Ties, knot, tie bar

Ties have really made a comeback in the past several years. The tie is a male accessory that is “tied” around the collar of a button down shirt, often worn to represent the importance of an event. The fabric used to produce ties is often silk, but today we’re seeing ties from wool, linen, cotton, etc.


There are also several ways to actually tie a tie, and the best way to learn the most basic knot is to watch the  slideshow on Men's health. I was never taught how to tie a tie, and so watching a how-to video was a smart way to learn.

The material of the tie is very delicate; after wearing it is important to untie the knot completely, and drape the tie around a hanger to ensure it is crease free.


One important tip to remember about wearing a tie is appropriate color and pattern selection. Most ties are meant to accent the overall look, for example: if you wear a grey and blue pinstripe suit, but the blue stripe is 1/16 of a centimeter, you could wear a blue tie to “accent” or pull the faint blue stripe off the suit.

Men ages 21-35 should only wear “skinny” ties, solid in color, and always remember the tie bar to hold it in place.



If you’re wondering what a tie bar is, it is a small and thin piece of metal that slides over the center of the tie and clips to an opening in your shirt between buttons. This ensure the dangling part of the tie doesn’t float around in the wind, or get in the way of things. Most people think wearing a tie to a job interview is over doing it; on the contrary, it shows the individual made an effort to look presentable.