The bow tie is truly a style icon, so much so that August 28 is celebrated as the National Bow Tie Day. Bow ties were very popular during the olden days, even famous personalities like Charlie Chaplin, Winston Churchill, Paul Reubens, Stan Laurel, and many other people had worn them.
Ideally, bow ties were first introduced during the 17th century. During the Prussian wars, Croatian mercenaries used a piece of cloth to tie around their neck. The idea was quickly adopted by the French upper class and was given the name “Cravat”. Later on Cravat evolved with time into bow ties and neckties.
Today, many men make the mistake of avoiding to try thebest bow ties as they don’t think they can carry them in style, don’t know how to tie, or think they don’t have a perfect occasion to wear one. In reality, any man can pull off a bow tie in style, even you!
So, are you ready to wear a bow tie? Still unconfident? Relax, we are here for you! This blog will teach you how you can style your bow tie like a pro.
So, keep reading.
Know how to tie a bow tie
The first rule of becoming a huge bow tie fan is to learn/ know how to tie it yourself. Troy Patterson, the writer at Slate.com, says, “a guy should not wear a bow tie if he cannot tie it himself. However, if his mommy can help him, he may safely ignore this rule.”
If you want to impress others, this rule is a must: children wear Pre-tied bow ties, men tie their own bow ties. As they say, practice makes a man perfect. So you need to keep practicing to master your bow tying skills.
If you want to learn the art of tying bow ties, you can watch videos about it. There are many on the internet.
The game of contrast
The world is full of contrasting shades, and you will find it everywhere. The same goes with the bow ties too. Ideally, the bolder your bow tie is, the more subtle you want your shirt to be. Similarly, if you choose to wear a bold patterned shirt, go for a solid color bow tie. A bow tie made of chambray fabric is a great option in such instances. Like denim, a chambray bow tie just goes great with any outfit.
One pro tip to keep in mind is that if you are choosing a pattern on a pattern when it comes to a bow tie, it’s perfectly fine, but make sure the two patterns are of different sizes.
When not to wear a bow tie
We are aware that bow ties are one of the best accessories in formal wear. However, it is difficult to say when not to wear a bow tie. But that doesn’t mean you can wear it everywhere you want. There are certain places where you need to avoid wearing bow ties, and one such place is funerals.
Troy Patterson, the writer at Slate.com, says, “A guy should not wear a bow tie if it acts as an accent on his image as, say, an upper-class twit.”
We suggest:
- If a necktie is suitable for the occasion, a bow tie will be suitable too.
- If a necktie is inappropriate, then a bow tie will be too, but if it’s a no tie occasion, try including bow ties.
When to wear a bow tie
Knowing when to wear a bow tie completely depends on you. Want to wear it at formal events? Yes, you can. At weddings? Absolutely, you will rock! What about the office? Ready to get promoted. Wear it on date night and make your first impressions out of this world.
Fabrics of bow tie
Believe us, my friend, a lot of casual bow ties are available in the market. For instance, Chambrays, Seersuckers, Gingham, or Madras bow ties are almost perfect for any occasion. They are appropriate during casual summer months. That being said, you can wear anything to match up with the overall look you are going with. Traditionally, you can opt for silk or wool as it works for more formal events.
Shapes of the bow tie
Suppose you are confident enough to tie your own bow tie and wear it almost anywhere except funerals; nothing matters, even the shapes! Many newbies get worried about the shape of their bow tie.
Fortunately, it’s not true. The shape of your bow tie does not affect the way you tie it. The shape of your bow tie depends on your personal preference. Generally, there are 5 types of bow tie shapes:
- The classic bow tie
- The butterfly bow tie
- The diamond tip bow tie
- The straight bow tie and
- The single-end bow tie
Cut the first turf by wearing a bow tie
Today, more and more men are comfortable wearing bow ties than before. This is what makes it hard to stand apart by simply wearing a bow tie. One way of doing so is by wearing a bow tie that is an instant conversation starter.
Wearing wooden bow ties is surely a fire thing to break the ice. As the wooden bows are crafted by hand and are all one-of-a-kind pieces, they are absolutely spectacular.
The bottom line
Next time you are going to buy the best bow ties, always keep the above points in mind and choose accordingly. Although, if you are looking for the best bow ties for yourself or as a gifting option, you can head to Ties.com and check out their collection. Apart from bow ties, they even sell neckties, skinny ties, bow ties, belts, cufflinks, tie clips, tie bars, socks, shirts, wallets, and more.
However, before selecting any bow tie, there are certain things in mind that you need to consider:
- Get shiny bow ties as they go hand in hand with formal occasions like parties. On the other hand, matte bow ties pair perfectly with casual ones.
- You can wear a bow tie with a sweater as long as the sweater is over a collared shirt.
- It’s always a no to pair boldly colored bow ties with boldly colored shirts.
