How do you buy ties? - Page 4

I like 3.25" too on average. I buy on sale only and buy top shelf ties. I try to match with my suits, coats and shirts and think in terms of summer and winter. Need more winter stuff now.

I only buy my ties on sale or clearance. I scour places like Off Saks, Last Call, Marshalls , and Nordstroms Rack for high end ties. I think most I have paid is $55 for a RLPL. Mostly I buy a tie if I like the colors or design. I rarely ever buy a tie to match a specific shirt. If I like it, i'll buy it.

Ha you have Winter this past week its been between -8c to -5c overnight getting a bit sick of it to be honest roll on Spring.

And your right about buying top shelf on sale pity they don't do it with good single malts.

Yes, tough to find liquor clearance sales!

Maybe I should check southern hemisphere clearance sales now for winter selections.

Anyone have a reference for matching tie construction to knot type? I discovered the Pratt knot on the weekend- symmetrical but uses less tie length than most (I'm tall)- and figure it could use one of those ties with a core that firms it up a bit as the tie has to span a gap in the knot without collapsing. I have some other ancient Zegna ties that seem all silk without any backing or core in it. They are quite soft and supple and the wrong thing for this knot. What's the best type for a (full) Windsor?

Costanza,

Your question is interesting.

First, most tie constructions will work with most knots with some exceptions.

As an example a grenadine weave is a loose one which will naturally create a full knot so we don't suggest Windsor knots with grenadines.

A lighter tie in general will balance with a Windsor knot. If you want a smaller or larger knot you would adjust the width of the tie in the knot area.

Adjusting the interlining is also a possibility but not the best answer.

Same here. However, I use two main filters:

1. Width - No narrower than 3.75 inches (9.52 cm) Makes it harder today.

2. Price

So, what do you guys think about Marinella's decalogue?

I go to the store mostly during a good sale, I select the tie I want head to the counter swipe my card then leave.

I am a relatively new tie-buyer but I've been buying at least a couple a week recently. Post-SF, I love ties so much I want to wear one every day.

I buy ties from thrift stores (here we call them 'op shops' ), eBay and from sales. I like 3.25" too, though I'll go a little skinnier and a little wider if I like the tie otherwise.

The most I've ever spent was AUD$33, and I don't think I'd ever pay more than about that. Why? Mostly because eBay is a tie goldmine, and brands like Lands' End, Brooks and Banana Republic offer exactly what I want for usually under $15 shipped.

Really, eBay is PERFECT for tie-buying: shipping is cheap; fit is not an issue; what you see is what you get; and because ties aren't that popular nowadays and last a long time, there's a massive oversupply floating around out there.

As far as colour and style go, I'm working on a collection of mostly blue, red and green, mostly stripes dots or solids, and some interesting textures like wool, linen and cotton.

I wrote a series of posts at Put This On about neckties, which you might find useful. Start from the entry on the bottom and move your way up, as that will be the correct order in which I published each post (and intended for the series to be read).

Oh my, that's almost a book you wrote there!

I go to Goodwill and go through the tie racks, where there are between 60-300 ties depending on which store I go to. I get nice, simple ties from good makers, and in this way I have Brooks Brothers, Talbott (one is a 7-fold), Facconable, Lands End, Zegna, Polo Ralph Lauren and J. Crew (lol) ties and none of them cost more than $5.

... and I read the whole thing. I toured a few men's stores in the core yesterday just as the markets closed and was surprised by two things: just how normal everything looked on the sidewalk, and that I couldn't find a SA in Brooks Brothers or in Andrew's ties who knew what grenadine was.

PS I had one SA explain to me my puzzling experiences the other day touring a couple of men's shops in the Yorkville area: the clientele are mainly drug dealers and Russian mobsters. (His friend runs one... store that is) It made complete sense to me...Maybe that would be an interesting thread in itself (pinned with a knife).
Edited by Costanza - 8/9/11 at 5:38am

costanza,
Last time I checked Harry Rosen was running a tie sale, with some nice Drake's grenadines, especially at the Bloor location.
Not sure if it's still on.