This and That About Neckties

When I first purchased Roseann Ettinger’s book 20th Century Neckties, Pre-1955, I really liked the personal touch the author provided in the dedication near the front page.  There, next to a photograph of her father and mother, was a portrait of her mother and her name hand painted onto a solid color 40’s tie.  Ettinger dedicates the book to her mother, Marie, “for being the beautiful face on the necktie” and to her father Vito for having given the tie to her when she was a little girl.  This men’s vintage tie graces both the cover and the inside pages of the book.  Apparently it was hand painted by a street artist in New York City in 1950, which was a practice started just after the Second World War ended and which continued into the 50’s.

So, I’d like to introduce a very special tie as the first of many from my personal necktie collection as having belonged to my father. I really love men’s skinny vintage ties, and this one is very dear to me.  The tie is 53 ½ inches long and 1 ¾ inches wide and dates back to the early 60’s.  The tie is black with red squiggly striations running up and down, giving the overall appearance of flames.  It bears no other markings. It really is the epitome of cool, and I’m sure it looked super hot on my dad, who was and still is a very handsome guy.

I looked for photographs of my dad wearing this tie but found none.  Most photographs were of him wearing dark solid toned ties. My dad says he saved the tie because it was unusual, and I’m glad he did so that I can share it with you today.

You are welcome to submit a photo of your favorite tie or of your entire collection along with anything you’d like to share about your tie(s).  Perhaps you have a story to tell or would like to explain why you collect certain types of ties (40’s era,  novelty, specific designer, etc.)  Your collection is a very special to you and no one else has one just like yours.