#9 Most Famous Tie Aficionado: Fred Astaire

Fred Astaire Makes it Onto #9 of My Top10 Famous Tie Wearer List

fred-astaire-fashionThere are certain names that, when uttered, immediately begin to conjure up images of fashion and style. Cary Grant, for example, is a style icon if there ever was one, and has gone down in history as being one of the most fashionable male celebrities of all time (in addition to being the 6th most famous tie wearer). The same can be said for Fred Astaire, whose name has become synonymous with style and class to this very day. Astaire took an approach to style that many people in today’s world might have a hard time relating to, if only because the way he dressed was practically the opposite of the more casual lean that is often by modern men. This being said, the celebrity is a great example of how effective it can be to go the extra mile and put some work into one’s appearance, and a lot of this comes from his choice of ties. Consider all of the following about Fred Astaire, as you may find that you’d like to incorporate his look into your own appearance.

Style and Formality Above All Else
It’s not uncommon for men today to get exceptionally nervous when they have to dress up for a formal event. (If this is you, then please see my guide on Black Tie). Fred Astaire, on the other hand, was more comfortable in a suit than anyone could ever be, and made the look his very own in short order. His approach towards suits was to wear those which were relatively dark in color and featured a very slim fit. Pinstripes and wide lapels were huge parts of Astaire’s look, as was the corsage. Astaire basically did everything he could to look his best, and rarely failed. He was also known for having a penchant for wearing a variety of different types of hats; Panama hats, bowlers and top hats were just a few of his favorites. Regardless of what he was up to, Fred Astaire could always be seen looking dapper.

Astaire’s Ties
One of the most important things to understand about how Fred Astaire chose his ties was that he almost always went with pieces that were relatively slim for the time. The combination of slim tie and wide lapel can be very attractive and create a nice sense of contrast; something Fred Astaire surely took into consideration when putting his look together. While he often wore solid ties, Astaire was also known to wear relatively eye-catching patterns as well, which he would typically try to match with the perfect pocket square. Neckties were definitely Astaire’s preferred style of neckwear, although his extra-formal ensembles would very often include either a black or silver bow tie.

Takeaways for the Modern Man
There are plenty of things that modern men can take away from Fred Astaire’s approach to style and fashion. The combination of narrow tie and wide lapel, for example, could serve to be very attractive in the modern world, and doesn’t get utilized nearly enough. In fact, most fashion experts, including myself, suggest that skinny ties are paired with proportionately sized narrow lapeled suits. While this may be the norm for a J.Crew look, there is something to be said about being bold, and challenging wardrobe rules. Thus, I suggest you give it a try: Pair a slightly slimmer cut tie with wider lapel suit. For more tips please see my guide on How to Tie a Skinny Tie

Last but not least, take note of Astair’s approach to formal way. Formal dress truly has a time and place, and just because you can dress casually doesn’t mean that you should.

5th Most Famous Tie Wearer: Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston’s Semi-Nude GQ Cover Shot Makes Her on of the Most Famous Tie Wearers of the Past Century

jennifer-aniston-nude-necktieMost people can agree that Jennifer Aniston is one of the most famous actresses in the world today. While her talents on the screen have certainly made her career what it is, it doesn’t hurt that she’s an exceptionally gorgeous woman as well. While it’s been over three years since Aniston first shocked the world by wearing a red, white and blue striped tie in the nude on the cover of GQ magazine, this iconic cover shot still matters, and has even spawned a cult following since first being published. The cover shot is certainly more about Aniston’s beauty than anything else, but without doubt, this also makes her one of the most famous tie wearers of the past century. The following are just a few things that both men and women can learn from Jennifer Aniston’s incredible fashion sense, as well as how to possibly incorporate certain elements of her style into your very own look.

Aniston’s Style
Jennifer Aniston’s style has certainly gone through plenty of shifts throughout the years, but the basic preficice of how she chooses to put herself together has not changed. Aniston is known for her ability to find perfect balance between the “girl next door” look, and that of a sultry, seductive woman. It’s this ability to sway from one side of the spectrum to the other that has made her so appealing to a wide variety of different types of people, as she can just as easily look cute as she can sexy. Having walked the red carpet more times than she can probably remember, she’s been seen in countless dresses, usually sticking to those which scream class and sophistication. While she’s not one to wear a tie on a regular basis, she definitely made headlines the one time that she took this route.

