Father’s Day Neckties
In the fine, old tradition of getting dad a necktie for Father’s Day, USA Weekend has published a guide to buying neckties! The article wasn’t really aimed toward buying neckties as gifts but-hey!-if you’re going to buy dad a tie, use this guide to get him one he might actually wear! Here are 5 of their tips:
1 Go for classic elegance. For a job interview, a wedding or a first date, “you can’t go wrong with a simple dark tie,” Rapoport says. “It can be solid or have a small pattern in it. You can even wear it in the summer, with a khaki suit. You don’t need to dress loudly to make a statement.”
2 Play with color. Ocean shades and pastels are hot this season, says Gregg Andrews, fashion director at Nordstrom. “We’re seeing light blue, aqua and sapphire blue, even lavender and lilac,” he says. “They look great with light shirts and can pop against a deeper-toned shirt.” Tip: Take your shirt to the store with you to test-drive ties. For Father’s Day: “Look at his [wardrobe] colors; if he doesn’t wear brown, don’t get an earth-toned tie.”
3 Pay attention to proportion. “Younger, hipper dressers may go for skinny ties, but they only work if the suit has a narrow lapel,” Rapoport says. “The widest part of the tie should be about the same as the widest part of the lapel.” The knot also should match, but “unless you’re a hip-hop mogul, avoid an oversized tie knot.”
4 Avoid flashy prints. Subtle pin dots and stripes are fine. (If you’re matching a pinstriped suit, try a wider stripe.) “If you want a tie that reflects a hobby or a profession, it should be understated,” Andrews warns. “Nobody needs a tie with a big golf club on it.”
5 Vary fabrics. “You can always wear a silk tie,” Rapoport says. “But if I’m at a summer wedding, it’s completely appropriate to wear a nice cotton seersucker or madras tie with a cotton suit.” Whatever the material, always check how a tie knots. It should have one pleat (the “dimple”) and no corners or sharp edges.
dads, fathers, dads of teenagers, fathers of teenagers, Father’s Day, Father’s Day gifts, parenting teens, parenting teenagers
June 12th, 2007 at 8:05 am
I love ties, but I don’t think I am ever good at buying them. I always doubt what goes with what etc.
June 12th, 2007 at 8:57 am
Erinn,
The only ties I ever buy are ones that my daughter and I occasionally use as belts! My dad has never worn a tie in his life, no matter how formal the occasion. My fiancee will wear a tie now and then, but I leave the choosing entirely up to him!
June 12th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
I think most people just pick a tie at random, not worrying about the proper with the quality of the silk etc. I worked at a store with a huge selection and I always loved being able to pick out the proper ties by season occasion and outfit! I love ties.
June 13th, 2007 at 7:01 am
Avoid thin silk ties. They don’t hold a good looking knot, makes a person look sloppy.
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