Loosened ties...

[CharlestonBows]

I just have to say, after venturing into other forums online, and seeing what folks are sporting day after day, one thing continues to pop up to really annoy me.

The loosened tie, done in a sloppy knot, dangling hap-hazardly from an unbuttoned collar. Does this peeve anyone else, or am I being a little too OCD?

What are your thoughts on the loosened & dangling necktie?

 

[Jovan]

It doesn't make you look cool, it makes you look drunk.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Herringbonekid is the master of this tie knot. It goes very, very well with the rest of his "depression-era" look. But then, his ties are tightly knotted, just not up in the "tie-space" of the shirt. Is this the kind of knot you're talking about? Sorry, can't find a picture right now.

bk

 

[J. M. Stovall]

 

[Jovan]

Of course, we can always bring up celebrity pictures to justify anything without a single word.

In all seriousness, that's not as bad as some guys I've seen who purposely go out with a loosened tie. He doesn't have it dangling like a noose nor does it look affected. It looks like he honestly has had a hell of a day and loosened his tie a little to breathe.

 

[J. M. Stovall]

He doesn't look drunk to me.

 

[Jovan]

Yes, well, compare it to this:

And there's a hell of difference.

(For God's sake, Mr. Bacon, with all your money you could have your shirt collars ironed...)

 

[J. M. Stovall]

Yes, he does look drunk.:eusa_doh:

 

[J. M. Stovall]

It also looks like he has on his pajama top and not a "real" shirt.

 

[Jovan]

I was just joshing you, Mr. Stovall. Look what I said about it above. I think it's that kind of affected sloppiness that CB is talking about, which I personally dislike too.

EDIT: Ah, you mean Kevin. He seems to latch on to trends a lot and not really dress his age. (i.e., maturely)

 

[Hemingway Jones]

A loosened tie before 2 AM looks sloppy.

However, an untied bow tie draped around the neck at 4 AM is the height of Rat Pack swagger.

 

[dhermann1]

People loosen their ties when their collars don't fit properly. Unless you've been engaging in inordinately athletic activities, you shouldn't feel enough discomfort to need to loosen the tie.
Now, I must confess that I FREQUENTLY used to loosen my tie, but no more! I've seen the light!

 

[Feraud]

In all seriousness, that's not as bad as some guys I've seen who purposely go out with a loosened tie.

Why is a purposely loosned tie any less affected then our discussion of wearing a fedora at an angle or having our jacket sleeves just right to show that certain amount of shirt cuff?

 

[Zemke Fan]

My summer ties...

... just seem to refuse to be completely tight at my throat -- and my top shirt button loves to be unbuttoned -- from May through September. Not affected, not necessary (my shirts aren't too tight at the throat), and not sloppy. Just a way of life in this former swamp on the Potomac.

 

[Spatterdash]

Personally, I follow this rule; if it's after dinner and I'm not in a heavily populated place, like a club, party or a bar, I am free to loosen if I wish, which is rare.

Honestly, the tie-less generation would see no problem with you removing the tie entirely these days, and going about with no tie, an unbuttoned collar and a three-piece suit would likely be seen as very fashionable. So if you reach the point you want to loosen the tie, consider removing it completely. Just my opinion.

As for bowties, well, if it's the silliness after a wedding dinner, the groomsmen can let their black satins hang untied for that after-hours look, no problem.

 

[Samsa]

Why is a purposely loosned tie any less affected then our discussion of wearing a fedora at an angle or having our jacket sleeves just right to show that certain amount of shirt cuff?

It's not. Perhaps the purposefully loosened tie is seen as a modern affectation, not in sync with our vintage leanings.

Then again, few of use here (certainly not me) are so entirely vintage that such an affectation would compromise our golden era sartorial purity.

 

[Edward]

It's a look I sported a lot back in my formative years in the late 80s. I grew out of it around the same time as I grew beyond tying my tie "back to front" to get that super-skinny look we favoured in the 80s. These days, I'd think twice. Whether it's a four in hand or a bow, I would never consider wearing a tie with a loosened neck or undone in a public place. For me, the proper place for that is after one has returned home or has retired to one's hotel room for the night. Something to be sported in that intermediate period between sitting down with a tea before changing for bed.

 

[Steve Smith]

For me, loosened is just sloppy looking. I associate it with the guy who gained 25 lbs and didn't bother to buy new shirts.

 

[Smithy]

You used to get detention or even the cane from some masters at my old school for loosened ties.

It must have worked as I don't do it. I'll just take the thing off.

 

[Feng_Li]

It's a look I sported a lot back in my formative years in the late 80s. I grew out of it around the same time as I grew beyond tying my tie "back to front" to get that super-skinny look we favoured in the 80s. These days, I'd think twice. Whether it's a four in hand or a bow, I would never consider wearing a tie with a loosened neck or undone in a public place. For me, the proper place for that is after one has returned home or has retired to one's hotel room for the night. Something to be sported in that intermediate period between sitting down with a tea before changing for bed.

Agreed. I may loosen it at home, but if I go back out I tighten it again.

I sometimes use it as a mood indicator if I really am that exhausted: say, driving home at 3 A.M.