When and How to Wear a Bow Tie (B)

Bow ties are one of our favorite accessories. They are really the expression of the fact that you can wear something simple yet elegant, and that that thing will make your outfit. Bow ties were first popularized in the 17th century, when soldiers and surgeons preferred neck scarves and shorter ties instead of longer styles. A little later, bow ties became popular accessory for formal or academic events. Bow ties are now one of the symbols of elegance! This is why it is very important to know when and how to wear a bow tie.

Bow ties are usually the right thing to wear at a formal event or in an academic surrounding. It is very important to know that bow ties do not replace ties, so don’t wear a bow tie to a job interview or a regular job meeting. You can wear them though, if you incorporate them into your daily style, making the bow tie your fashion statement.

When to wear a bow tie though? Wear a bow tie with a tuxedo or an elegant suit to a business party or a conference that requires formal attire.

Even though not a widely spread piece of information, bow ties come in a lot of colors. Black, white and silver are the classics, which you can wear anywhere, as long as wearing one is required. You can wear a green, yellow, blue, orange etc. bow tie at a less formal occasion. Colorful bow ties should be matched to a handkerchief or pocket square. Bow ties with patterns, although not so common, are really are usually worn by people who wear bow ties quite often, and do not make very formal attire.

Let’s talk about the fabric of this great accessory. The fabric of your bow tie is also very important: the more shiny the bow tie, the more formal it is.

The size is not an important factor, but different sizes match different men. Most common bow ties have a spread of 2.25 inches – 2.75 inches / 5.7 – 7 cm. Smaller, skinnier bows, also called bat-wing bows, look best on men that have narrower and longer necks. Larger bow ties, known as butterflies, looks best on men with wider and shorter necks.

In the end, there’s one last issue we need to talk about.  What type is better: free-style or pre-tied bow ties? In our opinion, both are really great. Pre-tied bow ties are easy to use and have an already perfect (or almost perfect) shape. However, a free-style bow tie is a lot more personal and it gives you more sophistication.

This is what you need to know about wearing bow-ties. We hope you enjoy the next time you wear a bow tie.

 

Fraquoh and Franchomme

 

 

 

 

 

P.S. Do you like wearing bow ties? Do you prefer classic bow ties or more colorful ones? If so, which color do you prefer? Share your thoughts in the comments space below!