Discount Designer SunglassesFind Discount Designer Sunglasses, cheap designer sunglasses, and more

All old things are new again. A perfect example is mens skinny neckties. They first came into style at the beggining of the 20th century, only to gain real popularity in the 50’s and yet again in the 80’s. Today they are returning to fashion again with the likes of Will Smith, Jeremy Piven and other actors opting for thin black ties to go with their tuxedos at the recent Acadamy Awards.

Narrow Ties from the 1920’s

It is usually acknowledged that skinny men’s neckties vary in width from 1 to 3 inches across the widest part of the necktie. Both pointed neckties and flat bottom skinny ties during the first ten years of the last century were thin, ranging from 2 to 2 ½ inches wide. Some ties measuring as thin as 1 ½ inches, were even referred to by people at the time as string neckties. Much didn’t change the following decade due to lack of materials brought about by World War I. 2 inch wide ties remained in style throughout the 20’s and then disapeared until the 1950’s.

In the period after the war, according to Sarah Gibbings, in her great book “The Tie: Trends and Traditions”, the shortages of World War II left no funds, no available materials or manufacturing base in Europe. The United States became an engine of change and upbeat postwar expectations for war ravaged Europe. Returning soldiers sought colorful and bold patterns, something exuberant and modern. The United States answered with a move toward the wider, flamboyant and extravagantly colored ties which continued to set the style for the 1940’s and early 50’s. Men’s jacket lapels started to become wider and suits were buttoned lower, providing more space necessary to display such a necktie.

Skinny Neckties of the 50’s  

The American psyche of the middle 50’s was restrained by Cold War, the Korean War and a recession. Men’s style reflected the world’s more understated attitude. Styles were becoming more unadventerous, with tighter trousers, less wide lapels and thinner ties to match. glowing and outragous color combinations were pushed out by less colorful patterns and solid colors. This hearlded the certified rebirth of the quintessential thin black tie.

As popular stars such as Elvis started to wear narrow ties, the young men imitated their fashion. By the mid 60’s neckties as narrow as 1 inch were worn by most business men and college students alike.

The 1980’s Resurgence of the Thin Necktie

As the extravegant style fashion of the 70’s came to an end the thin necktie returned, primarly as a rejection of the former decade’s flights of fancy.

Thin Neckties Are Popular Today

Narrow neckties are popular today. Just the other night attorney Anthony Romero, executive director of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) made an appearance on the Colbert Report wearing a dark thin necktie. During the episode, Stephen Colbert asked him to find something wrong with him. After a quick glance at Colbert’s wide yellow foulard patterned necktie, Romero quickly pointed out, “That tie is not my favorite”, which predictably brought plenty of giggles at Colbert’s expense.

Style is a matter of personal style and fashion trends but a well dressed man wearing a extraordinary narrow tie will always stay popular. Original classic skinny ties from the 1950’s, 60’s and 80’s are available online when searching for “vintage skinny ties”. Try one today!