This and That About Neckties

Stick with the classics and you’ll never go wrong.  Solids, stripes and patterns such as paisley, polka dot and plaid have been part of men’s neckwear for over a century.  I’ve seen them ties of all shapes and sizes.

Take this tie.  Easy to wear and even easier to care for neckties were produced by Superba in the 50’s and 60’s.  This 60’s Vintage Mad Men Skinny Tie is made of 100% Dacron polyester which according to the manufacturer’s label is washable and needs no pressing.  I personally tested out the claim, and it’s true!

If this tie doesn’t float your boat, check out all the unique and unusual skinny ties, both mid century neckwear as well as the retro ties of the 80’s.

It seems that every month has a holiday worth celebrating, and Saint Paddy’s Day is no exception.  You can always wear green (or a defiant orange) and you can certainly wear a plain green necktie or one with shamrocks.  Personally I’m a sucker for cartoon characters who get in the spirit, such as Bugs Bunny, the Tasmanian Devil, Sylvester, Tweety Bird, and least but not last, Marvin the Martian!

This Saint Patrick’s Day Looney Tunes Tie is holiday specific, but it features your favorite characters donning  hats and in a carousing mood, a novelty tie sure to put smiles on all who see it!

Check out our  Saint Paddy’s Day Ties, other Holiday Neckties, as well as Cartoon Ties for all occassions.

If you are a collector of Olympic game memorabilia or are simply a fan of all of the summer and winter  Olympic sports, then you will really like this very understated Beijing 2008 Olympic Games plaid tie.

The words “Beijing 2008″ and the five Olympic rings neatly fit within the plaid pattern.  Do you know what five continents the rings represent? Mind you, the symbol of Olympic Games was designed in 1913 and debuted in the 1920 Antwerp Games. They are America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania (this including Australia).

Today there are believed to be five to seven continents, depending on who you talk to and where you live! European students and those from other parts of the world are taught that there are 6 continents, those being America, Africa, Asia, Antarctica, Australia and Europe.

Scientists combine Asia and Europe (since they are one land mass) and believe that the six continents are Africa, Antarctica, Australia, Eurasia, North America, and South America. Students in the United States are taught that there are 7 continents: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and Antarctica.

But back to the tie.  Click on the links for other related neckwear such as plaid and tartan ties and sports and game ties.

Ever wonder how Ties2Pillows got its name?  Sydney of Sydney’s Vintage Clothing was a bit curious and very kind to interview me on Sydney’s Vintage Loose Threads blog where you can read about What Can a Lady Do With a Vintage Necktie?

I answer questions such as to how I got started in the business of selling hand made necktie pillows and  vintage ties, how long I’ve been in the vintage accessory business, the rarest tie I own, and the the earliest to date tie in my personal collection.

I have shared my Salvador Dali designed necktie with you, which is among the rarer ones I currently own as well as my dad’s skinny flame tie, which is a sentimental favorite. Look for more in the coming weeks!

Part of the appeal of the Mad Men hit TV show  is the fashion.  In fact one could argue that the men’s and women’s clothing could be considered a character! The clothes certainly is stylish and doesn’t go unnoticed.  In fact the  trend toward men’s narrow neckties has been popular for over 4 years due in part to the show.

Part of the appeal of this Mad Men Skinny Diamond Pattern Tie is its understated colors, with one unusual embellishment serving as a visual anchor.  The blue and white flourish looks like an inverted exclamation point!

Whether you prefer 60’s skinny rockabilly style ties or 80’s narrow retro neckties, we’ve got pages upon pages of thin vintage ties to satisfy your personal taste.

The Vancouver Olympic Games are in full swing, and what better to support all of our athletes than with this very patriotic commemorative 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games Tie.

While the words ‘Atlanta 1996′, the five Olympic rings and the Olympic flame are in gold tone, they are overshadowed by the American flag, making this one of the more versatile accessories to wear.

