Ties R Us

Tag: ties

  • The World’s Worst Ties

    The World’s Worst Ties

    With the classy comes the outright tacky. It’s pretty hard to get away from gimmicky ties and the people who think they’re funny wearing them.

    Granted, there are some sensational designs out there. Novelty ties can be a great way to express your personality in the workplace, or to show your students you have a sense of humour. Sometimes, however, novelty can be taken too far!

    We’ve scoured the internet for some of the wackiest tie designs we could find, ranking the best (or worst!) five. Check them out…

     

    The Bad, The Worse and The Ugly

    5. Retro Gaming Ties 

    Now, in the grand scheme of things, this is one we don’t actually hate too much. Obviously a gaming tie isn’t a great idea for any formal events, but for more dressed down instances you can really get your passion for retro classics such as Space Invaders across!

    There are a huge range of classic arcade game ties available so you can easily find your favourite, whether it’s Pacman or Donkey Kong. Just maybe avoid if you’re at a wedding or serious work affair!

     

    4. The Piano Tie 

    The piano tie is, weirdly enough, a design that has been cemented in the fashion world as an iconic statement. Hailing from the ever-so fashionable 80s, the piano tie was seen everywhere from modern day Joe’s to musicians, making itself seen in a copious amount of cheesy music videos!

    Thankfully for the modern day man, the black and white striped designs didn’t quite carry over to the next decade, and died their natural death with the change in fashion. They’re still available in the depths of the web – just thankfully not from us!

     

    3. Food Themed Ties 

    While many seem to think it’s great fun to have your favourite fast food on a tie, we’d have to argue it isn’t one of the best choices. The worst we’ve come across was one decorated to look like a piece of salami. There really is no reason, besides being a butcher on a dress down day, that you would need a tie with a salami design!

    From hamburger patterns to ties resembling a slice of pepperoni pizza, we’d suggest perhaps just leaving food for eating rather than wearing!

     

    2. The Fish Tie 

    So, this design was pretty horrific. When we first heard fish tie’, we envisioned a tie patterned with an array of fish. We were wrong.

    Yes, this tie is shaped like an actual fish. An actual fish hanging from your neck. While we can see the comedy appeal, surely the joke would die out pretty soon?!

    This could work as a secret santa gift, offering you the opportunity to do your work colleague right over with a ‘joke’ present. Other than that, if you have any self-respect, stay clear!

     

    1. Light Up Ties and Musical Ties 

    Coming in at number one has to be the most annoying tie you can opt for – a musical, light up tie.

    The worst time for this has to be Christmas, when novelty music and light-up ties come out in droves to irritate us and distract us from our work. We all know the type of guy who thinks a musical tie is the most hilarious thing in the world, and we can let you into a little secret – it’s not!

    In our eyes, the only acceptable time for one of these ties is as an office-friendly alternative to an ‘ugly Christmas jumper’ day. If you’re wearing one any other time, remember the people around you probably despise you!

     

    How To Make A Statement In The Right Way

    Now, we’re not total bores. We appreciate that a novelty tie can be just that – a good novelty! They can be fun as a one off statement, just perhaps not as a regular part of your ensemble.

    If you’re still looking for something a little different to a regular, plain necktie, whether for a special event or making an impression around the office, colour and patterns are the way forward!

    A bright red bow tie or a polka dot tie, for example, are ideal for adding a little fun and personality to your outfit at a party, while floral ties and paisley ties are perfect for giving your wedding look a quirky edge.

     

    So next time you’re thinking of picking up an OTT garish necktie, stop and consider the clean cut, stylish, yet statement collection of men’s ties here at Ties R Us.

  • 10 Ways to Upcycle Your Tie

    10 Ways to Upcycle Your Tie

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    Similarly to any fashions, ties can go out of style. We’re all guilty of wanting to keep on top of current trends and therefore old ties can end up neglected, thrown in the back of a drawer and forgotten about.
    A tie, however, can often hold sentimental value. Maybe it’s a tie you wore for a special occasion – a memorable wedding, perhaps – or even the old tie of a lost loved one. You may no longer want to wear it, but also don’t want to leave it forgotten. Here at Ties R Us we have a creative solution – upcycling! With simple DIY you can create something completely new and unique, so you can continue to get use from any ties you no longer wear.

    Here are 10 fun ideas for ways to upcycle your old ties:

    • Headband.
      One for the ladies – use an old tie to make a ladies or girls tie-around headband. The easiest of all the DIYs to do, as you don’t actually need to do anything! You can trim the tie down to size if you wish, or add accessories (think stick on bows or flowers) – otherwise, simply tie around the head and voila! One new headband at no extra cost from you.
    • Luggage tag
      Turn your old tie into a fabric luggage tag. All you need is scissors, thread and a button to attach the strap. This easy and effective DIY leaves you with a unique luggage tag, meaning your belongings are instantly recognisable – so no more double checking that you’re picking up the right luggage!
    • Tie quilt.
      One for the craftier types out there – use old ties to make a patchwork style quilt. This works well when you have a lot of ties, and can look effective with a mish-mash of different styles. This is a DIY that can become a long-term project and potentially span generations, with more ties being added over time.
    • Mini bunting
      This is a neat and easy DIY for if you have a large collection of ties. Simply cut off near the bottom of the tie and attach to some string to make unique and fun bunting decorations.
    • Phone / gadget case.
      You can turn your old tie into an attractive phone or gadget case with a simple bit of sewing. Check out this Youtube video from Tiffany Threadgould for detailed instructions.

