How do you buy ties? - Page 2

I love buying ties, but I do not allow myself to buy other brands.

It's a double edge sword of me starting my own line of neckwear.

RLBL is Ralph Lauren BLACK Label (as opposed to Purple Label, which is even more expensive).

"Blue Label" is actually "Polo Ralph Lauren" (a slightly less expensive line) and the shortform is PRL.

RLBL, used correctly, invariably refers to Black Label.

interesting. Are you sure this is used consistently

I've seen blue label items clearly delineated as RLBL in B&S, so who knows.

I believe Quadcammer is correct on the RLPL, RLBL, PRL... Purple, Black and Polo. I recently got an interesting Purple label tie on sale for about $16 marked down from $180! but in general the advice here is good... knot, material, construction. The knot will depend on the material obviously w/ respect to fold, thickness, etc. and many will wear different knots w/ different shirts, jackets or occasions etc. I have a pretty general "if I like it I buy it" approach and as I've heard stated around here before, many so-called "lesser" ties look just as nice as some supposedly better ties that don't justify a $100 or more price difference. I pretty religiously buy only 100% silk (or occasionally wool, cotton, linen), NEVER anything synthetic, and I'm a stickler for place of manufacture. Not necessarily always Italy, although it doesn't hurt, but I refuse to buy anything made in China. Part of that is personal, and I'll admit part is political, but that's just me.

and it's easy to find great ties on sale for at least 50% off or more so what the hell. I don't remember the last time I actually bought a tie at full retail...

oh, ya I do... it was at Hermes last year and was around my birthday so I deserved it! anyway...

+1 to this. There is usually no reason to buy a tie at full retail unless it really really catches your eye. Look at Off Saks 5th, Nordstrom Rack, Neiman Last Call, Century 21, and the B&S here. Even Filenes carries Brioni, which can be had for $80 as opposed to full retail

If you go to the Ralph Lauren Website you will find that they list three main brands of menswear

Ralph Lauren Purple Label - Top of the line(which is typically abbreviated online as RLPL)

Ralph Lauren Black Label - 2nd Tier (which I believe is typically abbreviated online as RLBL)

Polo by Ralph Lauren - Main Line (This line currently has blue labels - typically abbreviated online as RL or PRL)

I believe there is an even lower end line with a Green Label - which is made primarily for outlet stores?

I'm sure we won't find absolute consistency in the abbreviations - because posters are prone to say whatever they happen to know - but I think the above is most widely used.

One thing is for certain - see a photo of the label - RL won't label it with the wrong color.

Glad to be corrected if I'm mistaken

Usually with cash, but occasionally Mrs. Sheep "gets creative."

Honestly, I'll only pay full retail on ties from Ed (Pantas) and GShen, since they're very lightly or unlined. This is hard for me to find through my regular tie shopping habits. I just bought a sweet Wool/tweed Corneliani and PRL 73% Wool/27% Silk from Century today. Very happy I dug for them.

This has been the trend of late, and that's what buying high-end ties gets you: the latest fashions. But sooner or later, the fashions will change, because those high-end tiemakers want you to buy more of their high-end ties. If you look at Marshall's, there are plenty of low-rent tie makers churning out plump, fat ties (made in China, of course). So that means most of the high-end guys will soon be on to something else. Wovens have been enjoying a vogue, for example, but Hermes does a lot of prints ... and they're far from inexpensive.

Really, really cheap ties tend to look cheap. But there are plenty of mid-range ties that are perfectly respectable, quality wise. Personally, I'm not too fussed about the MSRP. If I like it, and it hangs well, and makes a nice knot, I'll buy it. I've found attractive silk knits and wool ties, in particular, can often be had inexpensively.

In sussing out tie quality, consider the feel of the silk, the knot and how the tie hangs and dimples. Hand folded edges will have a nice soft roll to them, while cheaper ties usually have edges pressed flat by machine. A nice tie will have a little life to it, while a bad one will hang limp like a dead fish. You might also consider the country of origin -- there's no reason a Chinese-made tie can't be perfectly presentable, but the additional cost of manufacturing in the U.S. (for example) does help warrant the price.

Well put, Doc. I am wearing a Hickey-Freeman Italian silk knit today and have gotten roasted by a couple of the old dudes here in the office who said they haven't seen one like that since 1985. Gotten a couple compliments on it, however, to balance that out!

But to answer OP's question, that's a segue: I'd never have considered a knit tie, silk or otherwise, but H-F outlet had a hell of a sale a couple weeks ago and there were two of these silk knits (one yellow, one purple) for $10 each.

I got them both. I let the clearance tables and thrift store selections open my mind, mostly.

I find a quality tie (I will get from Polo to Kiton but avoid lower brands like Beene, etc because I find they are too thin to tie good knots, at least for me) for cheap and let it work its way into my outfits. If I don't wear one for a couple months or decide I don't like it, I let it go to either a thrift shop or...I have this pal who is my size and got most of his wardrobe stolen and fenced by a predatory relative while he was in the hospital for an extended time recovering from cancer (the relative is going to jail, the hammer of justice fell on him hard, thank goodness)...he loves the stuff I hand off to him now I've been hanging out at SF!

I have found myself paying $50-$60 for a tie at a Barney's outlet (and I did go in for a couple at $40 at the H-F outlet sale, they were dynamite prints in colors I didn't have in the drawer), but I avoid stores where my better judgment would be put to the test. Basically, at thrift stores if you're picky you can get ties that are near new, that would cost $50-250 (I even got a marinella at savers!) that you don't mind letting go if you decide later it's not for you. IF you spend $200 on a tie, you are stuck with it, even if your fickle brain decides it's no longer that cool.

I think you're referring to Lauren by Ralph Lauren, which is outlet/Marshalls/TJ Maxx diffusion, no?

The best place to get ties is Ebay. You will find bargains with outstanding quality, for around 20 euro's.