May 31st, 2010

My Thoughts on the Re-Emergence of Skinny Ties

It’s nice to see skinny ties back in. As GQ writes, the power suit era is over, and “lobster bib neckties” died with it. Regular neckties typically measure, at their widest point, from 3.25 to 3.75 inches. Rule of thumb: That measurement matches the width of the widest point on the suit’s lapel. As slimmer suits become more popular, slimmer neckwear accompanies them. ratpack skinny ties So we return to the trend of the ’50s and ’60s, when cats in the Rat Pack like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr., rocked a black silk strip. Skinny ties measure from 2.5 to 2 inches; the later is the width of our black skinny tie, priced at $13)

I’m a small guy, with a small chest, who thus wears a slimmer suit. I don’t mean to brag, but skinny ties work for me. Ok, clarification needed: They work sometimes. I do not advocate wearing a 2-inch wide tie to an interview, or to any business event, for that matter.  However, at night, the ladies love skinny ties. (I think? I don’t know; I barely speak to them.)

The almost dominant color is black, which fits the hipper nature of wearing skinny ties.  I imagine that comes from their role as evening wear, though I welcome other thoughts. There’s no shortage  of colored skinny ties in ABCNeckties’ selection, but black ones seem to dominate casual wear. Here you see Star Trek co-stars Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine at some awards ceremony. zachary quinto style skinny tie chris pine Hey, I’m a guy, I don’t watch awards ceremonies. But, I suppose that for Quinto to wear a skinny tie in any color besides black would be…illogical. (I couldn’t help myself. I swear, I’ve only seen two episodes of Star Trek, total.)

Fashion site Valet.com echoes what seems to be the trend in skinny ties’ knots—the smaller, asymmetrical four-in-hand.  However, I’ve only used the larger, symmetrical Windsor knot; and I like it. The knot forms sort of a cylinder, easily blending with the rest of the tie. Plus, as the skinny tie becomes more popular, I need SOME way to set myself apart. Why not use the knot I’m apparently not supposed to use?

Rat Pack photo credit: www.about.com

Zachary Quinto photo credit: www.lelaluxe.onsugar.com

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By Michael in Tie Trends | Permalink | No Comments »

May 31st, 2010

The New Cushing Micro Fiber Necktie Is a Versatile and Safe Match for Any Wardrobe

There is really no tie color as versatile as blue. Neckties like the blue Cushing Micro Fiber Necktie are my ideal choice for traveling–whether I’m donning blue versatile micro fiber tie a white or light blue oxford dress shirt, whether a black, gray suit or no suit accompanies it, a cornflower blue tie matches perfectly. That’s probably why one of the three ties described by Esquire to be necessary for style survival is a cornflower blue tie quite similar to the Cushing Micro Fiber Necktie. (Though ours is a bit more affordable.)

The tie features a geometric pattern of blue squares and diamonds formed by black thread in the background and white accents. All polyester, it’s a typical three-and-a-half inches long. If you spill something on it, soak up the spill as much as possible but leave the cleaning and ironing to the dry cleaners.

Since the tie features what resembles small checks, be careful of wearing checkered dress shirts with it. If so, make sure they’re a different size, in this case, probably larger. That’s a golden rule for matching neckties–if you’re using the same style, mainly stripes or checks, for your shirt, make sure the sizes are different. A striped or solid oxford dress shirt provides a safe contrast.

Blue is a conservative color, implying honesty and trust. That might explain why a site dedicated to tracking President Obama’s neckwear found he wore a navy tie with white accents nine times in the first one-hundred days, making it his favorite, or at least his most-worn. His second most-worn tie is strikingly similar to the Cushing.

obama favorite ties

If you don’t want your outfit to turn heads, or are just pressed for space, the blue Cushing Micro Fiber Necktie, at only $12.71, is a versatile addition to your wardrobe. Especially if you’re meeting with heads of state.

Photo Credit: NecksofState.com

Popularity: 1% [?]

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By Michael in Celebrity ties, New merch | Permalink | No Comments »

May 29th, 2010

Different tie materials and their uses

I’ll admit, I don’t pay too much attention to tie material. However, tie fabric heavily influences the life and quality of your neckwear.  So I probably should! Below is a rundown of common tie materials, included the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Silk ties are as classic choice, and the most common, like the Bennett Striped Silk Tie:

  • It’s smooth and soft.
  • It drapes well down the chest.
  • Its light reflection leads to a soft shine.

