Ties | Tie & Black Shirt

Strange ties

Dec 232010

Some of the strangest ties ever lurk at what are variably called op shops, secondhand or thrift stores, and at other bargain shopping outlets. These novelty ties grace store shelves otherwise cluttered with ’70′s-era porcelain, vinyl records, and carefully-disposed-of wedding gifts. Novelty neckties rarely have a defined place in this world-but that is why they are so fun. You see, when I talk about the strangest tie ever, I’m not talking about ties designed for sports teams or ties carrying cartoon characters. Strange ties are made of strange materials with patterns that not even a mother could love. I’m serious about that. It doesn’t matter how blind or fashion-unconscious she is, no mother could love these ties. But it doesn’t matter. Somebody is still manufacturing off-the-wall ties.

In any group of people who have to wear ties for any consistent length of time, strange neckties are bound to emerge. Businesses, law firms, ecclesiastical organizations, salespeople, and others wear ties, sometimes without uniformity. Whenever neckwear requirements are relaxed and wardrobes open, interesting ties start to emerge. First comes the Grinch tie at Christmas, or the jack-o-lantern tie at Halloween. These are innocent. I want to tell you about three qualities that make for the strangest tie ever and then tell you about the day I saw them all coincide.

Strange materials make for strange ties. Ties are normally made of silk or polyester, occasionally of rayon or wool. Even ties made of wool are starting to push the envelope of strangeness. When you want to find a guaranteed-to-be-strange tie, there are a few cardinal materials. Nylon ties leap to mind. It’s for parachutes and track pants. Nylon ties set the stage for a whole host of oddness. I’ve mentioned wool, but cotton is another strange material. It’s a perfectly normal fabric on its own, but making a tie out of cotton seems akin to making a kimono out of seaweed. The two just don’t jive. Leather, duct tape, and wood are also included in strange materials used in tie construction.

When weirdness emerges in color schemes, ties get even stranger. Some ties can be pink and green and pull it off quite well . . . and then there are those ties that throw orange and beige into the mix and suddenly upset all but the most modern of artists. Even a two-year-old will tell you that some colors just aren’t pretty together, no matter the finger-painting expertise. Perfectly normal colors can make for strange ties too, if the colors aren’t those that you would normally find on a tie. Green and blue look nice when the tie is silk or polished polyester, because they share a bit of a sheen. Dull the tie in any way and the strangeness factor starts to grow.

The third quality of strangeness is pattern. Believe it or not, beach scenes, skiing motifs, and bookcases-some of the exciting patterns that I have seen-don’t quite qualify as being “strange.” When I say strange, I mean irrational-and since I can’t paint this picture for the pattern with words alone, I’ll rope the other two qualities in. Here it is: the strangest tie I have ever seen.

It was cotton. It was ’70′s-era cotton, too, which meant that it felt like a dishrag. It was black, yellow, orange, and red. None of these were muted at all. They were matte because they were cotton. They were bright (even the black looked bright). Perhaps a pattern could have saved it-exciting stripes, or an autumn leaf design (I thought that it was autumn leaves at first), or even a Halloween sort of scene that would have gotten it pegged as merely quirky and not wholly strange. But there was no salvation. This tie looked like stripes, blotches, and jagged-edged blobs had gotten into a breakdancing blender. It was hideous! For all I know, children and old women probably cried whenever it passed. With a tie so strange, I knew of only one course of action.

No, I didn’t wear it. I donated it to a thrift store and I did it right quick, too!

Prevent and Remove Wrinkles on a Tie

Ties No Responses »

Dec 072010

No matter how careful you are to take good care of your neckties, some wrinkles are always going to be inevitable. Even the most wrinkle-resistant fabric can develop folds and creases after being knotted up and around your neck for a long day. It can be difficult to remove the most stubborn wrinkles from your neckties, thus there are some simple steps you can take to keep your ties looking smooth and sharp, to hopefully prevent those nasty wrinkles from setting in.

If you have wrinkles or creases in your tie, yet they don’t seem too horrible, you may want to try the roll-and-store method. Simply put the two end of the tie together and roll the tie up around your finger. Slip the tie off, and leave it rolled up overnight. This will help tighten the fabric and work out minor wrinkles.

For more serious wrinkles, the best thing for your tie is a little bit of steam. Try this: hang your necktie up in the bathroom while you take a nice, hot shower. It may sound kind of simple, but you would not believe how well the steam that fills the room from a hot show can help relax the fabric in your tie. The wrinkles seem to simply fall away! After your shower, let the tie hang there for a while as the steam dissipates, and, of course, be sure not to handle your tie while you’re all wet, as water can damage silk fabrics.

If you are thinking about ironing your tie as you would a shirt or a pair of pants – think again! Never simply iron because doing so flattens the ties’ nicely rolled edges. The best way to iron out wrinkles from a tie is to hold the iron, set low, about an inch above the wrinkle. Let the steam from the iron permeate your tie, and then simply smooth the creases out with your hand. Also, you may want to purchase a small hand steamer that is designed to gently steam away the wrinkles that form in the fabric where the knot is made.

