Dress to Express: Six Ways to Make a Statement with a Tie
By Katharine Swan

Thirty years ago, a tie was the mark of a businessman.  A man who wore a tie was instantly seen as professional, competent, most likely even exceptional.  A tie earned respect, changing even the way people communicated in the workplace.

What has a tie become today?  With more and more offices relaxing their dress codes, business casual has become the norm for many businessmen.  Instead of dressing to earn respect, many men now exemplify the minimum that is required: usually Dockers and a polo shirt.

With the trend toward business casual, wearing a tie has become a sign of individuality.  Whereas men thirty years ago wore ties so that they all looked the same, a tie now gives the wearer the opportunity to set himself apart from the crowd.  The many different styles of ties offer a variety of options for expressing your creative personality.  Here, we’ve listed six basic ways to strut your stuff with a tie.

Wear a tie when no one else does.  There is no better way to draw attention to your individuality than by doing something differently from everyone else.  Adapting your normal work or dress outfit to include a tie will make other people take notice.  As an added benefit, wearing a tie still has the effect of commanding respect, both in the office and out on the town.

Use a tie to accent your style.  Just like other clothing, ties are subject to current trends.  If you consider yourself a trend-savvy individual, wearing a tie can demonstrate to others your attention to the current fashion – just as wearing a unique tie can demonstrate your nonconformist nature.  Different seasons typically command different color themes – for example, autumn tie colors tend to be darker and earthier in color.  The shape and size of a tie is also subject to current fashion, such as the super-skinny tie of the 1970s and 1980s, recently revived as “retro”.  Whether you adhere to the trends or march to the beat of your own drum, the tie you choose tells a lot about your personal style.

Wear a tie that gets noticed.  If you dress to get noticed, it is important to choose ties that support your goal.  A tie that blends in perfectly with your outfit is not very likely to attract very much attention, good or bad.  On the other hand, a brightly colored or patterned tie is sure to cause a stir.

Wear a tie that reflects your interests.  Dare to be that guy who wears a tie with his favorite sports team logo on the first day of the season, or announces his pride as a father with a tie that proclaims him the “World’s Best Dad.”  The many varied designs of novelty ties offer a way to express your individuality in a unique, straightforward manner.

Use a tie to celebrate a special occasion.  There are many novelty ties available to celebrate all of your most important occasions: birthdays, Father’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and the holiday season.

A well-chosen tie has the ability to announce who you are even before you open your mouth.  The more creative and fun varieties are sure to generate smiles and comments all day long, while trendy ties will give you the impression of being cool and capable.  Wearing a tie allows your to dress not only for success, but also to express yourself in a world of Dockers and polo shirts, slacks and boring button-down shirts.  Let your tie tell everyone what it is you have to say.