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How To Wear Tie Bars/Clips with Skinny Ties?

Augusto86

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Lower down? At an angle? Simply a shorter piece of metal? I've been looking for a way to wear my clip (silver, ~2 inches) with a tie that's 2.5" at the very widest.
 

itsstillmatt

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Thom Browne wrote some guide on this that was posted somewhere. I think it might have been on FNB.

The general rule is... don't.
 

Manton

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Originally Posted by iammatt
The general rule is... don't.

I thought you liked the early '60s aesthetic?

I would wear it down low, below the mid point of the tie, and straight across.

That's not how I typicall wear mine, but then I don't wear narrow ties, except for knits, and I have been skipping the clasp with those.
 

Augusto86

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I found the article - thanks for the heads-up, Manton. Not the kind of thing I should wear to a job interview, right? Too anachronistic for today's conservative business dress...
 

JayJay

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I think, IIRC, Thom Browne suggests wearing it horizontally midway between the tie knot and the belt.

I sort of like the look although I'm generally opposed to jewelry other than a wedding ring.
 

embowafa

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Originally Posted by Manton

That's not how I typicall wear mine, but then I don't wear narrow ties, except for knits, and I have been skipping the clasp with those.


Any particular reason/rule for that?

I recently wore a thin silver tie bar at an angle with a navy blue knit and got lots of compliments.
 

Manton

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Originally Posted by embowafa
Any particular reason/rule for that?

Not really, just that I wear them so casually that it seems better to let them flop around if they want to.
 

Enfo

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I just checked Bergdorfs yesterday and they had 2 small Thom Browne ones. One was like .75" long and the other was about 1.5"... perfect for slim ties.
 

appolyon

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I have a vintage Jensen that is 1.5" ... great for skinnier ties.
 

itsstillmatt

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Originally Posted by Manton
I thought you liked the early '60s aesthetic?

I would wear it down low, below the mid point of the tie, and straight across.

That's not how I typicall wear mine, but then I don't wear narrow ties, except for knits, and I have been skipping the clasp with those.

I don't hate tie clips in general, but a skinny tie is already a nod to that era. Why go any further and look like you are dressing up for Mad Men?
 

gsugsu

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Buy a vintage tie clip. Then they will be proportional to the width of the tie.
 

Manton

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Originally Posted by iammatt
Why go any further and look like you are dressing up for Mad Men?

Authenticity?

I do think it completes the look. On a wider tie, I hate a straight across clip. On a skinny tie, it seems "right."
 

Modernist

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I think a tie clip looks great with a slim/ skinny tie.

I believe ebay is a great source. Just search for vintage tie clip or bar. Swank seemed to be a popular maker, and there are a lot floating around the 'bay.

In fact I scored a sterling one, about an 1" and 1/4 wide last weekSince I wear a bit wider ties (3" - too skinny doesn't look good on me since I'm 6ft2") and eventually gave it to a friend.
 

Piobaire

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Second that ebay is good for tie clips/bars. I got a nice 18k gold one that I really enjoy.

For placement: I hit mine right at the xiphoid process, the little nub at the bottom of your sternum.
 

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