Neck Tie Popularity at All Time Low

**Retro Red** · 5th June 08, 01:34 PM

Necktie popularity at all time low? Well, well, ain’t that good news!!!

Out here in the Great American West, a necktie is just another name for a hangin’ rope.

The similarity between a necktie & a noose is too close for comfort. And in a really hot climate like ours, wearing a noose, I mean, necktie makes about as much sense as wearing a parka - & about as uncomfortable, too! Loose, lightweight, natural fiber clothing is what makes sense in the desert.

The two comments in the article about the tie being “a symbol of subservience and of trying too hard” & ''Power is being able to dress the way you want" I would say summarizes the prevalent attitude in this corner of the world. I work for a major international company, but it’s real easy to spot the poor underlings sent out from our New York headquarters – besides their visitor’s badge, they’re the only ones you’ll see in our large office complex wearing ties.

As far as I’m concerned, the cloth necktie is a useless piece of adornment I gladly do without, but hey, if it floats your boat, “hang” in there!

Now, that doesn’t mean that we don’t appreciate adorning the upper part of our shirts here in Arizona, but we’ve got our own kind of tie that’s better suited to our climate & culture. In fact, it’s the official tie of Arizona – the bola tie. Often worn with the collar open & made with precious metals & gemstones. It’s more comfortable & you don’t have to learn how to tie a knot to wear it!

Here one of our state senators shows how to wear an Arizona tie.

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**Jack Daw** · 5th June 08, 05:00 PM

I'm a banker and the policy at work remains that we wear ties Monday through Thursday. Friday is business casual. I'm 50 and have worn the tie for work since 1980. Our Dallas office, though, is business casual all week. When I visit banks, most of the time I dress business casual as they dress. The article is wrong in that, in the banking world the real top dogs, those that went to the Ivy-League schools, still prefer to wear the suit and tie.

With my kilt, I sometimes wear the long tie, with the waistcoat and argyll, especially if I am competing on the pipes. Because I have to wear a suit and tie to work, most of the time I wear a matching MacIntyre tartan tie, as I have 4. But, I'm thinking that in general the long tie should be retired - it's a meaningless piece of cloth. The look of formality can be accomplished by substituting one of those high color shirts that was popular a few years ago. But, those went out of style VERY fast. Right now, there's no good replacement.

**Avonlea22** · 5th June 08, 06:30 PM

I'm required to wear a tie at work (although I'd prefer not to), but I wear both standard ties and tie-your-own bow ties.

**JerseyLawyer** · 5th June 08, 08:16 PM

A lot of hatin' on the necktie.

That's okay, different strokes for different blokes and all that. I suppose that since I went to Catholic school when we still wore ties, and have therefore worn one most every day since first grade (except college), it just doesn't even occur to me anymore that some people, you know, /don't/ wear a tie.

I do think a jacket and waistcoat wouldn't look right without a tie.

**JRB** · 5th June 08, 06:39 PM

I like ties and wear them when I get a chance. I've never had to wear one to work and don't attend dressy functions with any regularity, so I can probably count on one hand how many times per year I don a tie. I think the very reason I like ties is because I wear them so rarely. If I had an obligation to wear a tie (for any reason) my affection for it would quickly fade.

**Mark Keeney** · 5th June 08, 06:45 PM

I like to wear a jacket and tie when shopping because I get really good service when I do.

**Aracos mac Domhnaill** · 5th June 08, 09:17 PM

''Power is being able to dress the way you want."

THAT says it all for me.
For the first 18 years of my life, I wore what my parents and school wanted me to...for the next 18 years of my life I wore what the Army and then Corporations wanted me to...at 36 I became self employed and now I wear whatever I want that I find comfortable and functional to my purpose.

I'm a wedding photographer and photojournalist by trade. I still need to play by some rules of expectation if I want to attract certain clients. So the day or two a week that I'm shooting with clients, I often wear a tie and appropriate business or formal attire. The other 5 days a week that I'm 'off duty' I'm usually kilted with an open neck button down oxford.

I love running into a CEO/CFO or even Jr. Exec. type on a weekday morning... I'm headed out to the beach, shops, museum or movies with the family for fun all comfortable and kilted and he's there with his head in a silk noose, hot and sweating in his standard Brooks Brothers uniform trying to find time to fit a latte or a McHeart-Attackwhich in before a long day of meetings and kissing *** in hopes that he can get some time off to spend with the kids this weekend (if it is his weekend to have them) and maybe make enough to retire (before the cumulative McHeart-Attackwichs kill him) and finally enjoy his life and grandkids in his 70s...and he's thinking HE's got the world by the 'nads!

"You have to understand that many people are not ready to be unplugged, and many of them are so inured, so hopelessly dependent on the system that they will fight to protect it."-Morpheus

**Highland Logan** · 6th June 08, 06:45 AM

Originally Posted by Aracos mac Domhnaill

I love running into a CEO/CFO or even Jr. Exec. type on a weekday morning... I'm headed out to the beach, shops, museum or movies with the family for fun all comfortable and kilted and he's there with his head in a silk noose, hot and sweating in his standard Brooks Brothers uniform trying to find time to fit a latte or a McHeart-Attackwhich in before a long day of meetings and kissing *** in hopes that he can get some time off to spend with the kids this weekend (if it is his weekend to have them) and maybe make enough to retire (before the cumulative McHeart-Attackwichs kill him) and finally enjoy his life and grandkids in his 70s...and he's thinking HE's got the world by the 'nads!

So you get all of that from seeing a guy in a tie? That's rather generalized, and I think it fair to say that someone might think the same of you when you wear one.

Frank

**Aracos mac Domhnaill** · 6th June 08, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by Highland Logan

So you get all of that from seeing a guy in a tie? That's rather generalized, and I think it fair to say that someone might think the same of you when you wear one.
Frank

Yeah. You are right...a total generalisation and it is probably all in my head. I escaped corporate Hel, I just assume everyone wants to.

**berserkbishop** · 6th June 08, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by Aracos mac Domhnaill

Yeah. You are right...a total generalisation and it is probably all in my head. I escaped corporate Hel, I just assume everyone wants to.

I am just entering corporate "hel" and I love it. I dont think there is anything wrong with a fellow dressing his best for work everyday and looking like a million bucks. When I put on my "Brooks Bros. uniform" I feel energized- like the world is mine for the taking. That attitude helps me press on and get where I would like to go in life, even in intimidating circumstance (meeting Senators and such).

I love wearing ties and always will. I hate that society is gravitating to ULTRA casual. I see it at work everyday now and it makes me ill.

BB