Section: Neckties, Bowties, and Pocket Squares - Blog

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The tie bar, a one-time forgotten accessory, is making a big comeback. In fact, it’s hard to imagine a stylish gent without one these days.

But working this sartorially savvy addition into your look isn’t quite as simple as it seems. And knowing how to wear one right is the difference between looking like David Gandy’s protege or emulating your old geography teacher’s style.

The width

Just like your shoes should fit the width of your feet, so too should your tie bar’s width complement the width of your tie. It sounds like common sense, but you’d be surprised how many men make this mistake.

For narrow ties, you should go with a half-inch bar, and this size will also work with wider ties. However, if you want people to notice, and of course you do, then it’s best to go up a size as your tie gets wider.

Ideally, your tie bar should never cover more than three-quarters of the tie’s width. And do we really need to say it shouldn’t be wider than the tie itself?

The colour

Silver or gold? Generally speaking, this is an easy choice as silver works well with any colour tie and always adds a touch of refined elegance certain types of gold sometimes lack.

Having said that, if you wear a gold watch or gold cufflinks, then it makes good fashion sense to match your tie bar accordingly. You can even match it to your wedding ring if you’re feeling particularly subtle.

The placement

Choosing the right size and colour means nothing if you put it in the wrong place. A tie bar obviously belongs somewhere around the middle of your tie, but how on earth are you supposed to know exactly where?

A very easy tip to remember is to place it somewhere between your third and fourth shirt buttons. It’s a simple solution for a simple problem. Anyone that gives you a more detailed process is probably just trying to sound like they know their stuff. Trust us; it’s simple, third and fourth buttons.

The purpose

Try not to forget the tie bar is actually a functioning accessory. The whole idea is to stop your tie flapping around in the wind or dipping itself in your soup. So make sure you not only clip both ends of the tie but the shirt as well.

And once you are happy with the position and clipping, pull your tie a little just above the bar. This will give you some slack allowing you to move freely without your tie pulling at the tie bar.

This now popular accessory is something of a must-have for the man about town, but we’d suggest you wear yours intermittently. Too much of a good thing lessens its impact so save the tie bar for days when you’re dressing more formally at the office or for special occasions such as weddings and formal social events. But if you insist on wearing it as a daily accessory, have more than one and interchange them throughout the week.

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