The 5 Best Neckties for Vintage Tweed Jackets

Every man needs to own a tweed jacket! It is a clothing piece that will never go out of style. It is versatile, truly elegant, and perfect for Autumn and Winter wear. Although tweed sports coats originated already centuries ago in the Scottish highlands, it still remains a modern piece that suits hipster inspired street-style, as much as the kind of sophisticated country wear that you might find on Downton Abbey. While certainly a British inspired clothing piece, you don’t have to be royalty to afford these classic menswear pieces.. Personally, I found two of my favorite Harris Tweed jackets at a local thrift store for $30. Below I picked out 5 of my favorite tie styles to wear with a vintage tweed jacket. For more tweed style inspiration, you might also want to take a look at this Pinterest Bord.

Repp Stripe & Regimental Ties
Looking for a classic and truly British gentleman’s type of look? Then there is not better choice than pairing your tweed jacket with a classic repp-striped tie. Pick a tie that is classic yet still manages to add contrast. Perfect here are rich cherry-reds, burgundy, hunter green, and navy.




Bold Paisleys
Paisley is a perfect pattern for tweed jackets. While the paisley does date back to the 16th century in India, it still manages to add contemporary elegance. My tip: choose a paisley tie with bold classic colors in reds, yellow, rich greens, and blues.




Knitted Skinny Ties
While the tweed jacket certainly suits traditional country wear, it is just as good for the modern man’s wardrobe. It all depends on how you accessorize this piece, and the modern knit skinny tie will do a perfect job. Pair this combination with a blue chambray shirt, fitted jeans, and vintage leather boots.




Wool Striped Ties
Another perfect piece that adds more modern flair to your vintage tweed jacket are skinny cut neckties made from wool. The coarser wool on the ties is not only a perfect compliment to the colder winter season, but it also adds interesting texture. The skinny cut of the tie (ideally 2.5″ – 2.75″) adds a younger and hipper feel.




Bold Striped Ties
If all the muted autumn colors are a bit too bland for you, then add more excitement to your tweed jackets with a two-tone colored tie featuring one bold color set agains a more classic hue. The bright golden-yellow and navy striped tie shown below does just that: It adds vibrant color while still complementing a classic look.

What are your favorite ties to wear with your tweed sports coats? Tell me by leaving a comment below.

Thanks for reading.

Hendrik
Tie Aficionado & Founder of Tie-a-Tie.net

With all the ugly Christmas sweater parties happening all over the country, I thought it would be time to infuse new dapperness to the Holiday season. Santa is no longer a fat, white bearded man sitting inside a crowded mall. He is in fact a stylish dude strolling the streets of New York, inspiring men to dress better.

It all started after I found this red suit by Givenchy. The triple monk-strap boots by Alexander Wang shortly followed. Add the a trendy knit tie, Persol glasses, and a few other key accessories and you have the most stylish Santa south of the North Pole.

Find the Pieces here:
1. Cashmere & Lambs Wolle Santa Hat via Etsy – $33
2. Red slim-fit Suit by Givenchy – $859
3. Skinny Knit Tie by BlackBird – $18
4. Fountain Pen by Mont Blanc – $635
5. Leather Belt by J.Crew – $98
6. Monk Strap Boots by Alexander McQueen – $850
7. Paisley Pocket Square – by CANTUCCI – $18
8. Glasses by Persol – $216

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Hendrik
Tie Aficionado & Tie-a-Tie Founder

I just spotted this awesome gift idea on GILT.com which is called the “SHARP SEVEN”. It is a menswear gift box that contains four handmade silk ties, one skinny tie by designer BlackBird (made from wool), a classic self-tied bow tie in black, as well as a pair of dress socks.

It took me a little to understand what the percentages mean, but the chart in one of the images explains it all. The retailer suggests that you should “always give 100% every week”. The funny thing here is that this 100% is divided up throughout the week. Monday, for instance is pretty light at just 13% effort, while Thursday is supposed to be your day where you got to buckle down (giving a mere 1/3 of your max effort). Haha! Saturday and Sunday is 0%.

