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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!

Mad Men is not only a phenomona on the AMC channel, the wonderful classic skinny ties worn on the show have become a popular trend in modern fashion. The Mad Men TV show takes place in the beginning of the 60’s when narrow neckties were at their hight. Now men’s periodicals like GQ adopted the style and even fashion designers are examining the show for inspiration on vintage ties. If anybody wants to adopt this vintage look then try searching for authentic classic 1950’s or 1960’s thin neckties.

The Best Time to Wear Skinny Ties:

Thin or classic neckties are such an up and coming trend, for the reason that they can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion and the individual style of the wearer. The best thing is that everyone from young boys to executives are pulling off this look which gives them an instant cool edge.

For business professionals, a patterned, tailored suit or patterned shirt can be combined with a solid vintage men’s neckties. Keep the look business like by wearing a tie that is slightly thinner than usual, creating the impression of confidence and power. Make sure the color is also not too bright which can cause the look to be too much for business.

A thin tie combined with a formal black suit and white button down shirt is a look that never goes out of style that is perfect for a formal affair. For a lighter look, a narrow tie can also be paired with a cotton shirt and a vest. Roll up the sleeves on a long sleeved shirt or go with short sleeves and add a striped or bold colored skinny necktie to create a playful and comfortable style, perfect for young men.

Though thin neckties look wonderful, their small size means they are just not the best look for bigger men. Buff, muscular men will look more pulled together with a regular width tie. Also, the skinny necktie look is more in tune with younger men. To still get the style of the Mad Man TV show, older men and more buff men can wear a tie that is thin, but a little wider than the 2 inch neckties typically worn as thin neckties.

Pure silk ties in soft light blues, muted grays, browns and greens pull off the classic look that held court during the rockability era. Of course, skinny neckties in plaid, with graphics, vivid reds, purples and oranges can also be worn. When going with a bright necktie remember that the more exciting the tie is, the more tuned down the rest of the outfit should be, to keep from looking too busy.

Finding a Vintage Thin Necktie

Second hand shops are a perfect place to look for vintage neckties. The Mad Men television show has inspired several fashion designers to create classic styles. This includes fashion designer Michael Kors who recently created an early 60s inspired line. Classic neckties from the era can be acquired on the web as well. Skinny ties straight from the 1950’s and 1960’s can be found with a google search.