Styleforum › Forums › Men's Style › Classic Menswear › Ties for business casual environment? (e.g. wool ties, silk knit ties, etc.)
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Ties for business casual environment? (e.g. wool ties, silk knit ties, etc.)

post #1 of 11
11/17/12 at 3:54pm
Thread Starter 
I face the conundrum that I'm sure many other people on this forum do as well, traditional silk ties which look great with suits are just too much for a business casual environment - in my experience it just draws a lot of weird/perplexed reactions because people think I'm either trying to impress someone or interviewing for another job. I'm not trying to impress anyone, but I'm not trying to alienate people either.

Lately I'm looking more at ties which are elegant, but casual. I have a few silk knit ties which I've recently become a fan of. I'm also looking for a few good wool ties with a coarse texture - any suggestions?

I recently saw these on an SF'ers blog from a store called Schoffa - but sadly they don't have them for sale on their website. The blue one in particular had me jumping up and down.

Reply
Reply

Featured Stories on Styleforum

Belvest at Pitti Uomo 83
Styleforum Watch Appreciation Thread: show, tell, debate.
The official thrift/discount store bragging thread
post #2 of 11
11/17/12 at 7:22pm

Here are a few wool options that are quite casual.

 

 

400 400 400

 

The raw silk ties by Drake's are a wonderful alternative to formal business ties as well. A few examples... 

 

 

400 400 400 400 400 400

Reply
Reply
post #3 of 11
11/18/12 at 2:57am
Nothing really to contribute other than to say I'm in the same boat with my tie collection. So yeah...moral support (and I am liking pointed silk knits, grenadines, wool, and raw silk for this).
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 11
11/18/12 at 3:25am

Not a fan of knit ties although I have seen some people pull them off really well. On the other hand I love wool ties. They are my go to item when I am dressing casually. They are also popular enough to be widely available. Knit ties aren't difficult to find in store fronts but they are hard to find in any great variety. Unless you look online of course.

Reply
Reply
post #5 of 11
11/18/12 at 4:24am

I like knit ties a lot, but they work best with fairly "preppy" looks - button-down collar shirts, blazers and chinos.

 

Am coming to like wool ties as well.

Reply
Reply
post #6 of 11
11/18/12 at 4:38am

I have a couple of knit ties but basically have stopped wearing them.  Why would I wear those when I can wear more interesting things like the following:

 

Drake's wool-cashmere blend

 

400

 

Luciano Barbera wool-silk blend (actual colors play a lot darker than this)

 

400

 

 

Atkinsons poplin wool-silk blend

 

400

 

 

At other times of year:

 

Brooks Brothers linen

 

400

 

Cocktail collection lightweight silk

 

400

 

 

There are a *lot* of tie designs out there.  It is not too difficult to find fabrics/patterns/colors that work in any setting.

 

p.s., please don't tell the guys on styleforum that I'm willing to wear Cocktail Collection ties!

Reply
Reply
post #7 of 11
11/18/12 at 8:54am
Wool or cotton is the way to go - particularly if the jacket is rough-textured like a tweed.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 11
11/18/12 at 10:55am

As a fellow Canadian, let me suggest that you're looking for wool and/or cashmere ties. Isaia makes an amazing 7-fold wool tie. (http://www.ebay.com/itm/360508065294?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1431.l2649)

 

700

 

Or, in cashmere: (http://www.ebay.com/itm/350638955821?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1431.l2648)

 

700

Reply
Reply
post #9 of 11
11/18/12 at 10:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tonylamer View Post

As a fellow Canadian, let me suggest that you're looking for wool and/or cashmere ties. Isaia makes an amazing 7-fold wool tie. (http://www.ebay.com/itm/360508065294?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1431.l2649)



Or, in cashmere: (http://www.ebay.com/itm/350638955821?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1431.l2648)


I just figured it Out! Tony is Spoo's other identity, cross promoting his ebay sales!
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 11
11/18/12 at 11:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stewie View Post


I just figured it Out! Tony is Spoo's other identity, cross promoting his ebay sales!

 

No, not quite Spoo. (He out-Tom-Fords me by a 100:1 ratio.) But I had been bidding on those ties 'til I realized that going up against his C-suite clientele wouldn't work for me. I did, however, buy these yesterday to wear to work in the frozen outposts of Ontario: (from the top: Isaia wool, Prada wool, Brioni cashmere).

 

700

Reply
Reply
post #11 of 11
11/20/12 at 11:00am
Suffice it to say that there probably aren't even surveys on the subject, but any average person who thinks a silk tie looks too dressy probably would also think a wool tie looks too dressy. A skinny tie might prompt a better reaction, but it's not going to be blindly recommended here.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Classic Menswear

Featured Stories on Styleforum

Belvest at Pitti Uomo 83
Styleforum Watch Appreciation Thread: show, tell, debate.
The official thrift/discount store bragging thread
Styleforum › Forums › Men's Style › Classic Menswear › Ties for business casual environment? (e.g. wool ties, silk knit ties, etc.)