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How Do You Tell If a Necktie is Good Shopping Online?
Is there any way to tell how high-quality a tie is from its online pictures? I feel like some of them look really good in pictures but then are kind of plasticy and fake when you get them delivered.
Make sure you’re shopping places that list both width and length, rather than just a S/M/L size. Most guys look best with a tie that’s 3 1/4″ wide, up to 3 3/4″ for broadly-built guys and as narrow as 2 3/4″ for skinny guys.
Length is usually measured as either “regular” or “extra-long” (don’t ask me why). Regular is about 58″ long and extra-long is closer to 62″. Guys that are over six foot or so probably want an extra-long. If there’s an XXL size being offered, steer clear unless you’re very tall — those are for guys up in the 6’6″ and up range.
Take a look at the construction of the tie as well. Most retailers will have 100% silk ties, which sounds like a great thing but isn’t always — a lot of high-quality ties actually use a wool lining, which provides more weight and a much smoother drape (silk is prone to bunching). If it specifies a 100% wool lining, you’re probably looking at a quality necktie.
“Triple construction” is another phrase that indicates a higher-quality necktie. It basically means that the tie was made out of three pieces of silk, cut off the end of a bolt and joined together to make the long strip that is the necktie.
There are some other details like slip-stitches and bar tacks that you can look for in person, but they’re usually not visible in online photographs. Just make sure you’re buying the right size, and look for signs of quality construction in the description and the images that are available.
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