However:

  • It wrinkles easily.
  • It’s the most expensive tie fabric. (Fun fact – the highest quality of tie is the “seven fold tie,” which is one piece of silk folded over seven times)
  • Cleaning is generally restricted to the dry-cleaner’s, though a spill could end your tie’s usage forever.

Satin ties are a dressy choice, which are made from silk or polyester in a “satin” weave. Whether a satin tie comes from silk or polyester determines the price. Here’s the Burgundy X-Long Satin Silk necktie:burgundy silk satin tie

  • It’s better suited for formal occasions than silk.
  • Its colors don’t fade; and can be bolder and brighter than silk ties.
  • It attracts greater notice than silk ties.

On the other hand:

  • The fabric can snag and permanently disfigure the tie.
  • It’s nearly impossible to clean.
  • Satin ties made from silk are more expensive than “plain” silk ties.

Polyester ties come from polymers stretched into strands, sometimes combined with a fabric like wool to create a more natural feel.  Sometimes looked down upon as “plastic,” polyester ties are often used in restaurant settings. An example is the Baby Blue Polyester Skinny Tie:baby blue light blue skinny tie

  • Polyester ties are the cheapest of the bunch.
  • They’re stain and wrinkle resistant.
  • They’re the easiest to clean.

Wearers should keep in mind that:

  • Polyester ties are stiffer than silk ties, which can impede knot-tying.
  • They can’t be ironed; they’ll melt.
  • If you sweat or get smells on your polyester tie, they can’t be removed.

Microfiber are polyester offshoots that resemble silk. They hold their shape better and feel softer than regular polyester neckwear. An example is the Cushing Micro Fiber Tie.

Wool ties are the oldest form of neckwear, which come in the knit variety. They are skinny and usually end in a square tip, and the woven variety, which resemble “normal” ties. The former is seeing a resurgence in men’s fashion.

  • Wool ties are wrinkle resistant.
  • They repel liquids, to a certain extent.
  • They can insulate your neck.

But, wool ties:

  • Can’t be cleaned…period.
  • The knitted types are primarily casual ties.
  • Though they insulate, they could be too hot for summer.

If a tie’s material isn’t listed on the tag, silk ties and their polyester/microfiber lookalikes are separated by the touch – the later should be slicker, while the former should exert a bit of hold on a finger running on it. When picking a material, just keep your budget in mind and pay primary attention to the color and design.

Popularity: 2% [?]

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By Michael in Tie Advice | Permalink | No Comments »

May 28th, 2010

Weekly Roundup

I have yet to breach the world of pocket squares; that level of dress I haven’t had time to develop. When I do, I’ll take heed of Cad & Dandy’s advice, a London-based tailor. However, I doubt I’ll look like the icon pictured with his pocket square, Clark Gable.

A Palestinian group, Campaign 194, set the world record in Lebanon for the longest chain of ties—6,500 of them. More than double the previous length, Campaign 194 arranged the ties to form the number…194.

If you’ve ever wanted to join the elite ranks of British horse race-goers, you can at least dress like them.How the british dress for horse races Men’s Flair chronicles the art of dressing for the Ascot. Biggest takeaway—you must bring a hat.

Am I supposed to use aftershave, literally, after I shave? And what is Eau de Toilette anyway? BespokeMe runs through the categories of scents for men, a useful vocabulary to know.

Will Boehlke of A Suitable Wardrobe explores the curious case of the blazer—too casual for the office, too formal for most other situations. For instance, when determining whether a jacket is a suit jacket or blazer, look to the buttons. They should be brass, silver or another metal.

Men’s fashion blog Put This On links to an old Kids in the Hall sketch, which reminds us our clothes came from somewhere.

Photo credit: mensflair.com

Popularity: 1% [?]

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By Michael in Blogosphere | Permalink | No Comments »

May 28th, 2010

Five Signs You’re Wearing Ties Wrong

As a college student, I see some fraternity brothers commit outrageous acts with their neckwear.  Since I haven’t spent enough time in the “adult” world, I can’t say whether these atrocities diminish with age. If not, the best cure is a steady dosage of this blog. Here are the five biggest mistakes men make when wearing ties:

1.     The tie is too long or too short. When I see someone wearing a tie that’s a hand’s length above or below the top of their pants, Ties that are too shortI can only think, “they clearly care so little about their appearance; why wear a tie at all?” It’s an obvious sign that you lack the skill to tie a tie to the correct length For instance, would you buy an album from a group that couldn’t tie their ties to the correct length?