Besides having fun with these percentages, there are other subtle things I picked up, which I am sure was a concious decision by the designer. Friday for instance has not a tie, but a pair of socks. I am guessing this is because of “casual Friday”. Hope you are having fun with this box. It is actually quite a good deal at just $99 (when bought via GILT.com). Your can purchase one of these HERE.

+ GIVEAWAY (winner will be announced Dec. 15th)
Don’t want to spend $99 and rather get this box for free? Then  check out Bows’N Ties featured page where they are hosting a GIVEAWAY towards the bottom of the page. All you need to enter is leave a comment with “what your most productive day of the week is” for you. Mine is Mondays! Good luck!

Want to dress well while supporting a good cause at the same time? Our friends at Bows-N-Ties created a unique Veterans day collection – a collaboration between former Marine and Real Men Real Style founder Antonio Centeno and neckwear designer/retailer Bows-N-Ties. All proceeds from the sale of these ties will be donated to Stop Soldier Suicide – a non profit that dedicated their efforts to bring an end to the rising soldier suicide epidemic. Click the banner below to view/purchase any of the ties from this collection.

About the Cause:
Stop Soldier Suicide is a non profit organization that connects our service men and women struggling from PTSD with free mental healthcare. The organization was founded by Army veteran, Brian Kinsella in 2010, determined to reduce the suicides rate among active duty and veterans. Currently, one active-duty soldier and 22 Veterans take their life each day. Something must be done to end this epidemic, and you can help raise money for this non-profit, as well as general awareness by purchasing one of these ties. If someone you know is serving (or has served) in the military, then these would be a perfect present for the upcoming holidays – just note that stock is limited.

Special Veterans Discount:
For veterans, active duty, and military families, BNT offers a $30 discount. This discount is given out on the honor system and all you need to do is enter the code “military” during checkout.

Sincerely,

Hendrik
Neckwear Aficionado & Tie-a-Tie Founder

 

This post was inspired by my own wedding, which took place in a rustic boat house just two weeks ago. The dress code was “Black Tie” but, being a tie aficionado and somewhat of a style snob, I wanted an ensemble a bit more unusual than the “Cookie Cutter look” – the kind you find displayed at Mens Warehouse and other style-soul-crushing tuxedo rentals. I wanted something a bit more unique, while at the same time still honoring this timeless dress code.

Vintage Inspiration:
I have always been a fan of men’s style pieces from past decades, especially those found in the 1920s as well as in the 1950s (you may also want to check out my recent post on the History of the Necktie for more information on this). That being said, here are five perfect accessories for your black tie attire, borrowed from decades past:

1. The Silk Scarf (aka Opera Scarf)

While the traditionalist would insist on an either white or ivory scarf for his black tie ensemble, personally I am a big fan of wearing a piece different in color and showing some type of subtle pattern. Navy and dark maroon are my favorites here – often decorated with fine foulard pattern. The picture left is a perfect example of a silk scarf that can be used on a black tie ensemble. While being stylish, it also serves practical function. Not only will it keep you warm, but (what’s even better), you can offer it to your date should she be getting cold. What a gentleman you are!

 

 

 

2. Double Breasted Jackets

The double breasted jacket cut was especially popular during the 1930s, but that is not to say that this cut is out of style. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Recently, double breasted tux jackets have seen quite a come back. Should you opt for this style, then renting is almost never an option as 1. few rental places carry this cut, and 2. perfect tailoring is imperative as an off-the-rack double breasted jacket can easily look baggy and sloppy. Since buying is pretty much the only option, you may want to think about how often you plan on dressing in black tie…

 

 

 

 

3. Onyx Cufflinks & Studs

Cufflinks and button studs came into fashion around 1840s – a time when men’s white dress shirts were so heavily starched that they were too difficult to button.  While not a whole lot has changed in the look and design of formal cufflinks and studs, vintage pieces add some subtle character and more soul to your wardrobe. It is one of the few pieces of acceptable men’s jewelry for this formal dress code, so why not pick something that is unique. Personally, I used a golden set decorated with black onyx that dates back to the 1920s. While it is only a tiny accessory, it was what friends commented on the most.

