Neckties In China

Alain Picard


How significant is a necktie? Your suit-the color, fabric, and style-will not be as complete without the perfect tie. Anyone in the cosmopolitan world knows that. However, wearing the perfect tie is not all that simple. You need the perfect design, the perfect fabric and the perfect knot. It is not just a tie, it is the entirety of your suit.

There are no clear cut rules on how to wear a tie. But here are some points that you might want to consider to avoid being a disaster:

1. Novelty vs. Formality. While novelty ties exhibit your personality and grace, it is not advisable to wear them with corporate or professional suits. If you want to grab their attention or leave a good impression with your colleagues or boss, you may do so without compromising your style. Novelty ties are for special occasions-you may want to reserve it for that.

2. Prepare your tie. Getting a perfect knot early in the morning can sometime be very frustrating. To avoid this inconvenience, tie your knot in the evening. Just be sure to tie the knot a little loose so you won’t be too bothered when you wear it the next morning. So come 6am, you’ll just have to slip your head in, arrange your collar and tighten the knot. But you have to be wary, doing this can cause permanent creases in your tie but if you don’t mind, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t.

3. Slip-ons are a big NO-NO. While it may be very convenient to wear and rather tempting, these pieces are for kids who don’t know how to properly wear a tie. An “adult” tie in a Windsor or four-in-hand tie is simply elegant. Tying a perfect Windsor knot is a skill that you should be proud of. Knowing how to do one will give you enough confidence to wear any tie that you fancy.

4. Mix & Match Designs and Fabric. If you are good with hues and color, then you should know that the design of your tie also need to match your suit. The design should create a visual perception of total compatibility. A printed or checkered shirt goes well with a tie of solid color or a subdued dotted tie.

For fabric choice, a silk tie is a classic choice. Cotton or combed ties are just as well but do remember that the feel of your tie should, to match, should contrast your suit and your dress.

5. Stand Out. Don’t be the typical-Joe-wearing-tie. Mix and match your suits with to achieve a chic look. Neckties come in different fabrics color and patterned designs. Take note: your shirt should not only match the suit that your wearing but your dress shirt as well. White dress shirts are perfect for any tie color or design. If you wear colored dress shirts, it’s an option to wear a tie with matching colors or go for the same color but of a different hue. Monotone never goes out of style.

Hendrik Pohl


A large majority of men rarely think of organizing their wardrobe. We all sort of cling to the old die hard “dig and find” method. Despite the fact that it takes longer to find anything, organizing that old closet just doesn’t sit very high on the priority list. In fact, it often times makes it to the “I’ll get to it some day”, or the “I’ll get around to it” lists. There is hope for us closet neglectors though, and surprisingly it’s not rocket science. If the initial set-up is done right, it is fairly easy to develop a system that will make your life much easier.

Organizing your wardrobe in reality comes to personal choice. Whether you prefer your pants to be stored on the right or the left doesn’t matter as long as you are creating a well thought-out system that is easy to keep up. Stick to the K.I.S.S. (Keep It Stupid Simple) method. If you have no idea where to start, then this article is right for you. Below are a few general tips on how to organize your wardrobe. Use the tips that work for you. Use them to customize a system that works best for you.

First, start by completely emptying the wardrobe top to bottom. Clean the storage area as is required. Chances are that clumps of dust have piled up over the years in the corners. Empty your wardrobe completely and use a vacuum to get rid of all that dust. Next, sort all the things out that you no longer wear. If you are a pack-rat, this might be quite difficult. If this is the case then follow this general rule of thump: If you haven’t worn something for at least a year, give it, or throw it away.

Now that you have limited the amount of clothes, organizing them will be much easier. When organizing your wardrobe make sure to put the clothes that you most frequently wear in the most accessible area. Start by thinking about different clothes for different seasons. If it is summer, store all your winter clothes in a separate storage bin. Once again you have narrowed down the clothes to organize. Next, look at all smaller items such as socks and underwear. Sort through all the single socks, and put the ones together that still have a matching pair. All small pieces that are part of your daily attire should be stored away in an easy accessible drawer.

The remaining clothes should be sorted by function. Work clothes such as suits, shirts, and neckties should be stored separately from your casual clothes. Make sure you don’t hang your suit jackets too tightly, and keep your neckties away from any sharp edges. Your dress pants should be hung to prevent wrinkles. If you have multiple suits, keep matching pants with each jacket.

