Give a man a tie bar, and he looks good for a day. Teach a man how to wear it, and he’ll look classy for a lifetime! MenWit believes in this, and posits how you wear tie bars and clips properly.
The Redundant Factor!
Never wear a tie bar or clip with a cardigan or vest. The intent behind wearing a clip is to hold the tie in place, which is already been taken care of by the vest.
Tie bars and tie clips, the distinctive menswear accessories, have been gaining momentum, owing to the renewed interest in classic men’s style. The placement of your tie bar can build or destruct your charisma. It is, therefore, important to place it right, with the right angle, knowing the correct width. Wearing it in the wrong position can ruin the overall look.
Apart from using necktie accessories for their actual purpose, i.e., holding the tie in place, they are forthrightly used for depicting the perfect look! Tie chain, another tie accessory, was popular in the late ’40s and ’50s, but is no longer in trend, and should be avoided. Ponder on, for the article is flooded with tips for you to flaunt it the right way.
Purpose
A tie clip is designed to fasten both the ends of your tie to the placket of your shirt, thus stopping your tie from playing around. Neckties create a formal look, and tie bars would help in creating the right impression.
Styles
Tie clips don’t offer a huge variety to choose from. (Just kidding!) They come in two styles: pinch clasp and slide clasp. A pinch clasp has the reputation of holding the tie more securely. It is meant for thicker fabrics, while the slide clasp may be more apt for thinner ties.
Placement
Where to place your tie clip? The most important of all is its appropriate placement. If the bar is placed too high, it may bubble the necktie, giving a sappy appearance. If it’s too low, it can look shabby and pretty off-the-track.
The simple rule is―placing it between the third and fourth buttons of your dress shirt. This will give you a taller and slimmer look.
Note:
1. Your jacket should be buttoned below the tie clip. This look is indeed stylish!
2. If you want a more conventional look, place the clip in between the 4th and 5th shirt button. Here, the suit button will cover the tie clip when buttoned, giving a traditional touch.
Size
Make sure to select a tie clip based on the width of your tie. Tie clips wider than the width of the tie is a big no-no! So, don’t even attempt to do it, or the Fashion Gurus will afflict you with lightning blades. It can look gawky. If the clip is too small, it will give a dwarfed effect.
Note:
The thumb rule is 3/4 of the width of the tie. But for a retro look, you can go for a bar that matches the full width of your tie.
Angle
The tie bar should never be worn at an angle! Placing it in an angle, or keeping it inclined in any slant direction is some sort of a style myth.
Note:
Always wear the tie bar perpendicular to your tie.
Color Suggestions
Pick a graceful gold or simply a silver tie bar to play it safe. It’s always good to match the tie bar metals with the jacket buttons. There are no hard-and-fast rules when choosing the color of a tie bar, but it should add up to your decency, and not become a matter of gossip. If you feel that it complements your style, go with patterned or colored tie bars.
Our Say:
You just can’t go wrong with silver.
Some Additional Tips
✦ Adjust the tie clip carefully. Make sure that the clip is unclipped, so as to save the material from getting damaged and stretched up.
✦ Do not overload accessories. A tie clip or bar can serve as a perfect addition, but keep it simple and refined.
✦ Try to match the metal polish of your tie clip with the shirt buttons, cuff links, jacket buttons, or a belt buckle.
Never wear the same tie two days in a row, as neckties are highly noticeable. Also, the tie clips or bars should not be too funky. Don’t make it look like you’re trying too hard. The ultimate aim is to make it look elegant and sophisticated. When in doubt, remember the KISS principle―Keep it Simple, Stupid!
