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Are Ties History for Men?
by Sandy Dumont, BOL Guru
 The Wall Street Journal recently noted that the future of neckties is very much in doubt. This highly unlikely projection arose from the fact that the Men's Dress Furnishings Association, the trade group that represents American tiemakers, has just shut down, and it's no wonder. No, it's not because men don't wear ties every day anymore. The truth is, the majority of ties are made overseas today. However, that's probably not the main reason this association is defunct.
Would you trust a dentist who had bad teeth, or a stockbroker who drove a broken-down car and dressed shabbily? Apparently, a number of prominent members of the tie association came to meetings without ties. The CEO of Vineyard Vines tie company was quoted as saying, "We make ties for other people, so that we don't have to wear them." Marty Staff, CEO of a clothing conglomerate that includes the Joseph Abboud label declared that, "Power is being able to dress the way you want." This isn't power, it is arrogance, and it shouts that your comfort is more important than impressing your potential clients. It is an in-your-face stance.
Who wants to be a member of a tie association whose members don't wear ties? It's hardly a conducive environment for success, especially in hard times like today. You must believe in your product, or you will subliminally hate yourself for living a lie - and that's according to social psychologists.
Ties will never go out of style as long as men need to show they are special. Every expert agrees: men are hardwired to brag and to become King of the Mountain. As Mark Twain said, "Strip the human race absolutely naked, and it would be a real democracy, but the introduction of even a rag of tiger skin, or a cowtail, could make a badge of distinction." Suits in dark colors just don't enable a man to look distinctive and stand out from the rest of the herd, and ties that match shirt colors don't either. They simply disappear into the shirt, so why bother. Ties were invented to enable a man to "make a statement" about who he is.
When it comes to business attire for men, the rules were established in the 1400s, and they haven't changed much since then. Men were the sole breadwinners in that era, so they needed to look reliable, upright and credible. No frivolous attire was permitted for men, as this was deemed to be appropriate for women only. Dark colors in staid fabrics did the trick. It was not until the time of the French court in the 1600s and 1700s that men dared to wear pastels in perishable fabrics such as silk or satin. Unfortunately, this display of conspicuous wealth and frivolity ultimately caused heads to roll. Throughout the Western world, dark colors and staid fabrics once again became the norm.
Decorative neckwear, such as the cravat, emerged in the 1700s and 1800s, probably to have some relief from the boring, monochromatic business costumes in style at that time. On both sides of the Atlantic, men wore fabrics and colors that resembled burlap bags. It is likely that a creative gentleman borrowed a brightly-colored scarf from his wife and tied it around his neck, fulfilling the urge to look more special than the rest of the herd. The rest is history.
Today, some designers are attempting to expand business colors for men to include pastels. This spring I saw lettuce green and pink ties paired with pastel green shirts and other girlie combinations. It won't work. The only pastel that will ever command respect is the tan suit; and this only when it is worn with a power tie in a dark color. Dark colors suggest power and authority, pastels suggest passivity. Heads may not roll when pastel ties are worn, but they won't turn either. Pastels simply do not command attention nor make a statement of any substance.
Gender roles have changed somewhat since the 1400s, but only on the part of women. If men want to maintain their image of power and authority, they may wish to reconsider giving up ties, and here is food for thought. The tie is an acknowledged phallic symbol, and one wonders if most men are aware of this. It doesn't seem a very clever thing to discard.
About the Author:
Sandy Dumont is an image consultant with 30 years experience working with individuals and Fortune 500 companies. She is a recognized pioneer and leader in the field of image management and impression strategies. Contact her at www.theimagearchitect.com.
First published on BankersOnline.com 7/20/09
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