Your shoes are best stored in an adjustable shoe shelf that you can place in the bottom of your closet. Just as with your clothes, sort your shoes by their function. Dress shoes should be on one side, and casual shoes on the other. Store your shoes toe-in first to allow easy access of a pair with one hand.

Jackie D.


If you want unique men’s neckwear, take one look on the internet and you will be hooked. No longer are you stuck with traditional designs for neckties; the products offered can make you shake your head. Even the classics have changed, and with the more complex materials in clip on bow ties, these have also been used to express ones’ personality and individuality. There are even step by step instructions available for free to teach you how to actually tie a real bowtie properly, every time.

Choices of Fabrics

You have many choices when it comes to a men’s tie these days, depending on your budget. Polyester is now the cheapest material, but blended materials are just as popular and relatively inexpensive. You have your cold weather wool, and of course silk is good any time. It really depends on what you can afford.

Choices of Designs

For designs, the choices for men’s neckwear are almost limitless. If you like famous paintings, there are neckties that are reproductions of paintings, scenery, as well as many famous buildings. You can get smiley faces, skull patterns of many variations, and ones with comic book characters. You can find ones with sayings on them, from simple holiday traditional sayings to more risqué choices. You can have your favorite pet on your tie, and some companies will put your own print design on ties for you.

Neckties Pulling Double Duty

But it doesn’t stop there. For a more unique and untraditional idea, you have other choices as well. Ever wondered how you can keep your cell phone charged during the day or have a small emergency backup power source? Solar powered neckties are in the works, and may be marketed soon. With the little solar cells embedded into the material, it will put out 3.6 volts on a really sunny day, enough to keep a cell phone charged. There are ties with little fans built into them that will plug into a standard USB port, and then you also have your spy camera neckwear. It comes with its own linked media device, so there is no other power source, or monitor needed.

If you really want an out of the box men’s necktie, why not try the circuit board tie. It looks just like a circuit board, complete with little blinking lights. The board itself is just a print, but the lights are real and a remote battery pack lights them up. You even have some choices about the pattern they light up in. This would also be the perfect gift for the gadget freak that has everything.

Conclusion

You can find a few good products at some of the mass marketing chains, but if you want something unique, or personable, you should look online. Prices range from under $10 to well over $100 depending on materials and how elaborate the design. You can find websites that specialize in nothing but neckwear, and the choices will probably be better than somewhere else. So no matter what kind of unique men’s tie you’re looking for, you will probably find it.

Hendrik Pohl


Are you looking to add a nice sophisticated look to your outfit, and do you also regularly wear a suit and tie? Then British design neckties will be just perfect for you. The classic diagonal stripes in traditional colors will match well with almost all shirt and suit combinations. They are a classic and timeless design that will always add an elegant touch to your look.

There are a few renowned designers for British neckties. Atkinsons, a small boutique manufacturer out of Ireland, has been making neckties out of a so-called royal Irish poplin since 1837. It is one of the oldest necktie manufacturers in the world. Even though the company has grown over the decades, they have been staying true to their mission – to create the highest quality men’s ties with traditional craftsmanship by hand. Especially Atkinsons regimental neckties are sought after the most.

Another name that comes to mind when thinking about British neckties is Brooks Brothers. The company was founded in 1818 and is one of America’s oldest clothing manufactures for men. The initial focus was on tailored suits that were worn by actors and political leaders like Abraham Lincoln. In 1890 the company added neckties to their collection of formal men’s clothes, and in 1920 they started making their first diagonal stripe repp ties. The repp tie has a classic British design that combines diagonal stripes and traditional colors on a tie that is made from a slightly stiffer silk fabric -similar to the one we know from Atkinsons. What was different however from the original British tie is the direction of the stripe that runs from top-left to bottom-right. The repp tie is one of Brooks Brothers signature clothing accessories for men.

If you like the look of the British necktie, but are a little most cost conscious, then there is another brand to consider. Most handmade British designer ties will cost anywhere from $80 to $100. If you are new to wearing neckties, or feel like $100 for a tie is a little more than you wanted to spend, then have a look at Parsley’s British necktie collection. As typical for British neckties, the designs consist of traditional stripes in old-fashioned regimental colors. Just like Atkinsons ties, Parsley uses a so-called Mogador-silk for manufacturing their ties. The fabric has the typical stiffer feel and dull shine you know from Atkinsons regimental ties, and Brooks Brothers “Repp” ties.

