We’re not sure who invented ties either, but we’re willing to bet they didn’t expect how many paralyzing decisions they’d be inflicting on men for generations.
The truth is selecting a tie can certainly set your trip into work back half an hour if you’re unprepared whether you like wearing them or not. Once you learn how to actually tie a tie then you must learn how to pick one to match your outfit. And then you understand the tying was just the start of a lifetime of tie-rsome morning choices.
Luckily there’s a common three-step plan that will make the tie process a little smoother. We’ll break each step into tie-rs. (Yes, the puns will continue.)
Tie-r 1: Fabrics
Yep. If you’ve been following our blogs for awhile you know how important we think fabrics are to choose any look. That’s because the top priority is to feel comfortable, and nothing can make or break that feeling quite like fabric choices.
That even goes for ties, surprisingly. Of course, the slim profile of a tie won’t really affect how hot or cold you feel. Here, fabrics are more determined by the occasion you’re tied into. It’s not too hard to remember, thankfully:
- Printed Silk ties tend to go well at special events like parties or weddings, since these ties will usually come in more vibrant colors.
Tie-r 2: Style
There are typically three versions of ties: Classic, unlined and young. The classic, as the name suggests, is the most common width you’ll find at about three inches. The classic is your standard office wear fare and will work in a pinch almost every time. You should probably have more classic styles in your closet than any other style, since you’ll be using them more often.
Young, or slim, is the most informal of the bunch and pairs pretty well with blazers or sport coats and a pair of chinos. Young tie styles come in around 1.7 inches and should be reserved for weekend outings.
The unlined is somewhere in the middle (2.3 inches) and more lightweight than the previous two.
Tier-3: Length
The all-important consideration when buying a tie, much less wearing one. The general rule must remain unbroken: the tie must end at your belt. Every time. You don’t want to be the guy awkwardly fidgeting with his tie that hangs between his legs when he sits down. And nothing makes a guy more self-conscious than when he’s aware of just how short his tie is.