Guide To Wearing Knitted Ties

Knitted ties have a special look that has become once again fashionable. They are more bulky in appearance than a silk tie, but that is what also gives them a bit of appeal. They are made from cashmere, wool, and other yarns. Since they are knitted from these yarns, the pattern of the knitting is quite visible. They are seen as a "heavier" tie and because they are bulkier, they are usually warn during the colder times of year. At one point in history the knitted tie was considerably less expensive than a fine silk tie so they were often chosen as part of the proper school uniform for young boys.

Recently knitted ties are being seen on fashion runways and are offered as a choice for office wear as well as semi-casual wear. The texture of the knitted is the characteristic that makes it stand out. When a knitted tie is tied into a knot the knot is bulkier and more square.

It is not advisable to try to tie a knitted tie into a Windsor knot. The Windsor knot style is better reserved for a satin, polyester, or a silk tie that is easier to tie in the more complicated fashion. A knitted tie in a Windsor knot would be too bulky when the knot is finished.

When choosing a knitted tie to go with a specific shirt, it is advisable to match a knitted tie with a solid-colored shirt that is a shade darker or a shade lighter than the knitted tie. Because the knitted tie will have a natural tendency to stand out more than a satin, polyester, or a silk tie, it should not be worn with a shirt that is also textured, nor should the jacket worn be textured such as corduroy.

This is because the patterns may conflict. The idea is to wear a knitted tie with a classic wool jacket and plain solid color shirt for the best effect. The ends of the knitted tie are usually square (although there are modern versions that are also pointed) so they make an interesting look when exposed between the open lapels of the jacket when compared to the pointed end of the regular satin, polyester, or silk ties.

A tie bar complements the knitted tie nicely because it draws attention to the squared end of the tie by offering another horizontal line higher up to attract the eye. The tie bar has more substance than the tie tack which can get lost on the textured surface of the knitted tie, so the tie bar is more dramatic to wear with a knitted tie.

The actor Sean Connery, when he played James Bond in the 007 movie called "Goldfinger", wore a black knitted tie. In those days the knitted tie was very popular and for awhile it lost a bit of its appeal, but it seems now that it has once again come back into favor for any aspiring well-dressed gentleman that fancies himself an international man of mystery.