Conventional wisdom is that the tip of the tie should barely touch the top of the pants/belt, though you can probably get away with tying it an inch longer or so.  Exceptions are  Neopolitans, those with much larger frames and anyone paying tribute to the pre-WWII fashion era. That’s it.

2.     When in storage, the tie is kept tied. First off, storing ties in the tied position is terrible for their upkeep. Of course, if you like permanent wrinkles in your ties, it’s a great idea. Moreover, keeping a tie tied implies you lack the skill to properly tie it; and the time you did tie it was due to coincidence/luck/help from mom. Please don’t do it, and especially not in front of another human being.

3.     The tie is thrown over the shoulder. This is a common occurrence first semester at my fraternity, when pledges don a suit and tie every Thursday for lunch. I realize it’s tempting to eliminate the chance of spill, but, as GQ’s Glenn O’Brien writes, a tie thrown over the shoulder begs to be snipped off. Ok, so throwing your tie over your shoulder may not put it at risk. However, it does make you look silly and unable to eat responsibly. The eating-while-wearing-a-tie dilemma leads me to my next point…

4.     The tie gets food spilled on it. I realize that accidents happen. However, during my pledgeship, An unfortunate stain on a tieI found I could eliminate almost all my spills simply by scooting closer to the table. Who would have thought? Take good care of your ties, spilling food on one leads to an immediate trip to the bathroom and later trip to the dry cleaners. No man should leave a business dinner to clean up his tie.

5.     The tie is rolled up into the front pocket. Yes, I’ve seen this happen. One of my high school teachers wore half his tie in his front pocket the entire year.  Though certain circumstances are understandable, wearing a tie rolled into a pocket implies several unmanly motives:

  • a.     I can’t handle something swinging in front of my chest.
  • b.     I’m grudgingly obeying a strict wear-a-tie policy at my workplace.
  • c.      I’m afraid I’ll spill something on it.

Wear your tie with pride; and don’t give the impression you can’t properly tie or wear it. Notice I didn’t touch on matching—that’s another post for another day. In the meantime, avoid these mistakes, and you’ll at least dress better than college students.

Christian Crusaders photo credit: www.funnyalbumcovers.com

Tie spill credit: Shareki’s Flickr Stream

Popularity: 4% [?]

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By Michael in Tie Advice | Permalink | No Comments »

May 27th, 2010

What Guys Should Wear for Graduation

It’s that time of year again—I realize it’s always some time of year, but in this instance, I mean graduation. As a college student, I finally get to attend graduation open houses without having to worry about mine! Guys wearing ties for graduation Another integral part of graduation is the actual ceremony. I’m sure you all can remember sitting for hours in a hot, crowded gym while the names of classmates are read. Here’s some practical style advice for that memorable moment:

1. Mind the heat. Not only are you roasted in a gym or on a football field, but you’ve got a graduation gown draped over you. First step: A white or light blue cotton dress shirt. This shouldn’t be too hard; if you’ve got a wardrobe of any size, you’ve got one. Don’t skimp on the undershirt; and a wife-beater doesn’t count. As the Art of Manliness writes, without an undershirt, you risk perspiration and sweat staining your shirt, especially the armpits. As demonstrated below, don’t fret too much about the undershirt showing up underneath because…

2. You will be covered in a gown. Yes, you could be taking it off at some point; and don’t omit the belt just because it’s not immediately visible. You never know. However, the focus should be on the top and the bottom, that is, the area around the tie’s knot and your feet.

3. Pick the right tie. And knot. It will be much easier to simply avoid clashing with your gown by picking a safe color than trying to match it. Don’t try to coordinate with your flashy gown. your gown color. Black tie for graduationIf in doubt, just pick black or silver, depending on whether your gown is light or dark. If you’re bigger, tie a bigger Windsor knot; if you’re skinnier, tie a smaller four-in-hand. Check out Esquire’s guide for a handy diagram. (And avoid patterns…you won’t be able to see most of the tie.)

4. Please please please…for the love of matching, make sure your socks match your pants. Plus, you can never go wrong with black socks and black pants. Wear dress socks as well. I don’t care if you “can’t see” black Nike ankle socks.

5. There will be pictures. Regardless of how much effort you put into dressing up, make sure your

  • tie is snug
  • buttons on your collar are buttoned, if applicable
  • tie doesn’t clash with your gown
  • pants and socks match

For your mother’s sake. And of course, congratulations on graduating!