This is an authentic Olympic Games Collection tie with a caption on the underside which reads, ‘Atlanta 1996 Red, White and Blue’ along with an attached tag no. B111143588, a perfect piece  for collectors of brand new Olympic memorabilia.

Why not also check out our other Olympic ties,  sports neckties and  patriotic flag neckties, too.

It’s Presidents Day!  I hope all of you are enjoying this extended weekend holiday.

And what would be more appropriate than a red, white and blue tie covered with stars and stripes and you got it, portraits of some of our more memorable presidents! Featured are George Washington, Ronald Reagan, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Abraham Lincoln and what I believe to be the likeness of Bill Clinton among the stars.

I have seen many a patriotic flag tie in various interesting representations, but never one which includes the Presidents of the United States as this tie does.  No matter what your political affiliation, this necktie is sure to please!

Words of love: sometimes the simplest expression is the most appreciated, perhaps because if is often the most underused.

This I Love You – Valentine’s Day Words Necktie is a wonderful way to tell all those around you how you feel, especially if you have a hard time expressing your emotions.  Let your tie do the talking for you!

I like this necktie because it is direct and to the point. The rows of words alternating with red hearts add structure and seriousness to the sentiment.

All of our Valentine ties are different. Some are more whimsical, others more suggestive, however the mood strikes you!

Winnie the Pooh neckties are so sweet.  Most often they depict Winnie sharing the space with his beloved friends Piglet, Eeyore and Tigger. Sometimes the image is very large as it is with this Winnie the Pooh & Tigger Valentine’s Day Tie, whose celebratory theme makes it perfect wear for birthdays as well.

Other times the cartoon character neckties incorporate much smaller depictions of our favorites characters as part of a larger pattern, such as this fun Winnie the Pooh, Tigger & Eeyore Paisley Tie.

Disney produces this neckwear under the Pooh label.  It is made of printed silk or polyester.  Unlike Looney Tunes ties, the loop labels do not include  information such as the copyright date of the particular design. Bottom line, they are fun to wear!

With the growth of the internet, you have a massive array of men’s neckties to pick from. traditional designs are no longer your only choice. In fact, there are so many patterns and designs to chose from that you can find it difficult to make a selection. By deconstructing the choices into different elements, we can make the selection process just a little easier.

Fabric and Material Choices

You have many choices when it comes to a mens tie today. Polyester is now the cheapest fabric, but mixed fabrics are very popular and commonly just as inexpensive. You have your cold weather wool, and of course silk is very a good choice at all times. Your budget may ultimately be the final factor.

Choices of Patterns and Designs

There are an unlimited number of men’s tie patterns for you to chose from. A great place to begin are novelty ties. If you like famous paintings, there are ties that are reproductions of paintings, scenery, as well as many famous buildings. You can get happy faces, skull designs in many patterns, as well as neckties with cartoon or comic book characters. Sayings are another very popular choice including traditional along with slightly more risque choices. You can even put your own print design on your tie including your kids and animals through a special technique available through some companies.

Speaking of design, fashion designers make ties as well, and owning a fashion tie can really show off your own sense of style. If the price tag for a new designer tie is a little too steep then try looking on the internet for vintage designer neckties and you can usually find good condition fashion ties for a small portion of the brand new price.

Skinny and Wide Neckties

All old things are new again. That is the case with mens thin neckties. They first became fashionable at the beginning of the 20th century, only to reemerge in the 1950’s and again in the 80’s. Today they are making a comeback again with the likes of Leonardo DeCaprio, Will Arnett and other celebrities choosing narrow black neckties to wear with their tuxedos at the recent Golden Globes Awards. On the other end of the spectrum, wide ties from the 1960’s and 1970’s have not regained the same popularity but they still have their fans and vintage wide neckties can still be found for sale on the internet.

Conclusion

You can find a few great ties at some of the mass market chains, but if you want something individual, or personal, you should look on the web. Prices range from under $10 to well above $100 dollars depending on fabric and how extravagant the pattern. You can find websites that sell nothing but mens neckwear, and the choices will usually be better than somewhere else.