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How to Choose Appropriate Tie Width
How do you decide between a narrow tie and a wide tie? Is this just a matter of fashion, does it depend on collar size, type, and the lapel width on your jacket?
Standard tie width is 3.5cm. This width of tie is not too wide or too narrow and will out fall out of style. America ties are normally wider; the tie width is between 3.5 inches to 3.75 inches. Europe has the width of the tie between 3 to 3.25 inches.
The width of a tie should be approximately the same width of the coat's lapel, if the lapel is wide, the tie should be wide and if the lapel is narrow the tie should be narrow.
If your tie is too wide, let the front part be slightly longer than the part behind after you tie it. In this way, you can have a slightly narrower portion of the tie exposed at the neck than would be shown if both the front part of the tie and the smaller part behind it are of equal lengths.
If you have a tie that is too narrow you cannot do this in reverse (unless your jacket remains buttoned) because then the narrower part of the tie that is behind the wider part in front will extend down past the front wider part and expose the mixed up condition of the tying.
If you have a tie that is too narrow you cannot do this in reverse (unless your jacket remains buttoned) because then the narrower part of the tie that is behind the wider part in front will extend down past the front wider part and expose the mixed up condition of the tying.
History of Tie Width
After 1st World War, the widths of some ties even went up to 1.5 inches. Wide hand painted ties are very popular during that period of time. Later, Wide ties became the Lable of the Bold Look, the widths even reached 5 inches. In 1950s, men's ties began to get thinner. The tie width slimmed to 3 inches and continued getting slimmer in the next decade. By the time of 1960s, solid color ties, such as skinny black ties, became very popular; the tie width was as slim as 1 inch. Tie width later became wider, back to 4.5 inches. Narrow ties became popular again from the time 1980s. The regular skinny tie width is from 3 inches to 3.5 inches, narrower ties widths could be as slim as 1.5 inches.
Dos and Dont's on Wearing a Tie
- Do not wear ties that are too bright. The color of your tie should be darker than the color of your shirt.
- Do not wear clip-on ties, they are unprofessional.
- Do wear ties with right texture. The texture of the tie should go with your outfit, for instance a shiny silk tie should go with a shiny silk shirt and a wool tie should be worn with a wool suit.
- Do wear proper tie knot. The knot should not be too big or too small. It better be proportional to the collar.
- Do wear patterned tie with main color complement your suit and the secondary color pick up your shirt.
- The front point of your tie should be just long enough to touch the waist of your pants.
