Great Reasons To Own Men's Vintage Ties

Men’s modern neckwear has been around for over a century. It continues to be the perfect accessory with which to coordinate an outfit and provide a finishing touch. The dimensions and designs have changed over the years, but for the most part, ties pretty much look the same. New ties are produced in the United States, Asia, Italy and other parts of the world in standard issue solids, patterns and novelty themes. Also available are vintage ties from various decades leading up to men’s ties from yesteryear. You’ve seen them worn by your dad, and found them in your grandfather's closet, at yard sales, estate sales, auctions, even online. The more you look at them the more you realize how special they are.

In my article “More Great Reasons To Wear Men’s Vintage Ties”, I discussed some reasons people prefer men’s vintage ties:

-To become a collector of beautiful vintage ties – combine your love of American history with the functionality of men’s ties – they are wearable art!

-To outfit movie, theater and historical costume wardrobes with authentic period clothing, and

-To go green by recycling – choose vintage ties over new ties, and you will contribute to a more eco-friendly environment.

Vintage ties are the way to go for even more reasons:

Dare to be Different

Vintage ties are a perfect way to express your unique sense of style. Finding two identical vintage ties is improbable, which is why people prefer these one-of-a-kind accessories.

According to Roseann Ettinger, author of "Popular & Collectible Neckties, 1955 to Present", in 1952 alone, over 190 million neckties were produced “with 40,000 different patterns in 100,000 different color combinations”. Not all survived. Many if not most were tossed or 50 years later are faded and in bad shape. Some have survived throughout the years and are in very good condition. All other things remaining the same, they present the perfect opportunity for you to express your individuality through your neckwear. Fashion gurus often suggest that you combine a touch of the old with the new for a totally unique look and neckties accomplish just that.

Whether the intention is for them to blend in or stand out, there is a tie out there for everyone. People will notice your handsome tie and will ask where you got it. Part of standing out in the crowd is you knowing that your friend or colleague simply can’t go to the local mall, department store, or even a specialty shop, and pick out the same exact tie. That knowledge is part of the appeal to wearing a vintage tie. For as many as have originally been produced of a particular design and color, only a handful remain. And you own one of them!

The More Things Change the More They Stay the Same

Wearing vintage ties is a great way to pay tribute to design trends which originated many years ago.

That red and navy striped tie you just purchased has a long history, dating back to the late 1800’s, when regimental, university and club ties first became popular. Skinny ties are all the rage today, but they first appeared in the beginning of the 20^th Century, only to reappear two more times, in the 50’s/60’s and the 80’s. The same goes for knit square end ties. What about the wild and bright ties of the 1940’s? In the 1990’s a necktie designer by the name of Martin Wong introduced a line of ties named “Screenplay by Martin Wong” which recreated the look and feel of ties from the 40’s with a modern twist and updated color schemes. In some cases he practically copied some designs, and they sold like hotcakes.

What about novelty ties? They were created by Countess Mara in the late 30’s as well as street artists in the 40’s until major tie manufacturers jumped on the bandwagon and made them a mainstay as they are today. Dolce & Gabanna have sold ties with pin up girls printed on the lining on the underside of the tip, but they weren’t the first to capitalize on that idea. That trend started in the 40’s. As with all things vintage, the originals are special because they were the first.

Some Things Change Forever

Some changes to men’s neckwear are permanent, so the only way to enjoy certain styles is to go vintage.

In 1924 Jesse Langdorf created a way of cutting fabric in a way to resolve the problem to ties creasing, wrinkling and not draping properly, extending their life immensely. Neckties today thankfully follow that process. Neckties in the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s were much shorter (less than 50 inches) than today’s counterparts. While necktie purists prefer the originals, big and tall men appreciate the shift toward longer ties. In many cases ties were modified by fashion trends; in other cases adjustments were made to meet the needs of an ever growing segment of the population. In the end, the reshaping of ties allows for many variations to meet all the needs of the necktie aficionado.

Some of the designs and color combinations are gone forever, and it is nostalgia that attracts us to them. As ties evolved, they continually adapted to the times. Some transformations were subtle. For example, for visual interest, skinny ties from the 50’s and 60’s often featured a flourish or ornamentation placed midway up a solid color tie. Today’s skinny ties no longer include a flourish. Many designers simply sell slimmer versions of the same patterns already found in normal width ties. Our fascination with vintage ties is their distinctive color, pattern and types of fabric used. It is the slightly unusual nature of vintage ties which is part of their charm.

Conclusion

So, for not much more than the cost of a new tie, and in many cases for much less, vintage ties are the neckwear of choice and are a great way freshen up your wardrobe in a fashionable way. A large assortment is available online by searching for “mens vintage ties”, “vintage skinny ties”, “vintage designer ties” and “vintage novelty ties”. You’ll love going retro and having fun with these nostalgic men’s neckties!

Great Reasons To Own Men's Vintage Ties by Strangelittlebird is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.