 

4. The Pocket Watch

 Let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to wear a pocket watch. I was lucky enough to have one that my great grandfather ones owned. It is much more than just a time piece. If you are looking to set yourself apart from all the other black-tie uniforms, this might just be the piece for you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Boutonniere

Nowadays boutonnieres vary widely in look. Flowers, feathers, twigs, and fabrics are being used to create these lapel decorations. The traditional boutonniere however was a red or white carnation flower which was not pinned to the jacket’s lapel, but was put through the actual lapel button hole (fun fact: “Boutonniere” is the French word for “buttonhole”)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Suggested Articles:
Vintage Necktie Designs – 1950s
Guide to Different Bow Tie Styles

by Hendrik Pohl
Tie Aficionado & Founder of Tie-a-Tie.net

Have you ever wondered why men wear ties ? Did you ever ask yourself how this style trend evolved? After all, the necktie is purely a decorative accessory. It doesn’t keep us warm or dry, and certainly does not add comfort. Yet men all around the world, myself included, love wearing them. To help you understand the history and evolution of the necktie I decided to write this post.

The Origin of the Necktie

Most sartorialists agree that the necktie originated in the 17th century, during the 30 year war in France. King Louis XIII hired Croatian mercenaries (see picture above) who wore a piece of cloth around their neck as part of their uniform. While these early neckties did serve a function (tying the top of their jackets that is), they also had quite a decorative effect – a look that King Louis was quite fond of. In fact, he liked it so much that he made these ties a mandatory accessory for Royal gatherings, and – to honor the Croatian soldiers – he gave this clothing piece the name “La Cravate” – the name for necktie in French to this day.

The Evolution of Modern Necktie

The early cravats of the 17th century have little resemblance to today’s necktie, yet it was a style that stayed popular throughout Europe for over 200 years. The tie as we know it today did not emerge until the 1920s but since then has undergone many (often subtle) changes. Because lots of change has happened to the design of the tie in the past century I decided to break this down by each decade:

