In Praise of The Knitted Tie..
Grenadine, Silk or Wool. The choice is yours
Remember ese, squares have got all the angles…
The tie is dying and there’s many a man who’ll say good riddance and be quite happy to attend the funeral and, once the formalities are concluded, dance on the tie’s grave. This is understandable as most tie-wear is enforced. This began at school, where we were made to wear it as part of our school uniform. Later, some were made to wear it as part of their work one. Yet, years back, even those that didn’t, would often don a tie at the weekend. It was de rigueur for blue-collar men to get suited and boot come Friday/Saturday night. Their desire to smarten up however, wasn’t restricted to the nocturnal. I was berated by my mum for getting dressed up, to go to the pub. She was habitually berating me but this was a first, for looking smart. Standing in my suit, I was in the process of donning a tie when she had piped-up “You look ridiculous.”
I was a flummoxed. I knew she approved of the suit, she’s stated that, in the past…Her objection, it appeared, wasn’t over my attire but the time I chose to wear it. The time incidentally, was around half eleven ‘of’ a Sunday morning. I had to carefully explain that this, was what people did on Sundays. She countered, “That’s what idiots do on a Sunday.” It then emerged that this, like so much else, was a class issue. “Do you think the men who have to wear ties and suits to work all week, wear them to the pub on Sunday? On consideration, I had accept that they probably didn’t… I managed to respond, that if a dust-man wanted to get dressed up to for the pub on Sunday, it was his right and it was a free country. This bold declaration was made whilst changing out of my suit…
Some years back, I was complaining to my son about having to return to a given ‘site’ in my star-studded career as part-time concierge. My ‘beef’ was over having to wear a tie. He responded “It’s fun. Like playing a part.” Since my entire existence has been spent ‘playing parts’. His words completely changed my outlook. It’s odd how an off the cuff comment can do that. Anyway, I got right into it. For reasons I’m unsure of, I had a collection of ‘ream’ ties. Now, I could finally start wearing them. Ties though, it transpired, are subject to fashion - highly subject. Mine were fine if I was happy to look like a footballer during a post-game interview on MOTD. Or, if there was an mishap, whilst out and about, with The Beach Boys. Were my mother still around, she’d have had a field day. All but two of them would have had her in hysterics. The two that wouldn’t, were both ‘knitted.’ As the years have flown by and the collection’s steadily grown, it’s become apparent, that while some might be marginally slimmer, others marginally wider. There are no wild fluctuations with the old knitted…It’s a safe bet.
Nor is there as much formality with it. The roots of the knitted tie, I was surprised to discover through my extensive research, stemmed from the working class. You see, in the olden days, women could knit and they would often apply that skill, in knitting ties for those they loved. This, of course, saved money and in those days, saving money was deemed a virtue. I wish to Christ, I’d practised a bit of it but you know the old adage ‘A fool and his money…’Apparently, the knit tie came to prominence in the 1920s. Maybe those women, knitting those ties, foresaw what was coming? It wouldn’t surprise me, as ‘common’ folk often do, long before the politicians. If today’s society serves as any sort of indicator, the pleas of ordinary people would have been ignored. Either way, the knitted tie remained popular throughout the Great Depression…
Somewhere along the line, the knitted tie was co-opted by the more affluent. This is a fact evidenced by it becoming part of the old Ivy League look. It would appear that many of those students went on to become professors, as the tie eventually became associated with those working in American academia… but don’t let that put you off.
As men grow evermore slovenly, wearing a tie - without just cause, is not so much frowned upon, as not even considered. Yet, like it or not, the tie adds a smartness to a man’s appearance and the knitted one enables us to dip a toe in, without getting it bitten off. You don’t need the excuse of a big occasion to wear a tie. The question here is, Why’re you so scared of looking sharp son? Have they beaten you down that bad? As Tony Soprano famously enquired the pilot “What happened to Gary Cooper?”
Harrison Ford often pops into the shop American Classics when in town. Ford, unlike most actors, has a strong sense of style and he’s a great proponent of the old knitted.
Always has been….
Mick man, knitted ties?
As for fabric, that’s up to you but polyester’s not going to help you gain friends and influence people. There’s a lot of bollocks about ‘the knot’ but there’s no single knot that’s knit tie specific. Despite what anyone, anywhere might tell you. It’s a tie, you stand, fucking around in front of the mirror until you feel you’ve got it right. At that point, you probably have. Hmm, you may want to stay clear of Windsors. Full or otherwise Playboy. One thing of interest on tying the knitted, is that you don’t have to adhere to the established rule of having the ‘thin’ end shorter than the thick one. Welcome to the world of freedom. For my part, I love the knit tie- with a passion.
