearing only striped ties. Just to think how boring that would be is enough to make a regular guy wear a Happy Face tie.

Polkadot Necktie