Tie length

[skyvue]

Do you guys ever find yourselves trying to stretch some extra inches out of those short vintage ties by using a simpler knot and/or shortchanging the short end of the tie?

Or do you proudly fly your flag at the intended short length?

I'll admit that I've tended toward the former in the past, but I'm thinking it's time I toughened up and realized that real men do indeed wear short ties.

 

[Dinerman]

I like my ties when they don't reach the bottom of my ribs.

 

[LindyTap]

You could always just wear higher-waisted pants, that way, they tie looks to be the correct length since it reaches the top of the pants.

 

[David Conwill]

You could always just wear higher-waisted pants, that way, they tie looks to be the correct length since it reaches the top of the pants.

Or, always wear sweaters or vests. I love the high-waisted look, but my wife would never let me do it.

-Dave

 

[Benny Holiday]

I always wear my ties short with high-waisted trousers. It just looks natural to me. (Have I been doing vintage too long? lol )

 

[Edward]

I must be an old soul when it comes to ties. I hate how modern ties are so damn long - even with a lower modern waistline in the trousers I find myself putting a few extra loops round on a four in hand knot in order to keep the tie up. I like a tie that stops about 2" from the waistband.... nothing worse, in my sartorial opinion, than a tie hanging down way past the belt.... euw.

 

[Staredge]

22" neck. Don't usually have a problem with too much tie. lol

I usually end up shortening the tail, and stuffing it in my shirt between the top two buttons.

Will

 

[AdmiralTofu]

Or, always wear sweaters or vests. I love the high-waisted look, but my wife would never let me do it.

-Dave

Oh, be a man already!

Jokes aside, if you like it, go for it. I took a few jokes at work for going higher-waisted about a year ago, but sooner than you think, people realize that it's just part of your look and accept it -- and even start to admit that it looks good on you. It's like with hats, or when one first starts dressing up when not "required" to.

Then again, your wife might just be completely unreasonable... I don't know her. lol

-Tofu

 

[Staredge]

Then again, your wife might just be completely unreasonable... I don't know her. lol

-Tofu

Thought that was part of the wife job description.

Will

 

[skyvue]

nothing worse, in my sartorial opinion, than a tie hanging down way past the belt

I agree, Edward, but I'm not talking about two inches below the belt or even two inches above it, I'm talking about six inches above the belt.

My 26-year-old wife told me that she loves really short ties. I'm not entirely sure where she's even seen them, except in the old movies I so often drag her to (actually, she goes willingly most of the time).

 

[Spatterdash]

I agree that although tie length is preferably "the tip hits the top of the slacks", if you have some shorter vintage ties and the wife likes 'em, get jaunty and wear them.
I wear short ties every now and then, and I apply the same rule to them as I do my bowties; never wear without a vest, sweater, or a double-breasted jacket.
But if the wife like that short tie look, show it off and have fun.

 

[LindyTap]

I must be an old soul when it comes to ties. I hate how modern ties are so damn long - even with a lower modern waistline in the trousers I find myself putting a few extra loops round on a four in hand knot in order to keep the tie up. I like a tie that stops about 2" from the waistband.... nothing worse, in my sartorial opinion, than a tie hanging down way past the belt.... euw.

I don't know, I remember the teacher who taught me to Lindy Hop, he was a black man and would always wear the coolest looking zoot suits to swing dances he went to. He would intentionally buy extra long ties to wear them with, and I thought they looked really cool that way, hanging down way below his high-waisted pants' belt. But outside of that zoot-suit-aesthetic, I think too short is better than too long.

 

[The Wingnut]

No more than 2" between the top of the pants and the tip of the tie is my rule, and never the twain shall meet. Usually I'll just eyeball it. I don't pull out a ruler or any nonsense of that sort, usually my goal is just to get the ends even...if the tie rides higher than normal, no big deal, I don't usually wear a tie without a jacket anyway, and rarely wear my jacket open.

I'm progressively ridding myself of more '40s and early '50s ties and going strictly '30s. Since I'm 5'7", take a 36 jacket and weigh 140, they fit perfectly. Not only that, but '30s vintage ties seem to be the sleeper of the men's vintage world. I bought one this past weekend for one measly dollar. It still had a silver foil tag proclaiming its 'Drapeweave' construction. I can buy them all day long at $10, even in vintage clothing stores.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I'm progressively ridding myself of more '40s and early '50s ties and going strictly '30s. Since I'm 5'7", take a 36 jacket and weigh 140, they fit perfectly. Not only that, but '30s vintage ties seem to be the sleeper of the men's vintage world. I bought one this past weekend for one measly dollar. It still had a silver foil tag proclaiming its 'Drapeweave' construction. I can buy them all day long at $10, even in vintage clothing stores.

Take 2.5" off the height, 2" off the jacket, and 20 lbs off the weight, and The Wingnut describes me to a tee. Look out for the last of my 40s ties for sale in classifieds soon . . .

Goodwill stores are absolutely jam packed with 1930s ties. I think no-one (eBay "vintage dealers" - read "hobbyists") really knows what they are so they leave them behind when they hoover up all the 40s/early 50s ones. If you're into 30s ties, hit the Goodwill!!!


Your tie is only as short as your waist is low (or fat neck).

bk

 

[Dinerman]

Goodwill stores are absolutely jam packed with 1930s ties. I think no-one (eBay "vintage dealers" - read "hobbyists") really knows what they are so they leave them behind when they hoover up all the 40s/early 50s ones. If you're into 30s ties, hit the Goodwill!!!

You can say that again. Even here in the DC suburbs, where you find almost no vintage clothes in the thrift shops, you find the '30s ties.

 

[skyvue]

Can you guys provide any tips on recognizing 1930s ties (or perhaps point me to a thread here in which their characteristics are discussed)?

 

[Dinerman]

They're generally quite short, have no lining, are folded asymmetrically, and have stitching at the points.

 

[Spatterdash]

Better yet, how about a photo comparing a tie from each decade so we can see the shape and construction differences?

Might need to make this sticky.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

There are quite a few "show us your vintage ties"-type threads. All the info is in there. All in this section of FLounge (general attire/accoutrements.

bk

 

[resortes805]

Can you guys provide any tips on recognizing 1930s ties (or perhaps point me to a thread here in which their characteristics are discussed)?

Often they are confused with late 50's early 60's ties, especially the brocaded ties. They just don't have that distinctive 'belly warmer' width of 40's ties, so most dealers just pass them by unaware.