Classic patterns, new shapes make ties more desirable
Associated Press
Originally published 06:00 p.m., May 14, 2008
Updated 07:03 p.m., May 14, 2008
Southern Proper
Ties from Southern Proper feature small repeated icons, a trend this year.
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Almost as predictable as getting a tie for Father's Day is getting at least one destined for the back of the closet, be it covered in penguins or wide enough to top a flagpole. But choosing a good tie doesn't have to be an exercise in luck.
The answer lies in mixing a bit of the old with the new - combining classic patterns to appeal to dad's safer side in slimmer, modern shapes that nudge his fashion forward.
Perennial favorites like polka dots and stripes get a punch of freshness when sized down - think pinhead sized for dots, or pencil width for stripes. Club ties, those featuring very small repeated icons, harken to collegiate neckwear and inject a little youth into any man's wardrobe.
Floral and even vine patterns are in for the season, while bursts of pinks and berries compliment the grays popular in men's suiting right now.
But the biggest trend, fashion insiders agree, involves size.
"The slimming trend is probably one of the most significant things," explains Jerry Balest, vice president of men's fashion for Macy's Merchandising Group. "Thin is in." Macy's recently resized its men's ties; now a tie that had traditionally been 4 inches at its widest will shrink to 3 1/2 inches.
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