E. Tautz Spring Tie

Ties Make You a Better Person

We edge into spring with a vibrant take on the striped club tie by E. Tautz, which is tamed by the Moss Stitch Shawl Collar Cardigan by Alan Paine.

The stripes run the British way from the left shoulder.

The tie may no longer be a sign of social conformity, in fact quite the opposite away from work, but no one can tell us a shirt looks better or smarter with an open neck. Some will say, 'Well then let's lose the shirt too.' — Thus the path to barbarousness presents itself.

I read someone describing ties as having no purpose the other day. Poppycock. And couldn't that indictment be aimed at most items of clothing? We could go back to wearing caveman furs. My own take is that the best clothing combinations for men, particularly the shirt, suit and tie represent the zenith of dressing; Beau Brummell initiated the template, which was tweaked and perfected. Much like the Georgians perfecting the town house, everything else afterwards has been fine-tuning (or downright vandalism). We mustn't allow billionaire Silicon valley anoraks and talentless scruffbag entertainers to become the taste-makers.

A well-chosen tie offers a sign of civility and respect, with added smartness and colour. Ties make you appear to be hard-working and conscientious. (Bow ties lift the wearer to empyrean heights of elegance.) Ties also keep you a couple of degrees warmer in winter and make you appear attractively unflappable and impervious to heat in summer. Nowhere is inappropriate for a tie. I exaggerate, but only for the purpose of resistance to trends.

We have to mention attractiveness too, even though it might make us a little uncomfortable. Let's not forget that the majority of ties for men are bought as gifts by their loved ones. People like to see their man in a tie. They like removing the man's tie. And one thing leads to another and whatnot. Close the curtains for heaven's sake.