Starting out with ties
Hey,
I've been getting into this whole "preppy streetwear" thing and I want to start wearing ties, except I know absolutely nothing about them. I'm 19 and haven't yet worn ties in any setting. I'm looking for advice, on how much they should cost, the different types, the different sizes and lengths, fit...
If there are any threads like my question already, I couldn't find them, so feel free to redirect me there 🙂
Thanks
22 Replies
i got into ties mostly through trial and error and copying other people's fits lol
there might be a guide in #fashion-guides also worth reading but-
commonly ties are in silk (the traditional pointy tie), or sometimes knit
length and width have some degree of variation but, generally a wider tie (2.75" and up) is better. the length will also be impacted by how you tie it
i get mine through goodwill or flea markets so I'm only paying a couple bucks per tie (ymmv); buying them new will obviously cost more
the biggest things you can do are look for inspiration and practice tying and wearing a tie.
it may be weird at first especially in casual fits but you get used to it
these are also good reads on people workshopping casual fits with ties https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1131638836485697617/1263134330662948874 https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1131638836485697617/1263504056442421248 https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1267907872159957086
Thanks zeo 😄
truly super helpful 😎
Yeah getting them second hand is probably the move tbh
gonna read through those threads
if you're getting them secondhand, you'll want to check for any holes or wear and any loose stitching on the back
most ivy-inspired brands (brooks bros, polo ralph lauren, lands end, j.press) will be good bets but no-name brands can also work; it depends on your taste
Gotcha
Ty
looking it up on vinted I see a bunch even from designer brands for around 10 bucks or less
So I need to look for pictures of the back side? and a loose stitch there is a bad sign?
(because that could break down the whole tie or?)
exactly - it's not difficult to fix if so, it's just annoying to tie (you can also probably justify a lowball this way)
got it
and for colors and patterns and shape I do pretty much whatever I like right? 😂
Seeing the wide variety of ties worn on this server
was thinking of getting a yellow one too to match my onitsuka tigers, how'd you feel about that
With like a pair of wide jeans, a simple shirt and a trucker on top
Or should I refrain from trying to match it to things?
Thrift stores are great for tying on a bunch of different shapes and styles of tie to see what you like. There’s usually a whole mess of ties from the last 30-40 years at stores I go to.
sounds good
I really haven't checked out most thrift stores in my city yet tbh
Yk what, let's do it
tomorrow im gonna go on a thrift tour 😂
i often use ties as a way to pick up the other colors of the fit, like the red in the socks or the gold of the hat/watch.
easy way to do it is to wear the intended fit when shopping and then try on the ties
that makes sense!
Thanks
I have a saved eBay search that might help
This search has wool, cotton, and linen ties, too. The item guide covers this but those are usually more seasonal than silk and tend to have a more matte look.
It's probably worth filtering for length as well. If you're average height you'll mostly want classic ties, but if you find that classic tie lengths are too long or short you can buy short or long ties, respectively.
^^Fixed the link. The original link I shared included materials that had a % sign in it and I guess eBay can't handle that
Feel free to add a material filter for silk, wool, cotton, linen, etc.
ayy thanks 🙂
A few thoughts that probably reflect more of my personal style than anything that you should take as widely accepted. If you wear a tie, wear a jacket/sportcoat. If you wear a jacket, wear a pocket square. You don’t always need a tie when you’re wearing a jacket. Myself, I prefer not wearing a tie with a dress shirt and no jacket, but think it’s a popular look especially in some work settings.
When you’re starting out, I’d be careful not to buy too many ties too quickly. Rather figure out what you like fairly well first. I know I have way too many ties now. Currently I probably wear about a third of what I own at the most.
In keeping with what others said, eBay is a good resource for luxury ties at cheap prices, and second-hand stores can help. If you ever consider spending as much as $100 on a new tie, I’d recommend looking at Sam Hober. You can have bespoke ties made at your desired length, width, shape, fold, tipping, and with whatever material you like from a large selection. To me, the quality of their ties is similar to that of luxury makers’ at $250-300.
You may want to decide what tie width works best for you and stick to that for a majority of your ties. I usually look for about 3.2-inch width, but if I were thinner or wider, I’d feel differently.
Most high-quality ties are silk, but cotton or linen can work in summer and wool in winter.
Get patterns and colors that you like. Learn to use at least two knots: a four-in-hand and a Pratt knot. With those you can pair ties of varied thicknesses with a variety of collar styles.
I’m sure many will disagree with me, and that’s OK!
As someone who loves streetwear prep, my advice is to get a couple square ended knit (or sock) ties in neutral colors like black, navy, grey. They’re very preppy, and also less formal than a regular tie.
Thanks
yeah that's what I'm thinking about too,
Square ties look awesome
Okay so I did the thrifts for the first time
Like 3 different shops, I'll do more another day
Really disappointed:
Too expensive, selling stuff for like barely 50% off original retail while the clothes are absolutely destroyed
+ Smells
+ The bins are only stuff that deserves to be turned into rags, with pilling, holes and stains
Overall much more expensive than ebay/vinted and half of their ties had holes or unstitched back etc
Was looking for bandanas too, I looked up online one they were selling for 15€... 5€ on amazon new
Aw brutal. My experience is in the American Midwest, where we have sprawling thrifts of clothes jammed on racks for a few dollars each. I noticed in Sydney, AU this summer that the city thrifts are small and curated and much higher priced. Sounds like you’re somewhere with a similar situation :/
Yeah
I'll keep looking maybe there are some better shops
The highest rated one in the city was closed yesterday I'll check it out later
Great tie deals in LuxeSwap's weekly auctions on eBay! Seems to have ~100 ties each week, and most go for $20 or less. Charvet for like $30-40, Hermes for >$50. But all of them are like 90% below the original cost. I've pretty much replaced my entire tie inventory in those auctions, though not having enough chance to wear them yet!
received a few ties I got from vinted and they're awesome
I'll do some waywts in then next few days hehe
they're all silk from italian brands and were under 2€ each