The necktie series are named after British towns and regions such as “Bristol”, “Cambridge” and “Oxford”. Each design comes in a wide range of colors and is also available in extra long sizes -especially for big & tall men.

Steve Brig


Are you stuck for ideas when it comes to buying a great gift or birthday present for someone who is approaching their 30th birthday? Do you want to know how some people always seem to be able to find imaginative birthday gifts for people when the only gift idea you have managed to come up with was a last minute frenzy in a local shop or garage? If so, you will want to find out more.

Gone are the days when you just buy your friend or loved one a CD or pajama set. There are so many companies and small businesses now that are just crying out to have their products in the public domain, who really have come up with some exceptional ideas for birthday gifts and 30th birthday presents that it really does beggar belief. All that is really needed is for someone to hunt down all these fantastic gift ideas and put them in one convenient location that is accessible to everyone who has internet access and then let them browse all the wonderful ideas out there at their leisure.

For instance, your young soon to be 30 year old friend or loved one may love adventure and you think of surprising him or her with an acrobatic flight experience. Wouldn’t they be surprised. The other nice thing about experience gifts is that there is the initial surprise of opening the envelope on the day and then all the fun and anticipation of booking and waiting for the gift experience. Of course, if you would prefer, you can pre-arrange the experience gift to coincide with the date and day of their exact birthday.

If you want something romantic for a 30th birthday present, what about an engraved My Last Rolo to show your loved one how thoughtful you are and give them an everlasting reminder of this fact. The ideas that are around at the moment are really good and these companies deserve a chance of selling their unique products to ensure that the business continues.

There are also some great newspaper ideas where you can get a framed and dated Daily mail or Daily Telegraph with your friend making the front page. That should cause a giggle or two. On the same theme, there are some fantastic chariactures that are available and you can have hours of fun yourself deciding who you will turn your friend into – maybe a rock star, a movie actor or possibly a politician. The choice is yours and it is a lot of fun for a 30th birthday gift.

Alain Picard


Just as fashion accessories need to be carefully chosen, dress shirts and coats should also be meticulously selected. A perfect match of dress shirt and necktie would not only exude an elegant look but give a smarter and more polished impression. The main goal of dressing is to present the self in the most likeable way so be sure that the manner you dress is pleasing enough to everyone’s eyes.

Basically, dressing up requires focus and attention to one’s face. Emphasizing the face can be done simply by wearing the proper dress shirt with the right collar and necktie with the right tie knot.

Men usually forget to consider the collar in their dress shirts. This is a common mistake since the collar is the most important part of a shirt. Collar sizes should be in proportion to the size of the man in that a large man should wear larger collars and a smaller man should choose smaller collars.

Collars balance the facial structure strengthening weak features and softening dominant areas. Men who have long neck should choose higher-sitting collars. The different collar styles should be taken into consideration because they greatly affect the overall look, including the look with the necktie on.

Straight point collars are the most neutral of all the types and are perfect for any suit. The opening is fairly narrow between the points so it compliments round or oval-shaped faces. The most popular among the collar types is the spread collar. It is best for triangular or narrow faces and perfect for the Windsor or Half-Windsor tie knot.

The rounded collars or the club collar appears to be the more fashionable one. this is perfect for square faces or those with chiseled jaw. This may not be the most popular but this it seems to be the most stylish choice. When worn with the right facial structure along with a four-in-hand necktie knot, a cool and younger but smarter look can be achieved.

Tab collars, on the other hand, looks good on those with long necks. Because of the tabs fastened to each other and held the collar point in place, the tie and collar are forced to thrust upwards below the chin. This look balances a seemingly long neck. And lastly, the button down collar is perfect for a casual look. However, this does not look good on people with very wide face structure. They are best paired with loafers and tweed jackets for an Ivy League look.

Choosing the right dress shirt collar will surely enhance the way you carry and wear a necktie. Take these things in mind and you’ll definitely draw attention to your face.

