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Tie clips falling off

Kento

New in Town
Messages
17
Location
Germany
I’m thinking of getting a tie clip with a security chain that hooks to a shirt button. The security chain sounds good because I wouldn’t worry about losing the clip. On the other hand, this also makes me wonder how much of a problem this is.

I mean, do slip-on tie clips have a tendency to constantly fall off? The chain is great so the clip doesn’t land on the floor if it comes loose, but if I find myself having to re-clip my tie all the time all the time because it and the clip are swinging around in different directions that wouldn’t be so cool. Is it better just to stick with clips that have a spring loaded clamp?
 

LoveMyHats2

I’ll Lock Up.
Messages
5,196
Location
Michigan
I love tie clips or clasps as some denote them to be....however I normally never will wear them for the exact reason you describe. There are all vintage, however the ones that are actually a clip with a hard spring action that should keep it in place, never does. So I now simply use tie tacks and sit and admire how nice my tie clips and clasp look. Sadly they just are not functional enough for me. I would feel very uptight to lose one while wearing as they are not replaceable and are gold.

It would be nice to have some way to at least "tether" the darn things to a shirt button hole, like how a fedora has a button/wind trolley on it!
 

Dinerman

Super Moderator
Bartender
Messages
10,562
Location
Bozeman, MT
I'm not sure I know which kind of tie clip you're talking about- with a chain attached to the shirt?

I can say I've never had a single problem of a tie clip slipping or falling off- I wouldn't worry so much if I were you.
 

LoveMyHats2

I’ll Lock Up.
Messages
5,196
Location
Michigan
I cannot help but to worry about losing something valuable and so one of a kind, but not sure why, I have had my most valued tie clip fall off between the time period I am placing it on the tie and then merely finish dressing putting on my suit/sport coat. That is a bother for me as it matches the cufflinks as they were a set. The spring on that clip is very strong but the clip slides off fairly soon and then will drop off. Very frustrating.
 

carldelo

One Too Many
Messages
1,568
Location
Astoria, NYC
I don't think the chain to shirt button attachment is to keep from loosing the tie bar, rather it is to keep your tie from swinging around. It keeps the tie centered and inside your jacket. A tie bar is heavy, and without the chain, may cause the tie to continually fall outside of your jacket and wave around in the breeze.

PS I may be missing something with a regular tie bar - I thought it was meant only to attach the two tails of the tie together, and not meant to be connected to the shirt as well. Maybe this is incorrect - I don't wear tie bars because I dislike the added weight.
 
Last edited:

Dinerman

Super Moderator
Bartender
Messages
10,562
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Bozeman, MT
No, tie bars are meant to be clipped to both ends of the tie, and to the shirt- to keep the tie in place. They really don't fall off unless you really, really try, or unless you have a bad one to begin with (damaged in some way- worn out spring/bent metal, etc .)
 

Gin&Tonics

Practically Family
Messages
899
Location
The outer frontier
I almost always wear a tie clip, the only exception being when I wear some other tie accoutrement (such as a tack or pin) or sometimes when I wear a vest (I often wear a tie clip even with a vest) and I have never, ever had one fall off. I don't know what you'd be doing with your tie clip on to make it fall off! Maybe James Bond might lose one running from the bad guys, but other than that they're pretty solid unless they're defective. You're supposed to clip both ends of the tie and the shirt placket to keep it in place. Very secure.

Also, if you wear a tie clip, PLEASE pay attention to proper placement. It makes me cringe when I see gents with their tie clips an inch from their waist band or an inch down from their tie knot. It should be placed somewhere between the 2nd and 3rd button on your shirt, somewhere in the upper third of your chest (middle of your sternum-ish).
 

LoveMyHats2

I’ll Lock Up.
Messages
5,196
Location
Michigan
No, tie bars are meant to be clipped to both ends of the tie, and to the shirt- to keep the tie in place. They really don't fall off unless you really, really try, or unless you have a bad one to begin with (damaged in some way- worn out spring/bent metal, etc .)

I will post a picture later of the tie clasp I make mention of, that just falls off when it feels like it! Really, the spring and what I call "alligator teeth" are in as new condition, and actually the spring feels strong enough if I open the clip all the way up and let it go, flesh would be chopped off! lol! This clip does have a lot of weight to it, inside the clip itself aside from being made of gold, has a resin large bubble that you can see through, and inside of the resin is chunks of gold nuggets, and a miniature gold shovel. The cuff links that match are made the same way, one has a miner's pick axe and the other has a pan for mining gold, and they also have chunks of gold nuggets suspended in the resin. The background is black, and I think these are from the Black Hills area of the Dakota's, and are from the mid 1950's. They had been in a presentation sales box that my late uncle had for far too many years, until I kidnapped them!
 

LoveMyHats2

I’ll Lock Up.
Messages
5,196
Location
Michigan
I almost always wear a tie clip, the only exception being when I wear some other tie accoutrement (such as a tack or pin) or sometimes when I wear a vest (I often wear a tie clip even with a vest) and I have never, ever had one fall off. I don't know what you'd be doing with your tie clip on to make it fall off! Maybe James Bond might lose one running from the bad guys, but other than that they're pretty solid unless they're defective. You're supposed to clip both ends of the tie and the shirt placket to keep it in place. Very secure.

Also, if you wear a tie clip, PLEASE pay attention to proper placement. It makes me cringe when I see gents with their tie clips an inch from their waist band or an inch down from their tie knot. It should be placed somewhere between the 2nd and 3rd button on your shirt, somewhere in the upper third of your chest (middle of your sternum-ish).
I totally agree with what you say about that, it seems many people forget small details about what looks "tidy" compared to what is "sloppy"....what I do not understand is how a few can dress up with all the right items of apparel, yet look like they just finished climbing out the window of a $2.00 bordello? Ties all half off the one side, shirt not tucked all the way in, tie tac on their belly button area, shoes not laced, hair looking like they just faced off with Godzilla...but wearing a really nice proper suit! lol! Call ME a Cab please! lol!
 

Kento

New in Town
Messages
17
Location
Germany
I will post a picture later of the tie clasp I make mention of, that just falls off when it feels like it! Really, the spring and what I call "alligator teeth" are in as new condition, and actually the spring feels strong enough if I open the clip all the way up and let it go, flesh would be chopped off! lol!

Yikes!
 

John Galt

Vendor
Messages
2,080
Location
Chico
I'm not sure I know which kind of tie clip you're talking about- with a chain attached to the shirt?

I can say I've never had a single problem of a tie clip slipping or falling off- I wouldn't worry so much if I were you.

Just once for me, with a tie bar, but I have lost a couple of the button chain style.

I had this heavy vintage sterling tie clip fall off in a pet store once, but got really lucky and found it when I went back. I pressed the clip end together a little tighter and no troubles since.

Incidentally if you don't yet have a tie case like this, I highly recommend one.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk 21372130639.248679.jpg

ImageUploadedByTapatalk 21372130573.385630.jpg
 

Butch_Coolidge

Familiar Face
Messages
85
I've never attached one to my tie and shirt, just the tie. I've also never lost one, and mine is spring loaded.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

carldelo

One Too Many
Messages
1,568
Location
Astoria, NYC
I'm not really a fan of man-jewelry, be it tie clips, cuff links, rings, etc. I agree that it's always good to strive for a fashionable yet sophisticated look - but it certainly can be achieved without a tie clip:

northhed.jpg
 

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