For Curt: Tie advice for adolescent son

[CruisinEars]

Hi Curt,

 

My son attends a private school and has the option of wearing a tie with a white dress shirt on chapel days. He is 11 almost 12, is about 5'1" and slender build.

 

My question: What type of tie is "cool" for a middle schooler? Pattern, width etc. Also, do I buy him one in the men's dept. or are there ties that are made for younger "men"?

 

TIA for any and all advice.

[Curt Jerome Wild]

Hold on...

I've got to reboot my computer...

I'll be back with examples in a bit...:cool:

[Curt Jerome Wild]

Hey there!

 

Okay, so first of all, have him learn how to tie a Four In Hand Knot.

It's cooler and younger, smaller and looser - so perfect for his age range.

It's also really easy to wear looser, then tighten up really quickly for chapel, then loosen again.

http://www.tie-a-tie.net/

When he gets a little older, have him learn a Half Windsor Knot.

That's all he needs for life.

The other knots are too big, bulky, and old.

 

So, first of all here are the coolest ties to get for him:

 

#1 Hit up your local Hot Topic in the mall, and let him choose one or several of these:

http://www.froggypic.com/image/08/5240afd5915b146e970f4293155e1022.jpg

The checkered ties are awesome, as well as the solid ones.

All are cool for his age here. (And he'll probably think you're cool for taking him to pick out a tie).

www.hottopic.com

 

 

#2 The best always stylish and age appropriate tie look for younger guys is a Rep Tie. This is what all the kids in Europe and Private Schools wear, as it's essentially a "school tie", perfect for his age.

But, you only want to get the big wide stripes if you get it at JC Penny...

There is a brand called "Alma Mater" at JC Penny that is perfect.

It looks like this:

http://www.froggypic.com/image/08/815712f6c14b9362c998920033fdc6cf.jpg

They come in all sorts of colors, so again, let him choose his own.

www.jcpenny.com

 

 

#3 One of my favorites that is a modern version of these Rep Ties are the ones from the Harry Potter movies! They're really well made, fun, and cool for his age.

http://www.froggypic.com/image/08/b3e855af1e4392c260871216818da8f4.jpg

http://www.wbshop.com/Harry-Potter/hp,default,sc.html

 

I also really love all of these here:

http://www.froggypic.com/image/08/74fe5651dcd9f788921fbd32856f7256.jpg

They're available at http://www.whimsicalley.com/Habber&Dasher.htm

They actually have smaller versions of these for ladies and kids if you decide on that!

 

All of those should be great, perfect for his age, and size.

He can adjust the tie, as it will take a bit of practice to fit him.

Ideally he wants it to hit right at his belt buckle when fully tight, a little lower if it's loosened.

 

The best dressed guys on TV right now is the cast of Gossip Girl:

http://www.froggypic.com/image/08/14ce590aa9f44f6cfa92042d527f2e33.jpg

So you can see how these Rep Ties fit with both Harry Potter and Gossip Girl. A great middle to high school classic!

 

 

[Curt Jerome Wild]

A couple more things...

I'm really happy to say that I predicted correctly when I said that Ties were going to come back into fashion for the younger generation a few years ago.

In more casual ways, as you can see from Hot Topic.

 

And as a looser Semi-Formal statement as worn as every day wear from Young Hollywood:

http://www.froggypic.com/image/08/7ca510745441a3c139eae65d23a52a49.jpg

So let him learn how to do this loose look, then tighten for chapel, and back.

 

Another thing here, please, please, please don't get any of these:

http://www.froggypic.com/image/08/ab482097512b3d4d2c0f42d316e3b310.jpg

 

All of these will be at the normal stores (JC Penny, Macy's, Kohl's).

They are much too mature for a young guy. They'll just look like he's wearing his grandpa's tie, instead of his own.

So, keep in mind, no box patterns, no geometrics, no paisley, no funny patterns, no abstracts, etc.

Leave those to the older businessmen.

 

Stick with what I showed you above, and he will be good to go, and perfectly cool for his age range!

 

Let me know if that helps and makes sense.

Or if you have any more questions!

Let him have fun with it, so he will really enjoy and have fun with wearing a tie!

 

[CruisinEars]

Oh THANK YOU!!!! You are a huge help.

 

I will study your pictures and advice some more and then show it to him. Thankfully the ties we have are striped. I ruined one in the wash though. :o So, he is down to one and we don't know how to tie it. My dh tried, but he isn't so great at it either.;)

 

It's funny to see the skinny ties from the 80's coming back.

