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What is so Special About Silk Ties?

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

Few clothing accessories denote style and luxury as silk ties can. Silk ties add a special sheen to a man's suit, offering both visual interest and personal expression. Other materials may be used in the manufacture of ties, but silk has a built-in cache of expense and glamor. Silk ties benefit from the richer dyes used by silk producers and the expertise of high-end designers. Fashion experts often coordinate tailored suits with appropriate silk ties for effect.

Those who need to invest in business suits for employment often find the cost of most accessories to be prohibitive. Few can afford gold cuff links with diamond accents or an expensive Rolex watch, but silk ties can be surprisingly affordable in the right clothing outlets. Any form of tie can hide shirt buttons or define a vertical line, but a silk tie pulls the entire suit together in an elegant way. A well-designed silk tie draws the eye towards the wearer's face, leading to a better interpersonal connection.

Silk fabric.
Silk fabric.

Business fashion experts say the choice of tie can reflect the wearer's personality or preferred image. Silk ties offer very bold color schemes and patterns which imply power or security. These ties can also be coordinated with dress shirts to give the impression of organization and personal neatness. Other ties may demonstrate a sense of humor or fashion-forward thinking, but silk ties alone offer a shorthand code for success. Potential employers and customers may subliminally assign more confidence to someone who knows quality when he sees it.

Silk comes from the cocoon of the silkworm.
Silk comes from the cocoon of the silkworm.

Silk ties are not without some drawbacks, however. Natural silk is a very delicate material and should normally be cleaned by professionals only. Storing an expensive tie means investing in a tie rack and keeping it protected from the elements. Because tie tacks puncture the material by design, silk ties should only kept in check by non-invasive tie clips. A wrinkled silk tie must be handled carefully- a hot iron can instantly ruin the material. Expensive ties stained by food should be treated with an approved spot remover quickly before the stain sets.

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

A regular WiseGEEK contributor, Michael enjoys doing research in order to satisfy his wide-ranging curiosity about a variety of arcane topics. Before becoming a professional writer, Michael worked as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.

Learn more...
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

A regular WiseGEEK contributor, Michael enjoys doing research in order to satisfy his wide-ranging curiosity about a variety of arcane topics. Before becoming a professional writer, Michael worked as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

patmac

The English madder tie is recognized worldwide as an icon of British style. It’s a home grown classic with a proud heritage and a distinct provenance. The “madder” part of this lovely phrase refers to a natural dye from a Eurasian herbaceous plant, Rubia tinctoria.

Its continuing success through decades of rise and fall owe much too scientific intervention. The coloring agent in madder root called alizarin was in fact first chemically extracted and then synthesized in 1869 by two English chemists. Although the dyeing process, even today, requires a variety of painstaking steps, synthesized alizarin brought the price within the reach of commercial producers. Testimony to the significant part science plays ensuring the longevity of styles and textiles. Silk dyed in this manner is characterized by a dusty-looking finish and a feel (referred to as a chalk hand by the experts) very much like fine suede, and a matte finish.

Continuing, madder ties adorn the necks of English gentry countrywide. Sitting perfectly with tweed jackets and checked shirts. It complements a recognisable style that remains true to form and function with a distinctive British sensibility. Like most quintessential home grown classics madder ties stand the test of time, even today designers include them in their seasonal collections. [business name removed] tie makers since 1937 regularly produce a small range of madder prints. Commonly using small paisley and geometric patterns against a richly coloured back drop is emblematic of such a proud heritage. Paisley madder ties have been a status symbol on college campuses since the 1930s, as natty alternative to the traditional striped tie

If you’re a collector then it’s not complete without madder. Frank Sinatra is reputed to have such in his collection of five hundred, which he often gave to adoring fans when touring.

It’s a short story with a long history.

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    • Silk fabric.
      By: felinda
      Silk fabric.
    • Silk comes from the cocoon of the silkworm.
      By: lily
      Silk comes from the cocoon of the silkworm.
    • A well-designed silk tie can draw people to look at the wearer's face.
      By: Minerva Studio
      A well-designed silk tie can draw people to look at the wearer's face.