Sizing & Tying Styles

One of my favorite features of a bow tie is that it draws people's attention to your face. Another favorite feature is that it is a lot harder to spill food on a bow tie than a necktie, but perhaps that is a subject for another day. All pictured bow ties are shown in the classic style.

Bow Tie Styles - Descriptions

Classic - This bow tie stands about 2 ½ inches tall. This is, far and away, my most popular style bow tie. If this is a gift for someone of whose tastes you are unsure, this is the style I would suggest.

Diamond Point - This bow tie stands about 2 ¼ inches tall. The diamond point is a more retro look in a bow tie. Think of George Bailey describing his perfect suitcase in that scene from It's a Wonderful Life.

Straight - This bow tie stands about 1 ¾ inches tall. Some men prefer this for everyday wear, particularly if they are of a slighter stature.

Wide - This bow tie stands about 3 ¾ tall. Someone who wants to make a strong bow tie statement may choose this style. It also looks more proportionate on someone who shops in a men's big and tall store.

Are you unsure of which style would look best on you? Try this: download and then print this pdf of actual size bow ties. Cut out the bow tie shapes you like and hold each one under your face, where you would wear a bow tie, to see which size and shape looks best on you.

Sizing

With the exception of clip-on bow ties which have no collar band, all of the bow ties that I make have adjustable band sections that allow them to fit neck sizes ranging from 14 ½ inches to 18 inches. The adjusting mechanism is a sliding buckle. Making a tie for a larger neck size is no problem at all. Please just mention it in the comment section of the online order form, or call me and place your order over the phone.

Clip-on bow ties simply clip onto the collar of the shirt. There is no band section on a clip on bow tie.

Tying Style Descriptions

Freestyle/Self Tie - This is the kind of bow tie that gets tied onto the neck of the wearer each time the tie is worn, and is removed by untying the bow. If you know someone who often wears a bow tie, he likely ties it himself.

Pre-tied - This kind of bow tie is low stress; it's for someone who doesn't care to learn to tie his own. Sometimes pre-tied bows are preferred by people who have arthritis or who have trouble with fine motor skills. There is an adjustable band to which the tied bow is attached. On one end of the band is a hook and on the other end is a loop to which the hook attaches. The wearer simply puts on and removes the bow tie using the hook and loop closure. There is no tying involved.