Monday, March 8, 2010

Debate: Fat Chance

AC and Ralph make a case for the return of the wide tie.  I'm not so sure I'm completely sold on this one - I much prefer a 1960's width. Yay or nay? Thoughts?


-L.A.S
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10 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 8, 2010 at 3:44 PM

    wide ties remind me of clowns and robber barons, neither of whom's steez I am interested in borrowing. I'll pass on this wave.

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  2. WiscoMarch 8, 2010 at 3:49 PM

    Tie width, like lapel width, is a cyclical thing. I still favor the 2.75-3 inch width tie no matter what.

    I always giggle when some hipster tells me about "this new thing".... there is very little new in fashion and even less new in true style.

    Love your blog! I now read you daily, along with Will @ ASW.

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  3. Brummagem JoeMarch 8, 2010 at 3:55 PM

    The tie in the RL pic looks as silly as one of those ultra narrow Pee Wee Herman numbers....narrowish ties aren't bad per se eg knits but you have to be selectve.....but anything over 3.5" is moving into no no land in my book

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  4. BadSceneMarch 8, 2010 at 4:05 PM

    There's always room for some variation. That said, variation is best between 3.5" to 2". Slim and skinny suits might be the current fashion trend, but there will always be a place for a well fitted slim suit. It's best not to get carried away in either direction.

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  5. JunctionedMarch 8, 2010 at 4:18 PM

    I think as the Trad & Prep pendulum continues to swing to the right your probably going to see a return to a wider tie width. This is not a bad thing because I think the whole "skinny tie" thing presented itself a bit elitist and phony at times. There is such a thing as too wide though. L.A.S, I'd think you'd be all over this since your favorite designer's designer Mr.McNairy seems to prefer them on the wider side :). Good topic to hash out for sure. Thanks.

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  6. Mr BrownMarch 8, 2010 at 4:20 PM

    Check the lapels... a narrow tie would've looked weak.

    Build your arsenal, there's not a lot worse than being predictable.

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  7. The EnthusiastMarch 8, 2010 at 4:21 PM

    I exclusively wear bolo ties. Nothing else is up to my standards.

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  8. AnonymousMarch 8, 2010 at 4:41 PM

    Tie width should always be proportional to lapel width. I did the skinny tie thing the last time around in the 80s, when I was in high school. I skipped it this time, preferring to hang on to my "wide" ties from the 90s. They ranged anywhere from 3.5 to 4 inches wide, but again, they look proportional to the lapels on my coats.

    The RL outfit pictured references a more early 70s cut. Not really digging their spring stuff--saw a western RL suit advertised in a recent GQ.

    Also skinny ties make you look fatter.

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  9. Michael Q.March 8, 2010 at 5:00 PM

    The proportions of his tie (and lapels) look odd next to the slimmer cut of his sleeves (not to say that he'd need fuller sleeves for those lapels).

    As it's been stated before, tie width should be proportional to lapel width, which is proportional to the frame the wearer.

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  10. UnknownMarch 9, 2010 at 1:15 AM

    Most men will look best with a tie that is 3.25" wide, plus or minus .25". Very tall men and very wide men can, and should, wear wider ties. Only slim men under 30 look good in a tie less than 3" wide, unless it's what everyone is wearing (like when narrow ties & lapels were the fashion in the 60s).

    The photo featured in this post is already dated.

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