Yeehaw! The Tie Rides Again

Alfred Tong dons his (metaphorical) writing chaps and lassoes us some ruminations on tie-wearing in 2020.

One of the great joys of being a fashion commentator is to attempt, in the manner of a stock market analyst, to predict which items of clothing will rise out of nowhere to become the Next Big Thing. The 2010s have been a particularly disruptive (and vulgar) era for the male wardrobe: bum bags, sandals with socks, tie dye, huge clodhopper trainers, and fleeces have all somehow made the transition from the depths of bad taste to scale the heights of fashionability.

Pink Rodeo Print Shappe Silk Tie

"Goldman Sachs’ CEO David Soloman – aka DJ D-Sol – had relaxed the company’s dress code to ‘reflect the more casual business environment.’"

I remember being bewildered at the sight of a pair of Uggs at a press event in the early 2000s. When told by the PR that they were going to be the Next Big Thing, I laughed in their face. To me, they looked like a baked potato that had been fashioned into a shoe. But what did I know? The popularity of Uggs taught me my biggest lesson as a fashion stock analyst: nothing’s too ugly or preposterous to become Fashion. 

It seems like only yesterday, way back in the heady days of 2017, that I was mounting a desperate rear guard defence of the tie on Mr Porter and in the pages of GQ. Speaker of the house, John Bercow, decreed ties were no longer a requirement when speaking in the House of Commons. Goldman Sachs’ CEO David Soloman – aka DJ D-Sol – had relaxed the company’s dress code to ‘reflect the more casual business environment.’ In fashionable members’ clubs ties had been all but banned. 

But even as I wrote these pieces, I secretly believed that ties were doomed to be consigned to the dressing up box of historical men’s dress, like the bowler hat or powdered wig.  And then it hit me: but what about bum bags, fintech fleeces, and sundry other items that had come back from the grave? If so, why not the tie? 

Navy Cotton Twill Jacket

Navy Cotton Twill Trousers

 "Go hell-for-leather (or silk), with this rodeo print shappe silk tie. It’s bright pink for goodness sake. This is the tie to wear when doubling down on the blackjack table of life."

Gentleman, if only fashion really were like tech stocks, then I’d be Warren Buffet. This season, fashion has duly delivered the market correction that we have all been waiting for: the tie is back. It seems that the moment DJ D-Sol and John Bercow rejected it, the tie became something to have fun with, rather than be constricted by. 

A suit without a tie is like a band without a lead singer. It’s the expressive bit of your outfit that pulls everything together. Plus, you don’t need an office job to wear one. The new tie is one that’s worn because you want to, not because your school or HR department forced you to. It shows that you actually want to make a statement about yourself. 

We could give you lots of advice about pattern and colour combinations and how to make everything harmonious, but then you know that already. In 2020, the tie you wear is a deeply personal choice. I think that the Drake’s navy blue silk grenadine is the Levi’s 501 of the tie world, a classic that goes with everything. Alternatively you can go hell-for-leather (or silk), with this rodeo print shappe silk tie. It’s bright pink for goodness sake. This is the tie to wear when doubling down on the blackjack table of life. That’s the point about the new tie, it can be for anyone. Whatever you do, however you wear yours, just make it Fashion, okay?