Photo credit: www.collegerecruiter.com

Popularity: 2% [?]

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By Michael in General Fashion | Permalink | 3 Comments »

May 26th, 2010

Current Contest Rundown

Do you like to win free stuff and look classy at the same time? Once a week, we’ll be posting our current ABC Neckties contests here – make sure you stop by for your chance to win!

We’ve got four for you this week, including two that end tonight. Come and get ‘em!

  • At  Today’s Giveaway the giveaway ends today! So get over there as fast as you can for your $25 gift certificate! Ends 5/26/10
  • Also, tonight at midnight ends another chance to win that great new necktie! Head over to nmart512′s YouTube channel and enter as soon as you can. Ends 5/26 at midnight
  • There’s a $25 gift certificate up for grabs at Tatum’s Family Reviews. Make sure you stop by! Ends 6/4
  • At Mom vs. The Boys, this mama is giving you the chance to win the tie of your choice. That’s right – any tie in the store! Ends 6/8

Popularity: 1% [?]

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By Kristine in Contests/Reviews | Permalink | No Comments »

May 26th, 2010

Daniel Craig Plays James Bond In Style with Neckwear

I’m just going to throw this out there—Daniel Craig has made a terrific Bond, including his fierce style. While yes, I haven’t watched much of the Connery era, the steel, ruggedness and dry wit of the Daniel Craig plays James Bond in Casino Royale Bond played by Craig in Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace “looks cut from 007 cloth,” as the GQ Eye writes. Integral to the Bond outfit is the neckwear.

Daniel spends all of Casino Royale in a classic Bond tux and black bow tie, playing a high-stakes game of poker against a terrorist financier. AskMen details how you, too, can recreate the suave and sophisticated look of 007. However, if the $85 price tag is too steep for the Polo Ralph Lauren bow tie, ABC Neckties offers a just-as-suave and sophisticated version for $17, as noted previously. It’s silk, fits 14-18 inch necks, and should be tied so that the ends remain between the outside of the eyes and the edge of the face. Because c’mon, James Bond would never wear a pre-tied bow tie.

Though Casino Royale is my favorite of Daniel’s two appearances, Quantum of Solace offers a more personal look into the Bond persona, as he avenges the murder of his lover in Casino Royale while stopping Quantum, an evil organization, from overthrowing the government of Bolivia in order to seize control of the water supply. Luckily for us, Bond’s attire is more varied than in Casino Royale, as he engages in car chases and party-going from Italy to Bolivia.

Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace, donning a blue tieAt this party with MI6 operative Strawberry Fields, Daniel sports a tie similar to our Carter Silk Fashion Tie. As I wrote earlier, blue ties go with anything, whether or not you’re wearing the Tom Ford designer suits Craig donned for Quantum of Solace. Pop on a black suit, a blue oxford dress shirt, and a barely visible matching pocket square, and you’re ready to hit the party of a billionaire environmentalist with Ms. Fields.A Tie Similar to Daniel Craig as James Bond

Daniel isn’t just a killer Bond, he’s got world-renowned style—or whatever you attribute to the man named “Britain’s Best Dressed Man” twice in a row. Of course, some people detest Daniel (see ridiculous website danielcraigisnotbond.com/) but, in my opinion, he fits creator Ian Fleming’s idea of a “half hitman, half monk” like a glove—complete with sharp, flawless style.

Royale Poster Photo Credit: http://thisdistractedglobe.com

Quantum Party Photo Credit: www.imdb.com

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By Michael in Celebrity ties | Permalink | No Comments »

May 25th, 2010

Welcome to the ABCNeckties.com blog

Hey there; and welcome to the ABCNeckties blog. This blog will cover the newest additions to our store, contemporary and classic icons of neckwear, handy knowledge about selecting and wearing ties, and unrelenting coverage of what other men are tying around their necks.Navy tie

The world of fashion can be unforgiving. Fortunately, this blog will accompany you every step of the way—even if you don’t know how to even tie a tie. Well, especially if you don’t know how to tie a tie. Whether you’re a poor college kid like me, who just wants his clothes to match at formal events, or a businessman, who’s seeking pointers and guidelines for spicing up his collar, the ABCNeckties blog will provide the answers.

All I ask of you is an open mind and a little effort. Subscribing via RSS, following us on Twitter, and liking us on Facebook will aid you as well. Because, like neckwear, limiting this information to one medium would be a pity.

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By Michael in General Fashion | Permalink | No Comments »