Hendrik Pohl


Are you new to wearing neckties, but don’t know how to tie one yet? You are not alone. In fact, only few men know how to tie a good-looking necktie knot. Tying a tie may seem complicated, and even confusing, but it really isn’t. After all, there are over 180 different ways to tie a necktie. For our purposes though, we’ll just concentrate on the two most popular, and two best-looking necktie knots: The half Windsor, and slightly larger double Windsor knot.

If you know how to tie a necktie with those two knots, you will be in perfect shape to match the right tie knot to each necktie design and different shirt collars. Both tie knots are closely related, and once you know how to tie the smaller, single Windsor knot, learning how to tie the double Windsor knot is only a short step away.

First, let’s focus on the single Windsor knot, or also known as the half Windsor knot. As with any tie knot, start by flipping up your shirts collar and buttoning the top button. Then take your necktie and place it around your neck with the broad end on the right side of your chest, and the narrow end on the left. The back of the tie should be facing your body and your neck. Make sure that the broad end hangs much lower than the narrow end. A goop point of reference is a marking in the back of your necktie. There is a diagonal seam near the narrow end. The tie should be placed around your neck in a way that the narrow end crosses over that seem. Cross the narrow end with the broad end to make a “V”, and pinch this intersection with your left hand thumb and forefinger.

You’ll want to hold onto this area until you are ready to cinch up the final knot. Next, with your right hand take the broad end of the tie and loop it through the “V” near your collar. Then, without any twists in it, bring the longer end around the entire bottom of the “V” just above your pinched area, then back up and through, and tuck this long end in behind the loop you just made, and out through the bottom. Tighten the knot and adjust it so that it is centered between your collars. Flip down your shirts collars and you have a single Windsor knot!

The single Windsor knot is a slightly smaller and more asymmetrical looking tie knot. It looks best on shirts with a narrow collar spread. The best ties for a single Windsor knot are neckties made of thicker material, solid color ties, as well as classic British striped ties.

The double Windsor knot is done quite similar. It is called double Windsor knot since it requires the broad end of the tie to be looped through the “V” twice – once on each side. So, start the same as with the single Windsor knot. Once you wrapped the broad end of the tie the first time through the “V”, do the same thing with the opposite laying part of the “V”. The key to a good-looking double Windsor is to ensure that each wrapping overlaps. There shouldn’t be any gap inside the “V”!

The double Windsor knot is the most sought after tie knot these days. Even searches on the Internet for the “double Windsor knot” are higher than all other tie knots combined, only few men know how to tie this popular knot. If you start with the single Windsor knot, and then practice the double Windsor for 10-15 minutes, you will be in good shape.

The double Windsor knot is one of the largest and most symmetrical tie knots. It is a great looking knot for shirts with a wider collar spread and if you wear Italian silk tie. Italians in particular value the triangular and larger looking shape of the double Windsor.

Hendrik Pohl


Back in the 1600s mens shirt fronts and sleeves were adorned with lace trims. Later, in an attempt to be more practical, the lace was ditched and the sleeves were tied with strings and ribbons, which served the purpose of keeping the sleeve dirt-free and also prevented the chilly air from creeping up the sleeve. In an effort to look a little dressier, some even added jewels to their sleeve ties.

In the 17th century, men did another volte face and decided they would had enough of scraggly strings and ribbons holding up their sleeves. These 17th century men wanted to look sophisticated and suave and strings and ribbons were among the first to go. They were replaced by the now ubiquitous cufflink.

What did the First Cufflink Look Like? The 17th century cufflink consisted of a small chain that had either gold or silver buttons at either end. Special buttonholes were made in the cuffs of the sleeves and each button was fed through one of the holes on the two ends of the cuff. Thus the chain linked the two cuffs together and was aptly named, Cufflink.

The Rise and Rise of the Cufflink
There are two factors that are equally responsible for the huge variety of cufflinks available today as well as the status these cufflinks enjoy.

One of the things that made the cufflink so much more popular was the Industrial Revolution, which made it possible to manufacture a greater number of cuff links faster and at a lower cost.

The other was the fact that from lowly devices only meant to keep the cuffs together and keep them clean; men began wearing them as part of their formal attire and even wore them when they were dressed in an ultra-dressy tuxedo. Eventually, the cufflink began to be seen as a sign of sophistication and style and is now seen on every cuff at any occasion. It is the staple of every well dressed man and no man who wants to be noticed will saunter into a social do without a pair of cufflinks adorning his cuffs.

