Neckties: A Discussion Thread

[Claghorn]

The inspiration for this thread is Gus's pocket square thread; honestly, I'm a little shocked that nobody has started a thread dedicated specifically to the discussion of the necktie, though there have been several focusing on specific aspects of the subject (Soporific Tie Appreciation, Tie Brands Worth Knowing, GNAT, at its inception).

TweedyProf and Sprout2 had been discussing an idea for a thread; I suppose my name has become somewhat synonymous with an unhealthy obsession with ties, and so I was included in the conversation.

After some discussion, we see this thread as having several important goals:

• provide a place to admire neckties. I like threads with lots of pictures, and there are plenty of nice pictures of neckties, so hopefully the pictures we post here are beautiful pictures of beautiful ties with some element worthy of discussion. I've seen thousands of pictures of mouth watering neats (and will happily look at more), but I think a picture of a neat within its context and a comment on the interaction between the necktie and its context...that's what this thread would benefit most from
• provide a place to discuss specific brands (pros and cons) or specific line ups (I know TweedyP has some things to say about what Drakes is offering this fall)
• provide a place to discuss tie construction, fabric, and design

and of course, any organic evolution is welcome provide it is not something deleterious to the discussion of neckwear (like a series of essays on the merits of Nehru collars or pictures of ties you are wanting to sell on B&S).

 

[heldentenor]

Dammit, my magnum opus on Nehru collars and their virtues was nearly complete....

Good idea for a thread. [Ties. Not Nehru collars.]

 

[sprout2]

Here's one I've been looking at lately.


Is this pattern too dense?

Has anyone seen the new Drake's collections? It seems like many are a miss, though some may be a hit. They have a line of "heathered basketweave" ties this fall that I like.





They remind me of something Borrelli has this season, which is described as a hopsack tie that is somewhere in between a grenadine and a knit. It's a bit fluffier than a grenadine, but very urbane. Let me know if you want to proxy one of those. (@TweedyProf I don't think it'd be up your alley, as I already have a few pulls in mine.)

 

[TweedyProf]

I'm feeling that first one as too busy/too dense.

On the Drake's: That's definitely a winner (the basketweave). I think I might have to think about this one (same set, different color)



Not sure this is my "one" tie from the collection, but no burgundy/wine in my life (literally...I don't drink).

Borrelli's are, I think, undervalued in SF. My first nice ties were B's. I still have two which I recently just got slimmed at Tie Crafters (I'll write about that at some point).

Pulls and grenadines...one reason I'm not picking up any more. Grrr....

 

[sprout2]

I can't drink, either. PLEASE elaborate about TieCrafters, as I have a half dozen ties I want to have altered but have been holding off on because of the mixed reviews of their service.

 

[pinkpanther]

I like this thread! Subscribed.

 

[TweedyProf]

Mixed reviews? Shoot.

I'm waiting for Claghorn, though...

 

[Murlsquirl]

I like ties.

 

[TweedyProf]

I should say that the comments about density and snags are a bit ironic for someone who just posted this



Busy knit, easy to snag.

Oh, all right, as I have to write a lecture and Claghorn is chowing down on Tex Mex, here's the review of Tie Crafters.

Two Borrelli 6 folds, beautiful silk, thick, knots beautifully, problem was, they were 3.75 inches wide. I'm a skinny guy, so it was like wearing a bib, albeit a nice Italian bib.

Anyway, let's say, I had nothing to lose (tried to sell them on B&S but no takers). I dropped them off to Tie Crafters as I was in town. Odd place, in a way, down the basement of a building. I was hoping to talk to the owner, but talked to a pleasant guy who does the cleaning. Told him I wanted the ties narrowed to 3.25 inches, but that since they were complicated (multi-fold) I wanted to know if they could do it. Got lots of assurances, and I was late for an appointment, so left them with shipping address. Anyway, two weeks later, they're in my mail. Here's what I can say

1. The ties are exactly 3.25 inches wide at the front blade, as requested.
2. The bar tack is a bit low so I can't open the folds as easily (not a big deal); the folds are still there (so, still a 6 fold)
3. The bar tack thread isn't pink (as is common for Borrelli's). They told me they didn't have pink thread!
4. I don't see any of the original creases so they were able to steam them out.
5. Knots as before.

The loss of the extra material affects the drape, but that's not TC's fault. I'm satisfied enough. What were the bad reviews? @sprout2

 

[EliodA]

My Borrelli ties make the best knots of all the ties I have.

 

[YRR92]

Those hopsack ties remind me of an old wool tie I have, though mine never knots well (but it was a cheap tie when new, and hadn't gotten any more expensive over the last 30 years).



I don't see @sprout2 's tie there as too dense in general, but the scale is going to be the limiting factor in how it gets worn, you know?

 

[Claghorn]

My Borrelli ties also make magnificent knots.

Also, there are some ugly ties in the Drakes line up this year. Of course, there always are. I once joked with @in stitches about someone always slipping in a few designs just to prove Drake's cachet as they manage to sell them. Will elaborate on these suckers later (the ties, not the people that buy them, though some may contend that point as well).

I'd also like a compendium of beautifully tied knots at some point. Just sayin'

 

[TweedyProf]

My Borrelli ties make the best knots of all the ties I have.

I quite like my Cappelli's, but the Borrelli's knot effortlessly (though I only have had experience with three of them).

 

[TweedyProf]

My Borrelli ties also make magnificent knots.

I'd also like a compendium of beautifully tied knots at some point. Just sayin'

Two knots, Cappelli and Borrelli respectively, easy to dimple to give it that substantial 3-dimensionality.

 

[TweedyProf]

I don't see @sprout2 's tie there as too dense in general, but the scale is going to be the limiting factor in how it gets worn, you know?

I don't trust my own judgment about such matters from pics. I just picked up a Drake's that I thought was going to be too dense but IRL, the colors were muted enough that it worked quite well. That's the problem of buying on-line versus holding the tie in one's hands. You never can know.

I don't have a pic right now (it's a brown with blue diamonds that's in my IG).

I guess I just don't like small elements that are densely packed but YMMV. Sprout might call the tie above "boring" rather than "busy" (he likes boring ties).