Neckties. At some point in life, we all need to wear one, and when that day comes, it helps to know what to look for -- particularly if you’re doing the buying. For those of us who have to tie one on every day, the trick is to buy a good quality one that will last pretty close to a lifetime.Where to start? Here are a couple of pointers:
THE FABRIC: Silk is your best bet in terms of durability and overall look. A close runner up is the silk and polyester blend. Knit ties, though they have their place, also have a tendency to loose there shape, so you need to understand going in that they’re probably not going to last as long as their silkier brethren.
THE FEEL: The fabric should feel smooth and luxurious and have a little weight to it. However the heft should come from a light-weight lining, as the lining is there to weigh the tie down a bit, give the back a more finished appearance and give the tie body without making it look like a cardboard cutout.
THE LOOK: A nice, high-end tie generally will be cut on the bias, which is a more expensive and skillful way of cutting diagonally across the fabric. This fancier cutting technique allows the tie to lie flat down the center of your chest once you’ve tied it. If you’re not sure what a bias-cut tie looks like, ask the sales people to show you the difference.
THE DETAILS: Look for loose threads and if there are a few visible, keep looking for one that’s been finished more carefully. If you do find a few loose threads after you’ve had the tie a while, then cut the loose threads – never pull them as one wrong pull can virtually destroy your tie.
THE TECHNIQUES: If you’re looking for a new way to tie one, then look no further than http://www.neckties.com/content/howtotieatie.html. There you’ll find illustrated step-by-step instructions on how to tie everything from the Windsor to the St. Andrew knots, plus a few even we’d never heard of before, such as the Plattsburg, The Atlantic, and the Kelvin.
