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4" ties too wide currently?

bmwe30nut

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I have another thread below ( Still can use advice there if you want to pop in. ), but pulled out a couple of my better ties from the tote of ties (they tend to accumulate over the years), and almost all of them are regular length x 4" wide at the widest part. Assuming I'm measuring the lapels on the suits I have correctly, all my suits are around 3 1/4" lapel width. (I'm 5' 9" and take a 52R jacket currently...i.e..I'm fat). Not sure if I should get rid of a lot of my older 4" wide ties, wear them, or keep a few of the best colors/patterns/quality in case wider ties come back.

Thanks!
 
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rjc149

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4' wide ties are like 1940's vintage, which had a resurgence in the 70's and 80's after the skinny tie 60's. I don't think they're coming back, if ties period ever come back. Which I pray they don't.
 

breakaway01

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a few thoughts
- maybe your jacket lapels should be wider (though getting new jackets/suits is not trivial, but think about this for future purchases)
- 4" is wide for sure but at least somewhat proportional to your build. Also, if you button your jackets the width of the tie is not going to be as noticeable
- you can have your favorite ties narrowed by Tiecrafters. 3.5" would be a pretty safe and classic width.
 

bmwe30nut

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4' wide ties are like 1940's vintage, which had a resurgence in the 70's and 80's after the skinny tie 60's. I don't think they're coming back, if ties period ever come back. Which I pray they don't.

I'm pretty sure these would have been purchased in 99 to 2004 (when I had to wear a tie)...doesn't mean they were in style then, just what I found for purchase (not with a suit...'uniform of the day' was Short Sleeves, Dockers style pants, Tie...hate short sleeve shirts but they were a necessity).
 

bmwe30nut

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a few thoughts
- maybe your jacket lapels should be wider (though getting new jackets/suits is not trivial, but think about this for future purchases)
- 4" is wide for sure but at least somewhat proportional to your build. Also, if you button your jackets the width of the tie is not going to be as noticeable
- you can have your favorite ties narrowed by Tiecrafters. 3.5" would be a pretty safe and classic width.
The ties I have are not worth $37 for the narrowing, better to just get new ties (or save a few of the nicer ones in case I get a suit with a wider lapel).
 

breakaway01

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The ties I have are not worth $37 for the narrowing, better to just get new ties (or save a few of the nicer ones in case I get a suit with a wider lapel).
You asked for advice, I provided options. If the ties are not worth the price of narrowing that’s of course your own decision to make. Good luck with your other thread.
 

bmwe30nut

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You asked for advice, I provided options. If the ties are not worth the price of narrowing that’s of course your own decision to make. Good luck with your other thread.
Please don't take it the wrong way. I do appreciate options. Most of (all of?) those ties cost way less than that even in 2025 $$ vs 2000 $$. If I found one or two I really, really liked, I'd consider having them narrowed, but for what I have, makes much better financial sense to just get new ones.
 

breakaway01

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Please don't take it the wrong way. I do appreciate options. Most of (all of?) those ties cost way less than that even in 2025 $$ vs 2000 $$. If I found one or two I really, really liked, I'd consider having them narrowed, but for what I have, makes much better financial sense to just get new ones.
Ok got it, no offense taken. eBay is an excellent place to find ties. The problem with buying new ties nowadays is that so many are too narrow (3” or narrower).
 

bmwe30nut

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Ok got it, no offense taken. eBay is an excellent place to find ties. The problem with buying new ties nowadays is that so many are too narrow (3” or narrower).
Definitely looking on Ebay. A few from there will be good for me for now. I'll definitely keep in mind the 'narrow' tie may be what I'm looking at, and if they don't give measurements, I'll skip it or ask for them.
 

breakaway01

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Definitely looking on Ebay. A few from there will be good for me for now. I'll definitely keep in mind the 'narrow' tie may be what I'm looking at, and if they don't give measurements, I'll skip it or ask for them.
You should be looking at 3.25-3.5 inch generally, in my opinion
 

bmwe30nut

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You should be looking at 3.25-3.5 inch generally, in my opinion
Thank you. I am looking at that (roughly the same size as the Lapels). A LOT of them aren't listing the width so I have to ask...and it's normally the 3 3/4" or 4" width once they reply.
 

bmwe30nut

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Asked my daughter to pull down the tote of ties and measure a few. (I'm working out of the area and only home every other weekend.). Several are 3 3/4" Presumably still to wide on those also?
 

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