    • Neck tie owl.
      Use an old tie to make an adorable little owl. This DIY takes advantage of the natural shape of a tie – you simply need to cut an extra triangle a couple of inches from the bottom, pointing in the same direction as the tie. The triangle shape you’ve cut acts as the ears for your owl, and you can sew on buttons for eyes. You could then add stuffing to make an owl toy, or a pin on the back to make a unique fabric owl broach.
    • Shoelaces.
      Cut your tie into thin strips and use as shoelaces. This quick and easy DIY works especially well with bright or patterned ties, giving a fun and unique touch to your shoes.
    • Coffee cosy.
      We’re all familiar with the cardboard coffee holders we get with take-out coffees – why not try making your own from an old tie? More attractive than cardboard and great for keeping your drink warm and protecting your hands, all you have to do is cut down to size and attach a button to create your own unique coffee cosy.
    • Snake toy.
      The shape of a tie works perfectly to create a fun snake toy and it couldn’t be easier to do, making this the perfect DIY for kids to get involved with too. Simply stuff with cotton wool, sew up the ends and add a felt tongue and buttons for eyes (be sure to sew on the eyes rather than gluing if this is a toy for a child). And there you have it – one quick and easy snake toy that the kids are sure to love!
    • Necklace
      This is a great DIY for ties with a paisley or floral pattern – turn them into an attractive fabric necklace! Check out this Youtube video from DIY Projects for a detailed tutorial.

  • How To Tie The Perfect Tie

    How To Tie The Perfect Tie

    Tying the perfect tie is an art form, it makes all the difference in how your shirt and tie combo look. A simple touch such as a dimple in a tie can add both sophistication and depth to one man’s outfit, whereas an unbalanced and rushed knot can make it look like a clip on.

    There are a few different knots you should identify yourself with. These are great to know, as one of the best ways for a man to accessorise is with a tie. Some knots go better with certain outfits and others accent your body frame in a more flattering way. You should get to know at least ONE knot perfectly.

    Today we’ll be taking a closer look at four of the most popular tie knots – the Windsor knot, the Half-Windsor knot, the Four-In-Hand knot and the Pratt knot – to ensure you’re prepared for any situation.

    The Windsor knot.

    The Windsor knot is the most popular knot and the most used knots for shirt and suit combos. It is a thick, wide and triangular knot that projects confidence. It would therefore be your knot of choice for anywhere you need to look respectable, such as at work. Because of its size, the Windsor is best suited for wide spread collar shirts.

    How To Tie A Windsor Knot

    1. Begin with the wide end of the tie on your right side, and the narrow on the left.
    2. Place the wide end across the narrow end.
    3. Bring the wide end around and throw the neck loop.
    4. Bring the wide end back down to the right.
    5. Pull the wide end underneath the existing knot.
    6. Bring the wide end through the neck loop again – this creates a symmetrical shape.
    7. Bring the wide end back down and to the right.
    8. Loop the wide end in front of the existing knot, up to the neck loop from underneath then down through the newly created loop.
    9. Tighten / adjust knot as needed.

    The Half Windsor knot.

    The half Windsor knot differs from the Windsor in that it’s not as wide, but still wide enough that you should make sure it’s not pushing your collar up awkwardly. You’ll come to rely on this knot pretty heavily as it works for almost every occasion. It is a lot easier to get the hang of than the Full Windsor.

    How To Tie A Half-Windsor Knot

    1. Begin with the wide end on your right and the narrow on your left.
    2. Bring the wide end across over the narrow end.
    3. Bring the wide end upwards, through the collar loop, then bring down.
    4. Now cross the wide end underneath your knot, then cross over the narrow end.
    5.  Pull through the collar again, then pull through the neck loop.
    6. Tighten / adjust knot as needed.

    Four-in-hand knot.

    If you’re looking for a knot to wear with casual clothing then the four-in-hand knot is ideal. It’s naturally going to be a little asymmetrical, so don’t be discouraged that it doesn’t look straight. The dimple is much harder to produce on this kind of knot, and sometimes will not form at all. This is a great knot for those times you’re in a rush too.

    How To Tie A Four-In-Hand Knot

    1. Place the wide end to the right, around 12 inches below the narrow end.
    2. Bring the wide end over the narrow end.
    3. Bring back underneath, then around to create a full loop.
    4. Pull the wide end up through the neck collar, then down through the loop.
    5. Tighten / adjust knot as needed.

    Pratt knot.

    The Pratt is neither as large as the Windsor nor as narrow as the four-in-hand knot, it pairs well with most dress shirts and looks suitable on any occasion.

    How To Tie A Pratt Knot

    1. Begin with the tie upside down.
    2. The wide end should be to the right, and around 12 inches below the narrow end.
    3. Bring the wide end underneath the narrow end.
    4. Bring over, and through the neck loop.
    5. Bring the wide end in front of the narrow.
    6. Bring underneath, and slide through the loop.
    7. Adjust / tighten knot as needed.

    Now that you’re familiar with how to tie the perfect tie for every occasion, why not take a look through our men’s tie range here at Ties R Us and find the ideal tie for you!