This and That About Neckties

So you adore mid century neckties but you have trouble wearing them because they have less length than today’s neckties. Larger men require ties that are at least sixty inches long but manufactures  didn’t think much about that at that time. A lot of skinny vintage ties from the 1950’s and 1960’s vary from 50 to 57 inches at most. In reality, teenage boys ties is in the area of 48 to 50 inches long. The gap between the tip of the necktie and the belt buckle would have been diminished in the 1950’s and 1960’s because men wore their pants higher than modern styles.

What is the solution? Here are some solutions as to how to solve the difficulty associated with men’s short ties:

Adjust the Knot Tying Procedure

You can make an adjustment when you tie your tie. Start tying the knot with a shorter segment of the thin end. You will have a longer necktie but a smaller skinny end which ends up higher than normal behind the front of the tie, but because it is obscured by the front, it isn’t a factor. The skinny end could end up resting as close as two inches from the knot itself.

Extend Your Tie

One solution is to take your favorite necktie to a seamstress or tailor and have the neckwear extended. This lets you to lengthen the necktie to the exact length that makes you the happiest. Inspect the length of the other neckwear in your wardrobe. Then put on a dress shirt and choose any necktie you regularly wear and put it on. Measure the area the lies hidden beneath the collar. The short tie will be cut in an inconspicuous area that will be hidden under the collar and a pre-measured segment of material will be added. Mens neckties usually contain an interior lining which can be tough to work with so leave the tailoring to the pros.

A Three Piece Suit Hides The Problem

One of the best methods to mask a short necktie is to wear it behind the vest of a three piece suit. No one will know that your tie is shorter but plenty of it will show. If you are more comfortable wearing a two piece suit, you can always keep the jacket buttoned, which is sometimes easier said than done.

In Conclusion

Where there is a will there is a way. So is the case with mens shorter narrow ties you see your favorite Mad Men character or Rat Pack star wear. Manufacturers from the 50’s and 60’s took great care to produce some fantastic designs, often incorporating a look which hasn’t been replicated since. So if you love these ties as much as I do, all it takes is a few adjustments to make them work for you today.