Men's Neck Ties

Who came up with the idea of wearing a rope around your neck? The answer is Croatia, over 350 years ago, since you asked. The reason? Well, they started out as scarves, and were worn to hide the stains from the necks of officers, keeping their white dress shirts clean looking.

By the nineteen fifties, ties were wide, and a good tie was made from one continuous piece of silk, folded seven times and reinforced with a backing. It is still considered the best way to search for a good quality tie to run your fingers lightly over the front and back, searching for the lack of a seam. The sixties saw a decline in tie wearing, due mostly to the whole antiestablishment movement, but by the seventies the tie was back, and wider than ever.

During the eighties, the tie went entirely another direction, very thin, almost a string tie (in fact that was the name) and even thinner, the bolo tie, which were two strings with an ornamental clip. These, however, were mostly worn as western fashion, and soon the tie levelled out, to the medium to slightly thinner tie of today.

Here are some tie facts to consider when shopping for one:

1. Ask to try on the tie and make sure the knot holds.
2. Silk is still the best material for a tie. The next best fabric is a silk/polyester blend.
3. A good tie is lined with a stiff backing. This allows the tie to hold its shape; the lining should be wool or a woollen blend.
4. The point should reach to just above your navel.
5. Bring the jacket of the tie you are trying to match; even a varied shade could look like you just grabbed one out of the closet.
6. Ties are an excellent example of "you get what you pay for." A good quality tie is high end, but will last a long time and always look good.

© UK Fashion.com 2006