Ties and dress-codes: how to match them

Recently, I have found an interesting table in Wikipedia about different styles and dress-codes from England made in 1902. This dress chart shows different occasions and the clothes which is required to this or that event. Here it is 

After reading it, I was admired by the intricacy and sophistication of the dress-codes of that time. Everything was carefully structured, everything had its own place and time. Now our dress style is more sporty and undisciplined, and of course, it's cool that we have more freedom, but I've got a feeling that we have lost something important and delicate though the upper classes in England still follow some of their rules and try to keep it the old way.

As a fan of neckties and other men's accessories, I contemplated if wearing a tie has also changed with the dress-code. All those ascots, plastrons and bow-ties were important and vital for a specific dress-code but now they are no more than just a pleasant and trendy accessory, having lost their compulsory character.

But still, the chaos of fashion has not ruined all rules and formalities. We've still got some basic dress-codes and we still try to stick to them. So, what are they, these conventional dress styles for men to which we should adhere to look stylish and manly? I, personally, was aware of 3 styles, below is my understanding of those.

First of all, it's business style or business casual style. It is very common now and is associated with successful businessmen, politicians, top executives and so on. This clothing style requires a business suit, a dress shirt paired with a tie, and descent, better, black footwear. Bold and bright colors are deemed inappropriate, you'd better refrain from them. Appropriate colors include beige, white, grey, light blue or light red for a button-up collar shirt, and a variety of colors for a necktie but they must match the shades of the entire outfit. As for the suit, the rule states that the darker it is, the better for the formal business environment.

One more style, is informal style, and I refer to it any trendy, sporty or casual outfit that doesn't require much thinking what to put on. Jeans, a T-shirt, a pair of boots or sneakers, a pullover for cool weather – that's what we usually wear pinching our personally but not our wallet.

And, of course, formal dress code or formal attire, required for any 'Black tie' and 'White Tie' events. The peculiarities of this style are really subtle and I think there is much info about it in the trusted sources.

A nice post about styles and how to pick an appropriate tie for variousoccasions and dress-codes is published here. As for me, I'd like to find some info about club ties and club attire as it's an interesting topic to investigate. 

Tie Knots That Have a Power To Impress

Some men are really troubled when it comes to tying a necktie. Many of them will admit that they know only one or two tie knots. In general, one or two tie knots are quite enough to use every day for work or business meetings. 

But sometimes we get tired of wearing one and the same tie knot every day. Of course, the knots such as four-in-hand, or simple double or half-Windsor are the timeless classic, but let's consider some new, fresh and unique tie knots that can make your day.

One of the popular knots now is the Eldredge knot named after its author, Mr. Jeffrey Eldredge.
The Eldredge knot looks very extraordinary and beautiful. Its form resembles a maiden's braid in structure though it keeps a traditional triangular shape. Tying the Eldredge knot is not very easy and it requires some practice. But if you try it a couple of times and finally succeed in tying it, you'll be surprised at how many compliments and attention you'll get. Just remember that you can use only solid color or small pattern ties for tying this knot. Plaid, Paisely or striped ties don't work with the Eldredge knot as they reduce the visual appearance of this amazing knot.

If you stick to traditional tie knots though seeking for something new, one more suggestion is to try the Atlantic tie knot, also known as the Cross knot. This tie knot also looks very original and unique. It is wide and triangular in shape and it is suited for spread collar shirts.





The Christensen knot can be your second choice. It's tied similar to the four-in-hand but gives a result with much straighter sides. The Christensen knot has an unusual cross-pattern which make it stand out and drape nicely.

The Greek billionaire Aristotle Onassis is known not only for his getting married to Jacqueline Kennedy. He also created a tie knot which is named in his honor. The Onassis knot is a simple four-in-hand knot but with one additional move. To tie the Onassis knot, simply pull the wide end through the middle from the inside and let it drape loosely over the knot.




You can read more about this new and fashionable knot - the Eldredge tie knot  - in How to Tie a Tie app's blog. They have many instructions on tying a tie in pictures, it may help you to tie your tie very quickly. Check out their mobile instructional app - How to Tie a Tie - for iPhone, iPad and Android.