Ties, ties, and more ties · 4:23pm Aug 3rd, 2024

Aside from history, brightly coloured ponies, and writing about a certain prince going through the very worst days of his entire life, I am very interested in clothes. Specifically, I like the classic menswear from the early to mid 20th century. Indeed, I collect and wear suits and ties from that era (with a few modern reproductions) to help compensate for my lack of an interesting personality.

Now, I think ties get a bit of a bad rap. Of course they're a symbol of corporate conformity now, though I would hasten to point out that in 2024 and the age of 'business casual' one is more likely to stand out in an office with a tie around one's neck than without except perhaps in the City of London, but in that so-called 'Golden Age' of traditional menswear, a tie was simply another way to add colour and pattern to one's outfit, alongside a shirt, suit, and pocket handkerchief. That is exactly how I approach ties and how they should be approached, not as something one has to wear for a boring office job, but an opportunity to add to what would otherwise be a desperately dull outfit if you want. To go tieless in a suit, particularly if it is a dark formal suit for town, feels as it is lacking something, or, worse yet, puts one in mind of a politician attempting to look formal enough for office but relaxed and youthful enough for a younger audience. Better to just go fully casual in that regard, in my opinion.

Anyway, I decided to go through my tie collection to better organise it. If I can't see an item easily then it doesn't get worn. After getting all of them out of storage and placing them all on my bed to organise by formality, season, and how likely I am to wear them again, I gazed upon the mass of ties and considered that perhaps I may have an addiction:

I've since re-organised them, arranging the ones that I tend to wear the most often on tie racks and the rest inside a clear plastic box. About half of these are modern and the other half from the 1940s. The older ones tend to have a thinner interlining, allowing one to create a smaller knot, which I much prefer to the thicker, bulkier knots afforded by modern ties.

I hoped you enjoyed this glimpse into what else I do besides writing here. Don't worry, the next chapter is on it's way, but I may post a few photos of some of the more interesting items in my wardrobe in the meantime.

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