Clean a tie

Ties No Responses »

Nov 192010

Anyone who has ever worn a necktie has probably experienced some version of the following: You’re eating dinner at a fine restaurant, thoroughly enjoying your meal and having a terrific time. Then, all of a sudden a blob of spaghetti sauce drops smack-dab onto the middle of your new yellow tie – leaving an ugly red stain. In an instant, your good times dissipate as you now realize that this is the “power tie” you were going to wear in tomorrow’s board meeting. Looking at the blotch on your tie, you are your appetite. Want to avoid this situation? There are a few measures you can take.

Depending on the fabric of the tie – whether fine silk, wool, or even cotton – the very smallest of stains can ruin it! Stains on a necktie are notoriously hard to remove, therefore, the first line of defense against stains, is to keep them from happening in the first place.

A tie tack can work wonders when it comes to keeping your tie clean and out of your bowl of soup. Nevertheless, while a tie tack does a nice job of holding the tie in place, it also puts a tiny hole into the fabric. To prevent these unsightly puncture wounds, but still keep your tie safe and tight, try putting the tack underneath the tie, through the label.

Still, tie tack or no tie tack, there will come a time when you subject your tie to an especially bad stain. When this happens you have to act quickly before the stain has a chance to really set into the fabric. For most accidents, you should immediately blot the stain lightly with cold water – or club soda if it is available. That will help prevent the stain from setting in, although it is never guaranteed. For especially greasy stains, water simply won’t work because the stain will resist it. In the case of a nasty greasy stain, apply talcum powder to the spot as soon as possible. If you act quickly enough, the powder will absorb the oil or grease from the fabric, and you will be able to gently wipe the stain away.

If cold water and/or talcum powder just doesn’t get rid of the messy stain, in order to salvage the tie you may want to try a specialty tie-cleaning service. Though it can be costly, a tie service will completely take apart your tie, clean the fabric, and then reassemble it. If you do choose a tie-cleaning service, investigate their cleaning process first to make sure they will properly care for your tie. Some services simply throw the tie in the wash and then simply press it flat.

Buying a tie

Ties No Responses »

Nov 162010

If you are like most men, you may not pay much attention to your ties. You might think that “A tie is a tie.” But tell that to the account executive, whose first impression of you might be of your tie. Whether you want to believe it or not, in everyday life we often do form our opinions of other by the clothes they choose to wear. And for a man who finds himself in all kinds of everyday situations, it is the necktie, more than anything else, that will determine how others view his status, confidence, personality and credibility.

The first thing to consider when buying a tie is the length. A tie that is either too long or two short can immediately spell disaster. The properly ties tie should come to your belt buckle when you’re standing straight. The right length of tie for you is a function of your height, and the sort of knot you plan to tie. Standard ties are 55 or 56 inches, as a rule.

The width of a tie is the next thing to consider, and while fashion seems fickle when it comes to the proper width of a necktie, a good rule of thumb is to always err on the side of caution: Never go too wide, or too thin.

Next, think about the material of your tie. It needs to be strong enough to make a good knot, and this strength typically comes from the lining of coarse fabric that is sewn into the lining of most ties. Silk makes the best kind of tie, but without a good lining, silk ties can be to thin to make credible knots. Ties made from a fabric that blends silk with polyester can also be nice, and ties are also commonly made from wool or cotton, though those fabrics typically do not wear quite as nicely.

Perhaps the most important thing to focus on in choosing a tie is the pattern. The different styles and designs and patterns in ties might seem overwhelming, but if you are trying to make a good impression, there are only a few things to remember. The most obvious pattern is a lack thereof – you can never go wrong with a solid tie (assuming it matches your shirt and coat). Other patterns include stripes and polka-dots and all kinds of logos, cartoon characters and even landscapes. Some ties are obviously designed with nothing but fun in mind. They might be great at a family reunion, but think twice about wearing it in the boardroom.

How to choose a Tie

Ties No Responses »

Nov 162010

Perhaps the most important thing to focus on in choosing a tie is the pattern. There are thousands of different styles and designs and patterns available and with so many ties to choose from it might seem overwhelming. But if you are trying to make a good impression, there are only a few things to remember.

The most important thing to remember is that you can never go wrong with a solid tie (assuming it matches your shirt and coat). If you are in doubt over a certain type of pattern, the best idea is to have no pattern at all. Other

If you do decide to choose a tie with a pattern, some of the basic designs include stripes and polka-dots and geometric shapes. Meanwhile some of the more outlandish designs feature all kinds of logos, cartoon characters and even landscapes. Some ties are obviously designed with nothing but fun in mind. They might be great at a family reunion, but think twice about wearing it in the boardroom.

It is also critical to think about the material when you choose a tie. It needs to be strong enough to make a good knot, and this strength typically comes from the lining of coarse fabric that is sewn into the lining of most ties. Silk makes the best kind of tie, but without a good lining, silk ties can be to thin to make credible knots. Ties made from a fabric that blends silk with polyester can also be nice, and ties are also commonly made from wool or cotton, though those fabrics typically do not wear quite as nicely.

Simple knot

Ties No Responses »

Jun 252010

The Simple knot is the most used one. It just looks fine in every kind of shirt because its a small knot (depending on the width of the tie it can become a bigger or a smaller knot). You should learn how to do thins knot in case you are in a hurry, its so simple yo can do it in one minute:

The Windsor knot

Ties No Responses »

Jun 122010

The Windsor knot is symmetrical and triangular. This knot is usually used on silk neckties or ties that are made of thin materials. A knot you can use with any dress shirt.

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