• 1900-1909:
  The tie was a must-have clothing accessories for men in the first decade of the 20th century. Most common were Cravats which evolved from the early 17th century ties that were brought to France by the Croatians. What was different however, was how they were tied. Two decades earlier, the Four in Hand knot had been invented which was the only knot used for cravats. While other tie knots have been invented since, the Four in Hand is still one of the most popular tie knots today. The two other common neckwear styles popular at the time were bow ties (used for evening white tie attire), as well as ascots (required for formal day time dress in England).
• 1910-1919
  The second decade of the 20th century saw a decline in formal cravats and ascots as men’s fashion became more casual with haberdashers putting a stronger emphasis on comfort, functionality, and fit. Towards the end of this decade neckties closely resemble the ties as we know them today.
• 1920-1929
  The 1920s were an important decade for men’s ties. A NY tie maker by the name of Jessie Langsdorf invented a new way of cutting the fabric when constructing a tie, which allowed the tie to spring back into its original shape after each wearing. This invention triggered the creation of many new tie knots.
  Neckties became the predominant choice for men as bow ties were reserved for formal evening and black tie functions. Furthermore, for the first time, repp-stripe and British regimental ties emerged.
• 1930-1939
  During the Art Deco movement of the 1930s, neckties became wider and often displayed bold Art Deco patterns and designs. Men also wore their ties a bit shorter and commonly tied them with a Windsor knot – a tie knot that the Duke of Windsor invented during this time.
• 1940-1949
  The early part of the 1940s didn’t offer any exciting change in the world of men’s ties – possibly an effect of WWII which had people worry about more important things than clothing and fashion. When WWII ended in 1945 however, a feeling of liberation became evident in design and fashion. Colors on ties became bold, patterns stood out, and one retailer by the name of Grover Chain Shirt Shop even created a necktie collection displaying sparsely dressed women.
• 1950-1959
  When talking about ties, the 50s are most famous for the emergence of the skinny tie – a style designed to compliment the more form fitting and tailored clothes of the time. Additionally tie makers started experimenting with different materials.
• 1960-1969
  Just as ties were put on a diet in the 50s, the 1960s went to the other extreme – creating some of the widest neckties ever. Ties as wide as 6 inches were not uncommon – a style that got the name “Kipper Tie”
• 1970-1979
  The disco movement of the 1970s truly embraced the ultra wide “Kipper Tie”. But also worth noting is the creation of the Bolo Tie (aka Western Tie) which became Arizona’s official state neckwear in 1971.
• 1980-1989
  The 1980s are certainly not known for great fashion. Instead of embracing a certain style, tie makers created any kind of neck-wear style during this period. Ultra-wide “Kipper Ties” were still present to some degree as was the re-emergence of the skinny tie which was often made from leather.
• 1990-1999
  By 1990 the style Faux Pas of the 80s slowly faded away. Neckties became a bit more uniform in width (3.75-4 inches). Most popular were bold floral and paisley patterns – a style that has recently resurfaced as a popular print on modern ties today.
• 2000-2009
  Compared the the decade before ties became a bit thinner at about 3.5-3.75 inches. European designers further shrunk the width and eventually the skinny tie re-emerged as a popular stylish accessory.
• 2010 – 2013
  Today, ties are available in many widths, cuts, fabrics, and patterns. It is all about choice and allowing the modern man to express his own personal style. The standard width for ties is still in the 3.25-3.5 inch range, but to fill the gap to the skinny tie (1.5-2.5″), many designers now offer narrow ties that are about 2.75-3 inches wide. Besides the width, unique fabrics, weaves, and patterns emerged. Knitted ties became popular in 2011 and 2012 saw a strong trend of bold florals and paisleys – something that continued throughout 2013.

Thanks for visiting. Should you have any comments, or like to start a conversation on this topic, please comment below. I do check all comments, and I do my best to reply to each and every one of them.

Sincerely,

Hendrik
Tie Aficionado & Founder of Tie-a-Tie.net

 

Think you got a unique style? Do you want to share it with the world – or at least with the 8 million eyeballs oogling over my site each year? Then here is your chance to be famous. Soon I will add a “Submit Your Photo” feature on Tie-a-Tie.net. From all the submissions I will pick out a couple ones each week and post them here on my blog. I am currently testing this feature and should have it ready by the end of the month. Can’t wait this long to be some sexy ladies eye candy? Then e-mail me your photos now (see contact form here).

Last week I send a link to a necktie survey that our sister site Bows-N-Ties created. Apparently 1,184 men and women filled out the survey, and the folks over at Bows-N-Ties decided to display the results via this infographic. I talked to Ashley who created this survey and she was so kind to let me take a look at the data. I wanted to know if men living in the US who wear ties more frequently earn more money.

Do Men Who Wear Ties Make More Money?

This is definitely a debatable question. Maybe I should rephrase the question to: “Does the way we dress can have an impact on our financial success?” The survey results rather support this claim than prove otherwise. I am a firm believer that the way we dress has an impact on how we are perceived by others. Dressing well (and appropriate) for a job interview, for instance, can only be favorable.

When arguing that the way we dress can be correlated to our income, I often give the following example: Suppose there are two real estate agents. One dresses in elegant suit & tie and drives a newer BMW, while the other, who dresses in Jeans and dress shirt, drives a Honda. Who would you most likely buy a house from? I bet that the majority would do business with the person who appears to be more successful. It conveys trust and competence.

