Updates!

Saw it in person and fell in love!

Bought it... twice...

More casual than I thought, but still nice!

Fruit Stripe Tie

There's something about this Jack Spade tie that I find very appealing. The bold chunky stripes give the tie a masculine feel, but the yellow girl-ies it up a bit, giving the tie a kind of built-in sexual tension--the same principle governs the allure of the pink dress shirt. I have to be honest though; deep down, I think I like this tie because it reminds me of my favorite childhood gum:
I know, right? Totally. In addition to the childhood nostalgia, there's also some adult(ish) curiosity that feeds my love: an unlined tie? handkerchief turned edges? hand picked stitching? I admit, I'm not a huge expert in the construction of ties, but this sounds pretty cool. I may just have to buy this tie, but $85 is a bit much just to quell my curiousity.

EDIT 06/10/07: I got myself down to New York and went to the Jack Spade store. First thing I looked for was this tie. I was initially a bit turned off by how thin it is -- it almost feels cheap. But, the thinness keeps it youthful, fresh, and casual. Something you could wear with a blazer and jeans. It's not as versatile as I would have hoped (a no-no at fancy occasions), but tres chic nonetheless.