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For many
decades, the Men's Dress Furnishings Association was a resource
for men's dress shirts and ties for manufacturers, retailers and
consumers. Today, the MDFA lives on in spirit through
ShirtsAndTies.org
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 How
To Buy Men's Ties
Shopping For A Tie Is Easy, One Size
Fits All
Well, almost.
Regular four-in-hand ties run the gamut in length from 55” to 58”.
Big and tall ties are longer.
Once upon a time you could only get ties in a department store or
men’s wear shop. Today you can buy them on the internet as well as
from street vendors, gift shops and dry cleaners, whoever has enough
room to place a tie rack.
We would not recommend street vendors. Testing done by the Neckwear
Association of America some years ago revealed that most of the silk
ties purchased from vendors contained no silk. To make sure you get
what you pay for, your best bet is to deal with reputable internet
or brick and mortar merchants.
It is always good to check out the length of the tie. If you are on
the tall side of regular, one of the shorter lengths may not work
for you. Many internet merchants provide this information. In a
better specialty shop, ask the salesman. In a department store, you
are usually on your own. Short of carrying a tape measure, you will
just have to eyeball it.
Studies have shown that ties are largely impulse purchases. Someone
sees a tie they must have or that Uncle Vinnie would love. Slow
down. Think about the colors in the tie. Is the principle color
brown, while most of your suits and sport coats are predominantly
blue? If Uncle Vinnie is a banker who favors pin stripes, is he
going to wear that Spiderman tie that you fell in love with?
While neckties have a low return rate, wardrobe incompatibility, or
simply not liking the tie, are the principle reasons for retail
returns.
Once you have established that the color and style of the tie work
with your wardrobe, consider whether the pattern coordinates with
your dress shirt collection. We recommend that you spend some time
playing our Coordination Game. It is fun and soon you will be mixing
patterns like a pro.
If you are in a situation where you can examine the tie, look for
signs of quality construction as outlined in All About Men’s Ties.
Check for loose threads and other anomalies. The tie should have a
soft, but substantial feel. It should not feel stiff and skimpy.
Give it a gentle tug. It should have bounce and elasticity.
Examine the fabric. Most ties are patterned in one of two ways: the
pattern is woven in using yarns of many colors; the pattern is
printed on the surface via the silk screen method. The difference is
apparent on examination: a woven tie pattern has depth and
dimension; a print resembles a two dimensional picture. A woven
should have a nice, substantial hand indicating a heavier weight
silk has been used. A print should feel lighter. We all know what a
shoddy print in a book looks like. The same is true in assessing a
printed necktie. The colors should be crisp, clear and in sharp
register.
Turn the tie over. Most quality ties today are fully lined. This
means that a satin silk lining runs the entire length of the inside
of the tie. Others are only partially lined with satin tipping at
the wide and narrow ends.
If all you can see on the reverse side is folds of the outer fabric
you are looking at a Seven Fold tie. This is the most expensive and
lavish form of necktie construction. In most ties interlinings
provide the heft and feel of the tie. A Seven Fold tie derives its
bulk from folding the outer fabric seven times to create the tie.
Since outer silk fabrics are more expensive than interlinings this
increase the cost of manufacture substantially.
It is debatable, however, if this makes a significantly practical
difference in the appearance and performance of the necktie.
Where To Shop For Neckties
Naturally,
you can find neckties anywhere… you
can find ties in any department store or boutique, but if you
are looking for men's ties then
I would seriously recommend visiting BoardroomTies
for
neckties. Boardroom is one of the few retailers online
that actually purchases authentic silk
ties directly from the manufacturers. In addition to their
wonderful selection, you can generally find most brands of
ties discounted by as much as 40% or more!
Enjoy your new purchase. There is no feeling like going out into the
world wearing a new tie you love.
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