Now what does the data of the survey show? Using the data, I created the following graph that shows what percentage of men for each income bracket frequently wear ties 4+ times/week as well as once or less/week.

The graph above shows three things that are particularly interesting:

1. Men who wear ties more frequently are more likely to make more money
   This statement is generally true according to the graph. Especially jobs that pay  $50K – $200K sees men dressed in ties the majority of time.
2. A large percentage of low income jobs require men to wear ties
   Even though the majority of low paying jobs (less than $20K/yr) has a work force not dressed in ties, the blue graph shows that there are indeed 12% of men who wear ties 4+ times/week who fall in this income bracket. I conclude that certain jobs that don’t pay high salaries require men to wear ties on a daily basis. Some job examples may be: security staff, waiters, hotel staff, limousine drivers, etc.
3. High Income Earners Wear Ties Less Often
   Take a look at the $200K income mark. Surprisingly, men in this income bracket wear ties less often. While it may require you to wear a suit and tie daily to get to this level, once you made it, wearing a tie is rather optional than a requirement.

 

How could you say “No” to this face? I thought that showing a begging puppy might be a good encouragement to take this brief survey. In case this isn’t enough, then maybe the chance to win a $250 gift card to our partner site Bows-N-Ties.com might motivate you to spend 30 seconds to answer the few simple questions below.

As you might know, I am  a tie aficionado. To me, a tie is the ultimate accessory that can add a completely new look to any outfit. Be it for a formal black tie event, a job interview, dressing for a wedding, or going on a first date, I am a strong believer that a tie has many benefits outside of being stylish. Now I want to find out if there is indeed a correlation between wearing ties and such things as your career, your relationships, happiness, success, and much more. I very much appreciate your participation! Results will be posted within the next 30 days.

Vintage Tie Patterns from the 1950s – Found in Como, Italy

Last week I traveled to the Como, Italy in search of new tie designs, high-end fabrics, and skilled tailors. If you ask yourself why Como and not China, then the simple answer is that I was looking for superior quality and excellent design. Como has always been famous for silk production ever since Italian monks smuggled silk worms from China in the 5th century to this mountainous region of northern Italy. The climate was just right to grow mulberry leaves – the food silk worms need in order to produce this sought after thread (For more info, you may also want to read my article on Tie Fabrics).

While the actual production of silk has gone back to China (mainly because of cost reasons), Como still produces silk fabrics. The raw silk is now imported, and the Italian do their magic in terms of colors, designs, and unique fabric weaves. While in Italy I visited eight of the world’s most famous silk fabric mills and designers, some of which supply fabrics for brands such as Brioni, Zegna, Marinella, Kiton, Brooks Brothers, and several others. One company I especially enjoyed meeting with was BBC Jacquard. Their sales consultant Marcello Scebanti not only showed me their entire current collection, encompassing close to a thousand different designs and fabric weaves, but he also gave me access to one of the company’s most valued treasures: their design archives that stores thousands of original fabric designs from 1903 till today. Below are pictures I took from their design book from 1954.

Quite common for tie designs from the mid century were geometric patterns which today’s design world often refers to graphic prints. Today these patterns are not found on neckties, but more commonly seen on floor tiles, wall paper, and other house furnishings. While rare on neckties today, I think that these patterns will be coming back into the world of ties sooner than later.

 

Another design pattern I especially liked from the design book from 1954. T combination of colors and geometric pattern is just perfect. I asked Marcello if they could re-produce this design, and he said that modern looms are too fast to produce some of the old designs, something I found quite interesting.

 

This was my favorite among the hundred+ designs from the book from 1956. The color is perfect, and the design is truly unique. If anyone knows where to find this actual fabric (or even better an actual tie with this design), please comment below.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Hendrik
Tie Aficionado and Founder of Tie-a-Tie.net