Changes and More in Cufflink Designs
AS with every other aspect of mens fashion, the cufflink too underwent several innovations and transformations. To its credit though, the 17th century design with a chain linking the two buttons is still as popular today as it was then. The only difference is, present day cufflinks are not limited to gold and silver buttons and neither do they necessarily have a chain linking the buttons.

Cufflinks are now designed with a wide assortment of precious and semi-precious stones in different shapes and sizes. These are set in several different metals. In addition to chain, these stones are also connected by rods and fasteners that are designed with special clips that are easy to fasten single-handedly.

From its very practical and lowly start, the cufflink zoomed right into superstardom leaving a huge gap amongst those who were neither lowly nor superstars. Soon however, the allure of the tiny little cufflink filtered through all strata of society and can now be seen on every hand irrespective of age, culture or social status.

Tom Harkenshire


It is believed that tie (more specifically, necktie) usage began sometime in the 17th century during the time of the Thirty Years’ War. Strangely enough, apparently the first people to have used this rather weird piece of clothing were Croatian mercenaries. Very quickly after the introduction of neckties, they became very popular and were worn both by men and women of the era.

In the following centuries neckties have evolved into a variety of types: the Cravat, the Four-in-hand, the Six-and seven-fold as well as the Clip-on tie. Not to mention other modern types of tie such as the ascot tie, the bow tie, and the Bolo tie. Although the length and width and even shape of the tie changed, the general concept remained the same.

Appropriately, dozens of ways of tying neckties have also appeared, there are almost a 100 ways – if not more – methods of tying ties, including the Pratt Knot, the half-Windsor knot, the Windsor knot, the Simple Double and many additional others.

The modern usage of neckties, specifically, as a part of formal attire began in late 19th century England in Oxford. Quickly this spread among other universities, first in England, and then the rest of the world.

Nowadays, many workplaces and universities, as well as some armies, consider wearing a necktie an essential part of their dress code. Normally this is only limited only to men.

Fortunately for us all, neckties are a pleasant addition to a man’s repertoire of clothing, and can make a well dressed fellow into a truly elegant looking, charming, man.

Ruth Lanham


A t-shirt is the one article of clothing that almost everyone loves to wear. You can just get up in the morning and throw on a t-shirt. They look great with any kind of pants or blue jeans. T-shirts are very comfortable and can really be worn anywhere. A t-shirt can say a lot about a person, how they look, how they think or how they feel. A lot of t-shirts have intricate designs on them, while others can have simple words or phrases. Some have messages on them and others have nothing at all on them and are a solid color.

Sometimes t-shirts can even give people information on the type of occupation they work in. Medical occupation t-shirts are great things to wear if you work at a hospital, doctor’s office, therapy department or anywhere in the medical industry.

Medical t-shirts can have virtually anything on them. The designs can be simple and get the point across, but they can also be more detailed and stylish. The message that you display can be serious, humorous or tell a joke. You can state your support for the medical industry or a certain field; you can get very specific in what you want the shirt to say.

The funny t-shirts are probably the most popular t-shirts in the medical occupation t-shirt field as well as the entire occupation t-shirt field as a whole. It’s a great way to connect with your co-workers because when they look at your t-shirt and connect with you, they understand what you are trying to say. But it is also a way to connect with and make people outside of the medical industry laugh, like your friends and family.

How much fun it is to see someone open up the gift, read what it says and have a good laugh at it. It’s even better to see them put it on and enjoy wearing it around making other people smile and laugh. You are letting that person know that you appreciate what they are doing and are having fun as well.

Not only can you get medical occupation t-shirts, but you can also get a various assortment of gifts as well. You can get anything from neckties to mouse pads or coffee mugs. You can also get hats, teddy bears, hoodies, sweatshirts, key chains, tote bags and more. If it can be printed on, you can get some kind of medical occupation message onto that object. It’s just so much fun to give a gift that is truly loved and appreciated.

Medical occupation t-shirts and gifts can be given anytime including Birthdays, Christmas, Graduation, or any other occasion. If you feel like cheering up or supporting someone in the medical field, giving a medical occupation gift or t-shirt is the perfect idea. T-shirts don’t last forever but the thoughtfulness of the gift will.