All good things are worth repeating. A perfect example is men’s narrow ties. The fashion started during the beginning of the 20th century and gained its largest following during the 50′s and 60′s, then made a youthful resurgence in the 80′s. Today they are returning to fashion again with stars like Will Smith, Jeremy Piven and other celebrities opting for narrow black ties to accessorize their tuxedos at the recent Golden Globes Awards.
Skinny Neckties worn in the 20′s
It is regularly acknowledged that thin men’s neckties vary in size from 1 to 3 inches across the widest part of the tie. Both traditional neckties and flat bottom thin neckties during the first ten years of the 20th century were slender, varying from 2 to 2 ½ inches wide. Some ties measuring as thin as 1 ½ inches, were even referred to popularlly at the time as string ties. Due to shortages brought about by World War I, neckties remained unchanged for the next ten years. 2 inch wide neckties remained in style throughout the 20′s and then disapeared until the 50′s.
In the period after the war, as notes Sarah Gibbings, in her great volume “The Tie: Trends and Traditions”, the shortages of the second world war left no funds, no surplus supplies or factories in Europe. The United States became an exporter of change and positive postwar plans for the rest of the world. Ex soldiers were looking for colorful and bold patterns, something exuberant and modern. The United States responded with a toward the wide, exciting and brightly colored ties which went on to dominate the 40′s and early 1950′s. In order to show off these neckties, the men’s jacket lapels became broader and jackets were buttoned lower which provided more area for the tie.
Skinny Ties of the 1950′s
By the middle of the 50’s, the United State’s reaction to the the Korean War, Cold War and a recession restrained the American attitude. Men’s fashion reflected the Nation’s more restrained attitude. Suits became more conservative, with tighter pants, less wide lapels and narrower neckties to match. Vivid and brilliant color combinations were pushed out by restrained patterns and plain colors. This hearlded the official rebirth of the quintessential thin black necktie.
As popular celebrities such as Elvis started to wear thin ties, the teenagers reflected their fashion. By the middle of the 1960′s neckties as narrow as 1 inch were worn by most business men and young men alike.
Narrow Ties of the 80′s
Skinny neckties returned in the 1980′s, especially in the new wave music world, which was a repudiation of the florid and excessive fashion of the 1970′s.
Thin Neckties Are Popular Today
Narrow ties are popular today. Just the other day attorney Anthony Romero, executive director of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) made an appearance on the Colbert Report sporting a dark skinny tie. During the show, Stephen Colbert asked him to find something wrong with him. After a brief look at Colbert’s wide yellow foulard style necktie, Romero quickly pointed out, “That tie is not my favorite”, which predictably brought plenty of laughs at the host’s expense.
Fashion is a matter of personal style and fashion trends but a well dressed man wearing a extraordinary narrow necktie will always be in style. Original vintage narrow ties from the 50′s, 1960′s and 80′s can be found online when searching for “vintage skinny ties”. Try one today!
