Once the domain of geeks young and old - from Steve Urkel to NCIS's Ducky – bowties are now spreading throughout men's fashion. So when is it appropriate to wear a bowtie? 

When it's self-tied. 

If you're going to rock a bow tie, you have to do it with as much style and commitment possible – that means bypassing the tacky, lazy pre-tied and clip-on types. Tying a bow tie is not a hard task to master (a couple of YouTube video clips and a bit of practice should do the trick) and once learnt, you can wear your new skill with pride. 

When it's a special event. 

And by 'special event' we certainly don't mean only bring the bowtie out for black tie events. We mean don't overdo it. It's a little bit like a perfectly aged whiskey - if you only have it on a certain few occasions, you'll appreciate it more and it'll mean more. Unless of course, you want to go all the way and be the guy known for his bowtie - in which case, this list probably isn't for you!

When it's refined. 

The modern bowtie is all about refinement - there's no clowning about with overly large neckpieces and loud suits, but rather a subtle, yet quirky statement. Pair your bowtie with a muted, well-cut suit and the bowtie will have a much greater effect - without overdoing it. 

When it's creative. 

Bowties are just for suits. While keeping in mind the previous advice about refinement, a bowtie can be paired with a handsome cardigan or a nice shirt with jeans on its own. The geek chic of bowties leaves them open for a little bit of experimentation. 

When the night's almost over - and yet still about to begin. 

Let's face it, we've all seen an episode of West Wing, an Oscar's after party, or a James Bond movie, featuring a sauve, well-dressed man in a dress suit with an undone bow tie hanging down casually. They've already achieved so much – protected the America people, won an Academy Award, saved the world – but you know they're going on to do something (or someone) who'll be so much better than any of those other achievements. We know that we would kill to be that guy - and that, my friends, is why we should all try and wear a bow tie at least once. Just in case this happens.

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Much of men's fashion is rather understated: neutral or muted tones, single colour suits, and sedate

(though stylish) hair. A tie therefore presents an opportunity to add a bit of colour, texture or

personality to an outfit, standing out while at the same time bringing an outfit together.

With such ability, however, comes great responsibility. There is a lot more to choosing a tie than

simply the colour. The next time you're facing the selection at the shop or you your wardrobe,

consider the following elements.

First and foremost, you need to get the width right. With the current fashion in suits and shirts being

much more slim-line, ties are similarly getting thinner. Once reasonably fashionable, wide ties are

now reserved for politicians, old real estate agents and Jim Carey in The Mask. Unless you're really

rocking the hipster look, you want it slim, not super-skinny - it's all about balance.


Once you've settled on the right width and material, it's time to get a bit more creative with colour

and patterns. When choosing a colour or pattern, be sure that it complements or contracts with

your outfit - but never clashes. A navy tie with tiny polka dots can bring interest to a black suit and

a charcoal tie can bring definition to red and pink plaid shirt, so don't be afraid to experiment, but if

you flinch when you look in the mirror, bring it back a bit.


The right weight, ie wool with wool suit. This in turn will also work in well with the seasons.

Once you've chosen the right tie, you're only half way there - you still need to put it on in a

fashionable manner:



• Knot - while there are plenty of tie knots about, the four-in-hand is a good go-to in any

situation. Learn this one knot, learn it well, and it'll serve you for years to come.


• Length - the tip should touch your belt line - and your beltline should sit on your hips, never

below.


• Snugness - there's now a little leeway as to how tight a tie should be around the neck. The

not-quite-done up look can be very dashing and handsome - if done right. It's not for work or

weddings, but ideal for nights out with a slim black tie.


Enjoy!


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Ok, picture this scenario...It's your big day, the bride has spent the last 6 months organizing the wedding, She has controlled everything, but generously given you the responsibility (and privilege) of organizing the neckwear - for both yourself and the groomsmen.

It’s football season, the suns been out and you have been vigorously training your forearm with the old ‘lift-and -sip’ - you have been busy and inevitably left the ties till the last minute, but hey, ‘a ties a tie’ right? Wrong.

She’s walking down the aisle, slowly looks up and looks directly at you. You smile, but don’t get the reaction you expect.  Her eyes begin to bulge, veins popping out the sides of her head, she appears to be growing scales on the tops of her hands and a thick tongue, split at the end slides out of her mouth like a snake – there it is; bridezilla. What happens next is another story...

Let’s rewind...’a tie’s a tie’? That was the first mistake. A tie is most definitely not a tie and when picking a wedding tie, it’s imperative that you consider a few things.

Now let’s keep things simple. There are 4 main things to consider when choosing a wedding tie:

1.       Material

2.       Colour

3.       Pattern

4.       Size/Width

You don’t want to be the guy wearing a transformers tie with batman cufflinks to your wedding. It’s just embarrassing. In order to appropriately select the above attributes of a tie, the first thing you need to consider is ‘is it appropriate?’ if you’re unsure, chances are it is.

Ties come in a range of materials including cotton, polyester, silk, wool and leather. The obvious selection for a wedding is something classic, stay away from polyester and pick a quality silk tie. The extra splurge on a quality material will show the bride and those that attend that you care.

Colour is important also – traditionally it should match the bridesmaid’s dresses, but conventionally this isn’t required. If you want to stay classic, it’s best to either match or alternatively go for neutral colours – i.e. Black. Let’s be honest though – don’t be a clown, hot pink ties aren’t cool.

Deciding on the patterns is always an interesting one – this regularly changes from season to season, and provided it’s tasteful, you’re generally safe. A quick look-up can let you know the latest trends but just remember the golden rule: “checks and stripes don’t match.” This goes for all shirt/tie/suit combinations and there are almost no compromises!

Finally the width comes next. Width can make or break an outfit so it’s important you consider your own body size first. I almost always recommend 2.5”-3.0”, but if your 5”5 and 120kg, a slim tie is not going to be flattering. Likewise, if you’re 6”1 and slim, a wide short tie is going to look ridiculous. To find out what width is in fashion, best to check out the latest styles in a men’s fashion magazine or reputable online store.

Finishing touches – small additions to your outfit such as a tie pin, pocket square or some classy cuff links always help to spice it up.Visit this store to check out a few examples!

Good luck gents!

Wedding Ties

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