The GQ Tie
Aniston certainly didn’t need anything to make her more famous than she already happened to be, although her GQ cover shot in which she wore a Brooks Brothers red, white and blue tie certainly didn’t hurt her image at all. Made out of Italian silk and cotton, the Brooks Brothers “Triple Guard Stripe Tie” is about as “All-American” as it gets, and features a modern width of 3.25”. The tie itself has become extremely popular since the shoot, and has even been featured on an episode of David Letterman that Aniston appeared on. Brooks Brothers actually sells the tie, and while it does happen to be rather expensive at around $150, there’s no getting around the fact that it’d be the perfect conversational piece for both men and women. Don’t want to spend that much on a striped tie? Then please see my suggested retailers at my section titled “buy ties online

Fashion Take-Aways for Men
If Aniston’s GQ shot did anything other than make her look even hotter than she already did, it proved to America and the rest of the world that ties and other formal pieces still have a place in today’s fashion industry. After all, people dress more casually now than they have in a long while, and many have all but forgotten what it’s like to throw on a tie and look one’s best. The “GQ tie” as it has become called can look great when paired with any well-tailored suit, and is perfect for those who find themselves in the office on a regular basis.

Thanks for Visiting my Site Dedicated to Teach Men to Properly Tie a Tie

Donald Trump – The 10th Most Famous Tie Wearer

Famous for Wearing Pink Ties: Donald Trump

donald-trump-pink-tieThere’s no getting around the fact that Donald Trump is one of the most well-known business celebrities in the world. Trump has famously been criticized for his cutthroat, and perhaps sometimes also overly arrogant, approach to business, which has cast him in a poor light in the minds of certain people. This being said, Trump didn’t stumble upon his riches blindly, and happens to be a very good example of how effective it can be for one to gain a thorough understanding of business logistics. While his appearance has waxed and waned over the years, most will agree that he has his own unique sense of style when it comes to the ties he wears. It should come as no surprise that someone with Trump’s kind of money would have a rather dapper collection of ties in their wardrobe; he even has his own signature line of neckwear through Macy’s – something that convinced me to put him on my list (although in last place) of Famous Tie Wearers. The following are just a few aspects of Donald Trump’s approach to wearing ties that can help you to gain a better understanding of who he is as a person.

Trump’s Style
While a lot of people don’t necessarily associate Donald Trump with high fashion, he actually happens to have a very good eye for style. Regardless of what he’s doing on any given day, there’s a good chance Trump will be seen wearing a suit. Trump’s suits tend to be a bit boxy given his figure, although this is not to say that they aren’t well-tailored. While he’s known to wear suits of a variety of different shades and colors, he tends to stick with those which are rich and relatively neutral; charcoal grey, navy blue etc. The suit is such a huge part of Trump’s appearance it should come as no great surprise that he wears them so often; after all, they provide the perfect frame for his ties.

Trump’s Ties
While Trump’s suits are certainly attractive enough in their own right, it’s the ties he wears that truly take his appearance to the next level. Trump is known for wearing ties that feature a bright colors; cornflower blues and sunny yellows, for example. He is also quite partial to the “power tie,” as he can be very often seen wearing ties that feature deep, rich shades of red. His favorite tie color however, is the solid pink necktie.

The celebrity is no stranger to patterns either, as even though he tends to gravitate towards solid ties, he can very often be seen wearing those which feature wide horizontal stripes or tight geometric patterns. As he should, Trump uses his ties to accent his appearance and break up the subtlety of his suits. Just don’t expect Trump to show up in a bow tie, as neckties are almost always his first choice.

Takeaways for the Modern Man
It’s important to understand that just because Donald Trump is exceedingly wealthy doesn’t mean one needs to be in order to take hints from his style. The name of the game here is to stick with colors that will make even the most drab suits “pop;” pastels and other bright colors can be very effective. Trump’s ties also tend to be relatively wide, so avoiding the skinny ties that have become so popular as of late may be a wise choice if you’re going for this look. Experiment with different styles to see what works best for you. On a final note: While Trump prefers brightly colored ties, keep the season in mind before wearing the signature Donald Trump pink tie. Use brightly colored ties in spring and summer. For the Fall and Winter season choose ties that are a bit more muted. For more information on pink ties, I suggest you read my article titled “Matching a Pink Tie.