Choice of tie?

**GMan** · 26th November 05, 09:25 PM

I wear ties when people least expect it, but with kilts only solid color ties that match the tartan. I have learned from Hamish that we cannot take away or distract the essence of the kilt.

**Southern Breeze** · 27th November 05, 11:38 AM

It seems as if no ones going to mention the shorter kilt ties. I have two and they look better with a kilt.Regular ties (to me) seem too long to be worn with kilts. Just my 2 cents worth.

**Bob C** · 27th November 05, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by Southern Breeze

It seems as if no ones going to mention the shorter kilt ties. I have two and they look better with a kilt.Regular ties (to me) seem too long to be worn with kilts. Just my 2 cents worth.

I think they make people look like Oliver Hardy.

**Nick** · 27th November 05, 01:43 PM

I only have a few ties at the moment, but I like them. The tie I really want to get, but is currently out of my price range, is a beautiful silk tie with scenes from the Book of Kells on it. I know, it's even busier than a tartan tie, but for a graduate bound student of medieval history, it couldn't be any more perfect. If I ever get it, or one like it, I'd certainly wear it with the tank I'll have one day, too.

**Hamish** · 27th November 05, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

...and if anyone knows of a good source for plain, solid colored woolen neckties, please let me know. Trying to find a tie that's anywhere near tasteful afround here is impossible. Granted that my taste in ties is amazingly conservative...it's impossible. I suppose that some guys are trying to make a staement with their neckties; if that's so the statement is "I'm colorblind and I have my taste in my @$$".

best

AA

Unfortunately I cannot advise you AA, since I do not know the different types of men's outfitting shops you have over there. I get all my plain wool ties - currently: 19 in different colours - from the old-fashioned, tweedy, country shops that one finds in the smaller market towns in the UK. They are mostly patronised by 'gentlemen farmers' and their like who dress in tweeds every day. Most of these ties are made in Scotland and they are quite expensive nowadays, probably due to their scarcity.

Many of the Scottish kiltmakers/Highland outfitters carry rather limited ranges of colours in plain woollen ties in stock, some illustrate them on their websites.

**GlassMan** · 27th November 05, 09:24 PM

In the Mid-Atlantic you can go to Jos. A Banks Clothiers. Also, a personal favorite of mine for ties (because even though here in the US they are still frequented mostly by the Tweed Set) is J. Press. You can find them at: http://www.jpressonline.com/neckwear2.html

J. Press is a great store with physical locations in only New Haven, CT (in the middle of the Yale campus), in Cambridge, Mass. (in Harvard Square), and in New York and DC (frequent final stop for Yale & Harvard alums). Being an alum of both I find that in many ways J. Press fits my rather old-fashioned style. However, on their website they currently do not have any plain wool ties listed.

I've also found some nice plain ties at Brooks Bros.

**macwilkin** · 28th November 05, 04:21 AM

Many thanks for that link, Glassman! I'll have to take a look -- oh, dear, what will "she-who-must-be-obeyed" say? ;)

Yes, Brooks Brothers carries a fine selection of traditional ties...so does Ben Silver in Charleston, South Carolina -- but they are a bit pricey for some, but you get what you pay for! I own several of their ties and they are some of the best in my collection!

Cheers,

Todd

**auld argonian** · 28th November 05, 09:11 AM

I did find a website that had a good range of solid color wool ties at $20 a pop...trouble is it's bookmarked on the other computer. When I get on the laptop, I'll find it and post it...just what I need!

best

AA

**Space Moose** · 28th November 05, 01:22 PM

I just spent much of the weekend hitting all the mens' shops in my neck of the woods, and I could not find many solid colour ties. Solid green to match my tartan was impossible.

I was finally able to find a shop (Dunn's tailors) that would order one for me that matches the base colour very well, but there were two problems. First it's silk (which I'm not super fussed about), second was that it cost a fortune.

Hopefully it will be here by Friday, if not they said I could actually borrow a charcoal one they have in stock (which matches my jacket). But has anybody actually found decent wool ties in Canada or Vancouver?

Craig

**GlassMan** · 28th November 05, 02:29 PM

I was ordering some new Kilt Hose from the Hector Russell store in San Francisco and I realized, they carry solid ties, and if you phone in your order the shipping and handling is very reasonable and you avoid the long delay caused by ordering from Scotland.

Their number is 1-415-989-5458

If you want you can let them know that Phil McKee from DC (regular mail-order customer) suggested you give them a call. They have a really wide range of colors to choose form. (See Below)

They are very fast and surprisingly affordable for being one of the big guys. And it's great to have one of their company stores on this side of the pond. Now if only they'd open one on the East Coast so I don't have to fly across country to browse. ;-)