The Bow Tie

TIPS FOR ROCKING YOUR BOW TIE LIKE A PRO

1. Tie Your Own Bow Tie

If you take your style seriously, walk straight on past the clip-on and pre-tied varieties and get yourself a self-tie bow tie. Now, clip-on and self-tie bow ties certainly have their place, but if you want to really master this accessory, you’ll need to tie that bow yourself. Because donning a bow tie instantly puts you in a class all your own–one reserved for sartorial professionals, academics, and tastemakers alike. So if you’re gonna be lazy about it, why even bother?

2. It’s All About Balance

A general rule of thumb is to keep it simple. A loud bow tie will lend itself well to a muted outfit, such as a solid-colored shirt or suit. Conversely, a simpler bow tie will pair well with more bold shirt colors and accessories.

3. Know When Not to Wear a Bow Tie

Like we already said, sporting a bow tie is no subtle affair. Therefore, there are some situations for which a bow tie may not be the most appropriate. A funeral, for example, is probably one of them.

4. Know When to Wear a Bow Tie

On the other hand, there are a bunch of other circumstances that are bow tie-appropriate. These events are definitely bow tie friendly:

Weddings and other formal events (such as the black tie event). When you’re attending a wedding, don’t be afraid of colors and patterns. Especially if the wedding is outdoors or themed, a nice bow tie that matches the affair will fit right in.
The office. It doesn’t matter if your office is casual or formal, because a bow tie lends itself to all levels of formality. Wearing a bow tie to work implies a sense of dapper professionalism. It also makes you look more creative and approachable. Just keep the colors and patterns on the simpler side, and you’ll be good to go.
Religious services. It’s true that religious services are getting increasingly more casual, but if you’re attending an Easter service or someone’s baptism, for example, a bow tie and a button-down shirt or a v-neck sweater is totally appropriate.
Brunch. Even just the word “brunch” summons up images of pastel colors, mimosas, and well, bow ties. Whether you’re going with family or a date, a bow tie will add just the right touch of playfulness to your morning ensemble.

5. Mind the Fabric

Keep fabric in mind when determining what kind of bow tie you want to wear to any given event. Your cotton, linen, and seersucker bow ties will be most appropriate at events that skew toward the casual side. Meanwhile, silk and wool bow ties are staples of more formal affairs.

6. Mind the Shape

Along with fabric, know that different bow tie shapes also come into play when considering which to wear. The Butterfly bow tie (a.k.a. Thistle) is the most traditional shape, and is definitely a solid go-to appropriate for most occasions. The Club Round bow tie is at the other end of the spectrum, and is unique and trendy.