Tie Length - In the USA and around the World

[Alex_O]

I was in South America for winter break and in the larger cities I noticed something I had noted in western Europe (mostly in the south) as well and might as well bring up now.

Mainly that business men at least a majority favor short ( to my eyes ) ties by short I mean two three or more inches above the waist. Often looking like school boys, albeit well dressed school boys. They do not wear their pants especially low and I must say on a whole dress better than the business men in the USA.

There were people with normal length ties and I imagined that on a whole they were the older if not the more prosperous set.

I was under the impression that the proper way to wear a tie was just to the belt line. And Personally I have even on occasion been chastised for wearing my tie too long, this may bee an American vice as I have seen that from time to time.

Now I have seen the short tie in both South America and western Europe, I didn't really notice but on the few people who I saw wear suits in Eastern Europe I do not think had short ties.

Can any one explain the un american short tie phenomenon? Is it fashion influenced ( Ive never noticed advertisments with short ties)? Is it tie dimensions (obviously you can only tie a necktie so short unless it is on the whole short)?


In the US I am almost positive I have never seen the too short tie look.

 

[demeis]

In the US I am almost positive I have never seen the too short tie look.

I see it all the time and its not on purpose. I noticed this especially in phili. I've never heard of people purposly wearing their ties on the short side but i think that when people wear ties that are to short or two long that it look simply hideous.

 

[Brian SD]

Wearing a tie thats too short looks like youre wearing your son's tie, and wearing one that's too long looks like you're wearing your dad's... There's no real subjective standpoint on tie length the way I see it. I think it either touches your belt and looks good (less than an inch of fabric looks okay too, but only on low rise trousers), or it goes below your belt and looks bad. I also can't stand tucked-in ties.

 

[imageWIS]

Wearing a tie thats too short looks like youre wearing your son's tie, and wearing one that's too long looks like you're wearing your dad's... There's no real subjective standpoint on tie length the way I see it. I think it either touches your belt and looks good (less than an inch of fabric looks okay too, but only on low rise trousers), or it goes below your belt and looks bad. I also can't stand tucked-in ties.

I sometimes tuck in my tie...although I'm always wearing a vest at the time, so how could you tell anyways?

Jon. Seriously though, I have to concur with Brian on this one. It's either worn properly or its not, there is no mid-point as to how it should be worn.

 

[matadorpoeta]

i tend to leave my ties a few inches above my belt. not on purpose, but that's just how it ends up, and i think it looks fine. i think they did this on purpose in the '50s.

 

[Sam Hober]

To the belt is a look that can be hard when you simply are wearing a tie that is too short.

Talking to some men I know (who had the super short look) they had gained weight over time and had simply never thought about buying a longer tie.

 

[Horace]

I was in South America for winter break and in the larger cities I noticed something I had noted in western Europe (mostly in the south) as well and might as well bring up now.

Mainly that business men at least a majority favor short ( to my eyes ) ties by short I mean two three or more inches above the waist. Often looking like school boys, albeit well dressed school boys. They do not wear their pants especially low and I must say on a whole dress better than the business men in the USA.

There were people with normal length ties and I imagined that on a whole they were the older if not the more prosperous set.

I was under the impression that the proper way to wear a tie was just to the belt line. And Personally I have even on occasion been chastised for wearing my tie too long, this may bee an American vice as I have seen that from time to time.

Now I have seen the short tie in both South America and western Europe, I didn't really notice but on the few people who I saw wear suits in Eastern Europe I do not think had short ties.

Can any one explain the un american short tie phenomenon? Is it fashion influenced ( Ive never noticed advertisments with short ties)? Is it tie dimensions (obviously you can only tie a necktie so short unless it is on the whole short)?


In the US I am almost positive I have never seen the too short tie look.

Perhaps you can consult old photos from America during the 30's-50's and see that wearing one's tie shorter was okay.

Also the case with DB suits (though of course the tie end wouldn't be seen, would it?).

 

[godless]

Well i come from south europe (italy) and....hmmm lemme think....the tie has to reach the belt....too short is awful, too long is....hmmm lemme think...well...not good