[TerriSea]

Curt,

I did not realize the full windsor is out of fashion for an adult man!! Good to know! So now that we must ditch the full windsor knot, I guess the half windsor is the way to go, correct? I gather from your earlier post the Four in Hand is too casual for adult men in business atire. Oh boy, good thing the internet has pics and videos of how to do half windsor - I have forgotten. Thanks!

[Curt Jerome Wild]

I ruined one in the wash though.

Yeah, don't ever put a tie in the washing machine.;)

Either delicately hand clean spots in the sink, or better yet send to the dry cleaners.

So, he is down to one and we don't know how to tie it. My dh tried, but he isn't so great at it either.

I put the link above, but I'll put it here again:

http://www.tie-a-tie.net/fourinhand.html

That explains it with pictures and video really well!:D

 

[Curt Jerome Wild]

Curt,

I did not realize the full windsor is out of fashion for an adult man!! Good to know! So now that we must ditch the full windsor knot, I guess the half windsor is the way to go, correct? I gather from your earlier post the Four in Hand is too casual for adult men in business atire. Oh boy, good thing the internet has pics and videos of how to do half windsor - I have forgotten. Thanks!

Well, it really depends on the man, but here are some general adult guidelines...

 

Half Windsor is basically the safest, current, always correct way to go for adult men.

 

Four in Hand is good for slim adult men of any age, and adult men who are a little more creative, casual, or very youthful in their personality or attitude.

 

Full Windsor is good for heavy adult men of any age, and adult men who are very conservative, rigid, or for men other people would describe as a very old soul. It is really too big, square and bulky to work well on anyone else.

 

Hope that helps!:cool:

[TerriSea]

Thanks Curt!

 

Today I complimented a young man at the bank who was SO obviously a "Spring" palette: think pale skin, blue eyes framed by strawberry blond eyelashes and brows, and short, bright strawberry blond hair. He looked awesome in a bright true blue (bordering on electric) shirt with spread collar and a diagonal stripe tie in whoa nelly bright lime/cream. Wow, the combo was bold and attractive!! :) He thanked me and said he wears bright tones because he likes attention!;) As much as I wanted to snap a pic to post it here, etiquette overruled, as it should. (I believe he used the half windsor knot, but I wasn't sure, and did not ask!!:p)

 

He said Banana Republic has lots of ties suitable for younger men with contemporary color schemes. This may be useful for the original poster.:)

[CruisinEars]

Yeah, don't ever put a tie in the washing machine.;)

Either delicately hand clean spots in the sink, or better yet send to the dry cleaners.

 

I put the link above, but I'll put it here again:

http://www.tie-a-tie.net/fourinhand.html

That explains it with pictures and video really well!:D

 

 

Well, the tie is polyester and I put it in a lingerie bag. Only the stitching on part of it came undone. I can mend it and iron it and it will be just fine. Won't do it again though.;)

 

I went to the link and it is a very helpful website. Thanks again.

[lel5344]

And it's there on tie-a-tie.net...

 

The four-in-hand is a slim knot that is quite suitable for button-down collars.

 

The half-windsor is a moderate size knot that seems to work with almost any collar and almost any shape gentleman.

 

The full windsor is best suited for spread collars and works well with men who are "bulkier."

 

I usually recommend the four-in-hand to my young, slim customers because I tend to put them in button-down or point collars. And I recommend the half-windsor (I use it myself) to almost everyone else.

 

BTW, I work for Jos. A. Bank.

[cruisemom42]

Hey Curt, if you're reading this, thanks. I just sent my sartorially challenged 17-year-old out the door dressed up for his senior investiture. Thanks to your post I got him an "appropriate" rep tie and he was able to tie it himself (a four-in-hand) using the link. His proud mom thought he looked great. He cared little or nothing....:rolleyes:

 

I hope one of these days clothes will begin to matter at least a little to him, but so far not.

[Curt Jerome Wild]

Hey Curt, if you're reading this, thanks. I just sent my sartorially challenged 17-year-old out the door dressed up for his senior investiture. Thanks to your post I got him an "appropriate" rep tie and he was able to tie it himself (a four-in-hand) using the link. His proud mom thought he looked great. He cared little or nothing....:rolleyes:

 

I hope one of these days clothes will begin to matter at least a little to him, but so far not.

LOL!:D

You know that I'm very glad to help whenever I can, so I'm glad the info was here for you!

 

Four in Hand and a Rep Tie! Perfect!

I hope Proud Mom took a picture.

 

But, don't worry, even if he seems to care little or nothing now, there will come a time (usually when he gets some appreciation for young ladies his age) that he'll appreciate your little life lessons like this.:cool:

It might not be for a few years though!:D