Neckties are the last remaining article of men’s clothing that serves no purpose other than pure aesthetics. Coats, pants and shirts all keep you protected from the elements. Shoes support your feet, legs, and back. But ties? They’re there to look nice and, if necessary, ensure that you fit into a business professional dress code.
For such a relatively small piece of material, ties can create a lot of pain points. If you’re not built like a mannequin, achieving the knot you like while keeping the tie an appropriate length is nearly impossible. How do you get around this?
Custom ties, of course!
Custom Men’s Ties (& More)
We are one of the few custom clothiers in the region who make true custom ties. Ours are proudly and expertly crafted in New York City, and the available selection of color and style is enormous. In addition to taking various measurements off of the body to ensure a proper fit, there are other style decisions to make:
Custom Tie Silhouette & Knot Style
We offer four different silhouettes for our neckties: Classic, Milano, Nouveau, and Bottleneck. These models offer different standard widths, but the main thing to keep in mind is that they’re cut to accommodate different tie knots.
If you’re a Windsor knot guy, our Classic model will work well for you. If you prefer a four-in-hand, our Milano model will give you a gorgeous, full, elongated knot. Guys who prefer slimmer ties with half-Windsors or small four-in-hands tend to prefer our Nouveau model. The bottleneck model makes a nice, tight pinch below the knot giving the silhouette a prominent look, and also works best with a four-in-hand knot.
If you don’t know what tie knot you typically tie, don’t worry. Contact us to set up an appointment, and we’ll diagnose your current knot and show you how it might be improved. Don’t worry, most guys know how to tie only one knot, which is often the same as the one their father used!
Tie Width
While our silhouettes come in “standard” widths, you can still request a specific width if you know what you like. As we mention in our article on tie width, our feeling is that permanently stylish ties are between 2 3/4″ and 3 1/4″. If you go slimmer or wider than that, you start veering into “fashion” territory.
Still, if you’re looking for something unique or simply can’t find ties in a width you prefer, we can help you.
Tipping, Initials, & Contrast Fabrics
“Tipping” is a term that refers to a specific part of a tie’s anatomy. Look at the backside of either end of a tie – chances are you’ll see a polyester-like material instead of the tie’s silk itself. This is referred to as the tie’s “tipping.”
Our custom ties are available with different tipping and loop styles. Self-tipping is somewhat self-explanatory: the tie is tipped in the same fabric as the tie itself (the “self” fabric), which lends a luxurious feel and finish to the garment. Tailor’s tipping is when we tip the tie in a different silk altogether. This is great for guys who have difficulty coordinating ties and pocket squares – just look at the back of your tie and find the pocket square that matches.
Some of our more traditional clients enjoy putting their initials on a gold medallion that sits behind the tie. We are happy to accommodate this request for those who appreciate a little old-world flair in their clothing.
Every once in a while, you’ll find ties with contrasting fabrics – silk A on one blade, silk B on the other. This is a great look, but it’s not easy to find off-the-rack.
For us, however, it’s easy. Any tie can be made with contrasting fabrics, even leather.
Other Custom Silk Items
Neckties aren’t the only things we can make from custom silks. The following items are all available custom-made:
- Bowties (in five different silhouettes, no less)
- Pocket squares
- Suspenders – with a full selection of button holders and hardware
- Cummerbunds
- Ascots
- Scarves
Next Steps
Curious about starting the process? We’re here to help. Give us a call at 215-310-0219 or email us at info@henrydavidsen.com to book your appointment today.
