Question:
I was looking for a tie today, went to a nice store and looked at all the expensive ties (zegna, canali, etc.) and found nothing that suited me. Then in the same shopping centre I wandered by a much cheaper department store and found an attractive burgundy houndstooth tie from Perry Ellis portfolio. I was looking at it, debating whether or not I should get it. I thought to myself "If I saw something like that with a Zegna label on the back, I would pounce on it" and came to the conclusion the only reason I was even debating it was brand snobbery. So I brought it on sale for $20.
I took it home ripped the annoying tags off and tried it on... the interlining was stiff and thick like plastic, and whenever I pulled it taught through my collar, it made a funny squeaking sound. I tried many different knots, but inevitably got this huge disgusting disproportionate knot.
Later I went out and passed by another nicer clothing store. I stopped in to take a peak at the ties, and found a burgundy Gucci tie that looked similar, and brought it on sale. I just tried it on, and it effortlessly forms a perfectly symmetrical knot with a beautiful dimple .
Lesson learned: Even though cheap ties look like expensive ties, the extra money for superior ties is almost always worth it.
Answer:
that is what i have said before regarding cheap ties. they just dont tie up well!
i had in the past always bought cheap ties that looked fabulous designs from various places like marshals and macys, but whenever i tied them , i always had a difficult time.
i then thought at the time, ties i guess were meant to be difficult to tie, that is just the nature of a tie.
but then, when i started buying premium ties off of sf more or less : battistoni, david chu, isaia, fihties, david hober, etc,
these ties effortlessly make a beautiful tie . i see now that it all depends on the fabrics used and how they are sewn.
the cheap ones now i believe are merely pieces of pretty cloth made to 'look' like a tie.
Answer:
I almost never buy ties without tying them first. I've passed on a lot of nice looking ties simply because they don't knot properly. Although expensive ties tend to tie better, that's not always the case either. If you're in a store and you're going to buy a tie, tie it first. The folding of the tie, the lining (or lack thereof) and the fabric all make a big difference in how it can be tied and how well it knots.
Answer:
word.
this is especially important if most of your ties are from thrift shops like mine.
Answer:
I own ties in both genres and I believe that occasionaly you can find some gems in the cheap tie world. But rarely...
Answer:
double post, sorry
Answer:
Joseph Abboud ties tie very nice knots, so this is not foolproof.
Answer:
The regular-line Abboud ties retail in the $80-90 range... that's hardly "cheap tie" realm. I own one or two and they are comparable to most of the mid-range designer ties out there. In fact, I remember reading an interview with Abboud once that said he usually bought his silks and such from the same mills as Armani... only Armani got to charge 30% more because his name was on it...
Answer:
If my memory serves correctly, many positive things have been written on here about Lands' End ties.
Answer:
+1. There's an exception to every rule (except black suits, you heathens) :devil:
