On Style: Ties - When and Where to Wear Them...

Everyone should own at least one good tie. I have over thirty, of varying degrees of goodness, but to be honest, I wear maybe four or five on rotation, and have a particular leaning to one tasty little Ralph Lauren number in Orange with White, Green and Purple decoration. Oddly enough, it seems to go with most things – a garish colour like Orange or Electric Blue, for example, is a nice way to set off an otherwise sombre outfit – Black suit, White shirt and Black tie is funereal; a Black suit, White shirt and Orange tie with secondary accents is jazzy.

A good, snappy tie need not be expensive. You could make your own, but they are devilishly tricky to get right (don’t let this put you off though – head down to your local haberdashery and ask them for a pattern and advice on material. It is good fun!).

A good place to find nice ties for cheap is the ever-disorganised TK Maxx. For around £10 you can pick-up a designer label in silk – well worth the investment. Be careful not to spill anything on your neckpiece, though: they are very hard to clean without warping the material and most require professional dry-cleaning attention.

If you are only going to buy a couple of ties you must purchase a simple Black tie to start your collection. Black ties are versatile and the most often required for formal situations. If you are slim, opt for a skinnier cut over a traditional wedge-shape. When worn with a tailored jacket, a skinny tie will keep the look fresh. For your second tie, I would suggest plumping for a designed label in a vibrant colour that coordinates with brown – that way you will be able to wear all the suits in your wardrobe. Orange is good as it sits nicely with Navy, Brown, Grey and Black, so can be worn with most suit combinations. Likewise, blue is a favourite or, if you’re feeling fruity, Pink can be worn with all colours and looks classy, though a bit businesslike.

And don’t be afraid of patterns! Bold paisley prints; extravagant checks; three-coloured stripes; club logos (my favourite)…patterns enliven the canvas created by your neutral suit, and can be the difference between the ‘geezer who just fell-out of the office party’ look, and the ‘effete chap who just popped out of parliament for a cigar’ look.

So when and where to wear a tie? Work is a good start, though some corporate jobs do not require you to follow such strict conventions. You will stand out in the office for making very little effort to go outside the box. I remember working for a back, which was full of suited and booted people, and still I would get compliments everyday for the way I was dressed. The secret? Unabashedness. I was unremittingly smart; my hair was well-kept; my facial hair neat; my suits fitted; shoes polished; tie well-tied and eye-catching in design; and accessorised to the finest detail: tie clips, slides or pins; a matching broach in my lapel; if the watch was Gold, the belt buckle would be too…

The Opera: if you’re going out, make an effort! As long as the environment to which you are heading doesn’t involve the throwing of mad shapes on a sweat-soaked dance floor, there is no reason not to dress-up. Even the pub, though you will get stick for this. I’ve always said, though, there is no shame in being the smartest person in the room, and if people say anything negative, they are probably just a bit jealous that they haven’t got the balls to wear a three-piece Harris Tweed ensemble down The Globe on a Thursday night…

Their loss.


Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.

E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.