How do you wear a necktie as a belt?

[Will]

For what it's worth, Astaire is also pictured frequently wearing button down collar shirts with a tie pin AND a tie bar -- talk about overdone. Give me Cary Grant or Alphe Menjou any day.

Will

 

[Tom]

There are better ways to attract attention. If you don't want to wear 'em around your neck, I say leave them in your closet. Remember "Chachi" from happy days? The tie around the waist is about as appealing as the bandana around the thigh.

-Tom

 

[AlanC]

In addition they had some spiffy new pocket squares, very colorful with stripes, offered at $22US.

Hmmm, that's worth stopping by to see. Were they solid or patterned? Silk, I assume.

 

[faustian bargain]

no solids. they were striped, mostly 3 colors if i remember correctly. there were about 8-10 different patterns. lots of bright green, blue, some orange, some yellow, i think i saw a pinkish one...no muted colors, blacks/greys, no pastels. the one i had my eye on was a medium blue with white wide stripes and (i think) orange pinstripes. it would look great with both my navy and my chocolate brown blazers. i believe they are silk. they are at least silk-y. i didn't look at the tag. /andrew

 

[Phil]

One of my most cherished photos is of my grandfather, surfcasting out into the water on Block Island, in the 1950's. Hes shirtless, wearing a pair of army chinos (that he got courtesy of WWII), and a tie threaded through the pants loops as a belt. Hes got it knoted and hanging on the left side of his pants. And I have to say, he looked damn fine, and I am not saying that because hes my granddad. Just such a classic photo, so all-american. Some people can pull it off, some cant. I think the key is not having it look like an affectation. If you are all dressed up, and then decide to use a tie as a belt, it might not work. If you are hanging out, and it looks like you just grabbed a tie and used it as a belt, I think it comes across as total nonchalance, stylish but not giving a damn at the same time.

 

[sleeper]

I think this is only really appropriate for a gentleman if you are engaged in some form of sporting activity (e.g. the grandfather who was fishing). It looks just about OK with your white flannels while playing cricket, tennis, or croquet. Of course, it is advertising the fact that your trousers are too large, or that you can't afford a belt.

It may look good on women, but that doesn't mean that we men should try it. Last time I wore a Chanel two-piece in public, I was laughed out of my club.

 

[AlanC]

One of my most cherished photos is of my grandfather, surfcasting out into the water on Block Island, in the 1950's.  Hes shirtless, wearing a pair of army chinos (that he got courtesy of WWII), and a tie threaded through the pants loops as a belt.  Hes got it knoted and hanging on the left side of his pants.  And I have to say, he looked damn fine, and I am not saying that because hes my granddad.  Just such a classic photo, so all-american.

Please, scan it and post. I think we'd love to see it.

 

[Phil]

i would love to, but you are talking to someone who can barely turn on a computer. i dont have a scanner. can i take it to a kinkos and scan it?

 

[discostu004]

two words:
you don't

 

[faustian bargain]

i would love to, but you are talking to someone who can barely turn on a computer. Â i dont have a scanner. Â can i take it to a kinkos and scan it?

yes, i believe kinko's will do that for you. they'll probably put it on a cd. --- boy, we are an opinionated bunch here aren't we? how about some pictures to support our points of view? either gentlemen looking good with a tie belt, or gentlemen looking ridiculous with one. i have no opinion on the matter yet, so i don't have to post anything.

/andrew

 

[marc237]

Originally Posted by Phil,02 Aug. 2004, 06:48

either gentlemen looking good with a tie belt, or gentlemen looking ridiculous with one.
Or, gentlemen with a belt-tie. A novel approach for when the buckle falls off.

 

[sirgarnetwolseley]

I know someone who wears skinny leather ties and looks good in them. The best I can manage is a knit-wool tie. Belt-ties are another matter though, I'm not sure they'd make an elegant knot.

 

[The Devil's Hands]

Arise, Old Thread...

A tie knot wouldn't be effective because it doesn't stand up to tension.

In karate, we mainly used a square knot for our belts, but they went around twice. I've just never seen a tie-belt in real life. If someone could post an example, even if it is Carson Kressley...

 

[gorgekko]

I always associated the "tie as belt" look with male prepsters. First mention of it I ever heard was in A Separate Peace by John Knowles. Phineas shows up to the headmaster's home for tea wearing the school tie as a belt. The headmaster was flustered but his wife thought it perfectly charming.

At any rate, this thread is the first time I've ever heard the look referred to as feminine.

I always wanted to try it myself but Eastern Europeans can rarely pass themselves off as entitled Northeastern preps

 

[Leaveitothexperts]

Originally Posted by Kai

In my mind, the question isn't "how" but rather "why?"

Kai

What he said. WHY???