2 MINUTE READ
Working in the field of bespoke menswear, ties are quite literally close to our hearts. This piece of iconic neckwear has slowly retreated into a more shadowy region of men’s daily attire. The shift has created some collateral damage; over the last decade, the number of men capable of correctly tying a neck tie has dwindled. While the older generation may still know the how-to, most of them have laid their ties to rest in a forgotten shelf somewhere. The younger generation hasn’t worn a tie since their last oral exam, which they are desperately trying to forget. At Café Costume we take our inspiration from the past but welcome the future and the changes it brings. The fact that ties are not a regularity anymore could be a good thing. That way, it attracts more attention from the wearer as well as the observer. Hopefully, more thought will have been put into it, thus bestowing the accessory with the appreciation it deserves. 2 birds in one stone, we’d say. However, the thing still needs to be put in place (and stay there). A quick browse on the internet will present you with “60 different ways to tie your neck tie”, “14 ways to not tie your necktie”, “5 essential knots for your tie”, and so on. Discouraging, to say the least. Let us help you as if you were a visitor in our store by showing you our 2 preferred tie-knots.
“Working in the field of bespoke menswear, ties are quite literally close to our hearts."
Knot number one, “The four in hand”. This knot is perfectly suitable for every kind of tie, every kind of build. One explanation for the name can be found in the hand of carriage drivers, who used this knot to secure the reins of their horse-drawn carriages. It’s also called “the simple knot”. If that doesn’t soothe you we don’t know what will. The knot has an asymmetric look and has that air of carelesness a classical tie-wearer misses. Use this knot with medium or slim ties, as the knot itself will be narrow and slightly diagonal. A tie like our Trens Green is your best bet. Secondly, the “Windsor knot”. A name derived from the Duke of Windsor, who appropriated the knot by wearing thicker ties, thus creating thicker knots. Hence this is a more formal creation, suited for wider ties. The effect of this knot is enhanced by wearing a open-collar shirt and using silk ties. Its symmetric appearance grants the wearer a refined look. Use this knot every time you’re not using knot number one.
Even though James Bond doesn’t approve of this second knot, it can’t be denied it looks great with thicker and wider ties. The Teangi Orange Rust from our webshop is such a specimen. Ultimately we can’t think of any reason to use a different knot than these. To use Hardy Amies’ words: “Men should look as if he had bought his clothes with intelligence, put them on with care and then forgotten all about them.” Putting too much effort into elaborate knots will not create the kind of nonchalant elegance we’d wish for modern-day tie-wearers to exhibit.
