Tie Accessories

I remember during my days at prep school (ugh, this sounds so snooty...), I used to sling my tie (dress code) over my shoulder while I grabbed food from the dining hall. Freshman year, I would all too often lean over for the last piece of bacon, only to have the end of my tie dip into a tray of bacon grease. The faint aroma of bacon would follow me all day.

Other boys had different strategies to keep that tie under control: some tucked the end of their ties into their shirt between buttons, while others stuffed it into their shirt pocket. Really, as a prep school student, you can kind of get away with fashion murder--you're expected to make mistakes (in life, school, and fashion). But as we get older, somehow we're expected to know more. No metal in the microwave. Stop procrastinating. No square-toed shoes.

And don't be that 35 year old guy with your tie tucked into your shirt pocket. Get a tie bar:

Oh, Tiffany's. This tie bar has just enough decorative embellishment for me. The small knot serves as a focal point, giving the tie bar some visual flair. But it still manages to be clean and minimalist.

These finds are from eBay. New tie bars are ridiculously difficult to find online because, well, men's jewelry isn't a huge market. But you will find lots of vintage stuff on eBay, stuff that I think can often be really nice and really cheap (like 20 times cheaper than that Tiffany's tie bar, no joke). Keep a look out for established vintage jewelers: Swank, Anson, and Hickok all made lots of interesting pieces.

The first two tie bars are Hickok. I am still upset that I forgot to bid on them... that first one is too cool for school! I love how you'd be able to see some of the tie through the bar. The second one is rather plain, but it's smaller and therefore better suited for the skinny/slim ties that are all the rage.

The second two bars are Swank. If you look closely, you'll see there is a slight pattern on the edges of the tie bar. It's very art deco, very chic. But it's still very understated and cool--your friends will only notice the pattern when it hits the light at the right angle. Once again, I am upset that I forgot to bid.

Hope you all have better luck on eBay than me!

Seasonal Ties

I'm not sure when I first learned about Alexander Olch, but his website has been on my favorites list for a while now. I love the variety of materials that he works with; in fact, most of the ties on his website right now aren't silk. You've got wool, cashmere, corduroy, cotton, seersucker, etc... It's amazing.

Let's take a look at the first tie. The material (no nonsense cotton), the color, and the pattern are all light and airy--everything about it screams summertime. Still, the tie remains mature and sexy. I would definitely wear this for formal occasions during the spring and summer.

The second tie is more casual: the thin brown stripes may seem a little too subtle, but the tie is still fun and casual because of the seersucker. Yea, it's kinda preppy and reminiscent of lobster bakes in Maine, but just don't wear the tie with pants with whales on them and you'll be ok.

Let us transition into the fall and winter! The third tie is just lovely. The wool houndstooth is so old-school cool. And the tie is cut nice and slim so it's still young and fresh. This tie is a dream come true for fall ensembles, bringing in pattern and texture in a unique way.

And finally, a simple brown cashmere tie. Really, it's kind of boring--but I have such an odd emotional reaction to it! The brown cashmere makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside; it's hot chocolate, fireplaces, fall foliage, and chestnuts all in simple slim brown tie.

Asian Persuasian

I first saw Mimi Fong ties at NeimanMarcus.com. To be perfectly honest, I thought they were kinda ugly. The colors, the patterns... the pandas...

But there's no denying the artistic quality and craftsmanship of her ties. So I googled Mimi and found her website to give her another chance.

And wow... her stuff is amazing. In general, her ties are so much more subtle than the selection available on the Neiman Marcus website. Note the first tie: the bamboo pattern is gorgeous; I love the large bold pattern and the color combination is great.

The second set of ties are in the dragon pattern. Three words, gentlemen: unique paisley replacement.

Finally, my favorite pattern at Mimi Fong right now: cherry blossoms. The pattern is so detailed and intricate and I love the open spaces between the cherry blossoms--it makes the tie look more like art than a tie. Everything about this tie is romantic and beautiful. Interestingly, all the color combinations work for me, but my favorite is the black and white.

For $145, Mimi Fong's ties are in the higher price bracket, but they're unlike any other ties out there.