Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Raising the Bar























The tie bar is an instant style upgrade when you're sporting a tie. We're talking about tie bars (aka tie clips) not collar bars. The tie bar is functional--it was created to keep your tie in place and not flying in the wind or in your food--but it's also classic and stylish. It's a great accessory to add a little flair to your look. They're definitely making a come back as far as trends go, but they were not seen for quite some time. Regardless of trends, the it is a great compliment to a nice suit. Here are a few tips for using a tie bar:

--Wear it higher than half way up the tie, but not too high. Right at about the lower tip of the sternum is good. Straight across the tie is best.

--Some tie bars have teeth on the back side. A lot of the teethed ones have hinges. Others just slide on. No hinge. Suit yourself.

--Keep it clean and simple. There are some pretty crazy tie bars out there. Steer clear of bejeweled or baroque looking stuff as a general rule. Less is definitely more with tie bars. You can't go wrong with a simple silver tie bar with or without subtle designs or lines.