How long for the tie?

**Riverkilt** · 23rd January 12, 06:22 AM

So, can anyone explain why the tartan ties sold at highland games and by vendors of things Scottish are so short?

Tartan ties seem six inches shorter than "regular" ties bought at men's stores. I am barely able to have a little nub left on the backside of the knot to get the length showing correct.

**McMurdo** · 23rd January 12, 06:25 AM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

So, can anyone explain why the tartan ties sold at highland games and by vendors of things Scottish are so short?

Tartan ties seem six inches shorter than "regular" ties bought at men's stores. I am barely able to have a little nub left on the backside of the knot to get the length showing correct.

I am not 100% sure but I think it may be that they are being made to wear to the true waist. If you wore one of them with a kilt or trews it would be perfect. All the wool and tweed ties I have purchased from tartan shops are the same.

**Riverkilt** · 23rd January 12, 06:39 AM

They seem short even for true waist - like they were made for grade school boys...

There's a market for a tartan tiemaker who want's to make ties in a length that actually fits men to the trouser waist.

**Drac** · 23rd January 12, 06:41 AM

Thanks all.

Jim

**rondo** · 23rd January 12, 11:46 AM

This is where learning to use different knots comes into play. A Windsor knot uses more tie length than a half Windsor. I used to buy all my ties longer as I tied in a Windsor...with a kilt these ties are too long but the excess is easily hidden by tucking into the waistband of the kilt or into the shirt.

As many have already stated, tie should just touch the waistband or top of the belt buckle. A waistcoat is very effective at hiding a 'too short' tie.

Rondo

**CopperNGold** · 23rd January 12, 09:56 PM

The way your tie just touches the belt buckle looks very smart, Tobus. Very clean and sharp!

**CMcG** · 23rd January 12, 10:11 PM

I think just long enough to touch the top of the kilt looks good. Using different types of knots can help to adjust length but I also sometimes tuck the skinny end of the tie into my shirt if it is too long.

With a waistcoat, there is more leeway. I can use a smaller knot and just tuck the whole tie into my kilt, where it is hidden by the vest. I've seen some traditionalists tuck the bottom of their tie into the kilt even when not wearing a waistcoat but this looks a bit lazy or unbalanced to me.

I've heard that some people have gone as far as having ties altered to make them work better with the kilt...