An essential part of every man’s wardrobe is a few key pieces of clothing. A nice pair of jeans, a button-down shirt, and a good suit are all essentials. But what about neckties? While not quite as essential as the other items on this list, neckties can still be a great addition to any outfit. Here are nine neckties that every man should own.
Solid neckties
If a man is just starting out, this tie should be his first. While dark blue is the most versatile and safest, any deep, rich-colored tie is acceptable. For some skin tones, purples, burgundies, and grey men’s ties work well.
Polka Dot Neckties
If you think about dress clothes, “polka dots” is not likely the first thing that comes to your mind. The beauty of a dotted tie is that it doesn’t show up in other menswear. You can get a tie with a muted background and fine, well-placed dots that will stand up to a suit or collared shirt.
Foulard Neckties
Do not let the fancy French name scare you. Foulard ties are ties that have a repeating pattern in a gridded array. These are often referred to as “wallpaper ties”, especially when the figure has an elegant, lobed shape with many curlicues that are reminiscent of wallpapers of the late 19th or early 20th centuries.
Club and Sport Neckties
These are basically foulard ties that have a particular theme. These ties are usually very wide so that only a few (or none) of the designs can be seen at once.
This style was first developed in gentleman’s clubs back when it meant private dining and gatherings rather than a strip joint.
Self-tie Bow Ties
Self-tie bow ties are available in either one or two pieces and can be tied into a bow. Two-piece bow ties are designed to fit your collar size. One-piece bow ties can be clipped together at the back with a small hook and eye. You can adjust your neck size using a slide buckle.
Regimental Neckties
These neckties look almost exactly like school neckties to the untutored eye. The diagonal stripes run from right to left and British military personnel will be able to recognize the colors of different regimental units.
For general-purpose business wear, ties that look similar to regimental ties are acceptable.
Plaid or Tartan Neckties
This pattern is recognizable by its overlaid stripes in different colors.
These are the widths. The tartan is often offset at an angle for neckties so that the pattern forms diamonds rather than squares when viewed from the front. They can add some color to an outfit that is otherwise made of solid colors.
Clip-on Bow Ties
Clip-on bow ties are by far the most practical. It is easy to put on and take off and can be stored in your pocket when you are not using it. A tie clip, also a tie bar, or tie clasp, is a clothing accessory used to attach a tie to the shirt front. This prevents it from swinging and ensures that the tie is straight.
Knit Ties
Knit ties are in and out of fashion at different points. It’s worth keeping a few.
These ties are bulkier and heavier than woven ones. These ties have visible bumps in the fabric and sometimes visible gaps.