Design Your Own Tie

I'm not clear on how I missed this, but Polo Ralph Lauren, who first gave the world the design-your-own polo shirt, has brought us Design Your Own tie. Well, you can design your own tie, as long as it's sorta-regimental. See below. (Vacant-looking doofus not included.)

You can also add your initials, and the "born on" year. Here's a free hint: Only an idiot adds these things to their tie.



However, you can make yourself a decent tie. Of course, you'll also be paying $100 for a tie that looks generic to the extreme. Why not put that money toward a nice tie from Prada, Zegna, or Armani? Hell, even Hilfiger has some cool ties.

Additionally, only an idiot tucks his tie into his waistband like that. Man.

Folding Pocket Squares

This site has some of the most detailed information on folding pocket squares that I've ever seen.



A few of my own notes, though:

Linen pocket squares are a bit less flashy -- but they hold their fold better than silk. This makes them ideal for anything involving points. However, they can appear stuffy, depending on the fold.

The traditional rule is to wear a linen square with a silk tie, and silk square with a non-silk tie. But you can safely throw that rule out the window.

Do not wear a square and tie "set." Your square and tie should complement each other, not be of an identical pattern. Why? This makes you look cheap and like a poor dresser who needs to buy things in sets to be able to match.

A pocket square is not a handkerchief. Most handkerchiefs are larger and more difficult to fold into a breast pocket. In a pinch, they can be used as a pocket square. Do feel free to carry a handkerchief as a backup or for utilitarian purposes: ideally, to wipe prints off your Beretta or to offer to a sobbing damsel.

My favorite silk square fold is what the site calls a "Puff and Point." I like its casual, elegantly messy appearance.

With linen squares, I use the "TV Fold" or the more commonly known "Presidential." It's an understated, crisp look. Too many points strikes me as something one wears in a blazer while taking lunch at your local yachting club, and a single point seems but this isn't really based on anything concrete. Feel free to experiment.