There’s More Than One Way To Tie A Tie

“A well-tied tie is the first serious step in life” – Oscar Wilde in his “The Importance of Being Earnest”

We’ve seen it time and time again. Crooked ties, lopsided ties, midriff ties that dangle halfway down the front. Neckties have become a symbol of elegance, refinement and distinction in today’s world. But, just owning a necktie is not going to get you anywhere… you need to tie it properly! It can be the difference in being the office dud or the office stud.

A Brief History

Born initially as a simple handkerchief the necktie is a descendant of the cravat, a military accessory originating from the early 17th century. The necktie is a mainstay in the wardrobes of many men, but its psychological impact is much more than many realize. The daily gesture of tying the tie assumes a symbolic and nearly magic meaning. In symbolic masculine iconography the knot represents union, marriage, fertility and therefore life.

Fit To Be Tied

There are five basic types of knots:

(click on each link for step-by-step instructions)

The Windsor (aka Full Windsor or Double Windsor)
A wide triangular knot best for formal occasions.

The Half Windsor
Slightly less assertive than the Windsor and more suitable for wider ties.

The Small Knot
The name says it all. Best for shirts with a close-fitting collar.

The Four-In-Hand
Most popular due to its simplicity. Fairly thin and best for wide ties and shirts with a wide collar.

The Prince Albert (no piercing involved)
Very compact, elongated knot best used with softer fabrics.

Most likely one or two of these satisfy your tie needs, so you’re probably not going to learn all of these. But, it can be a handy reference because as you now know… there’s more than one way to tie a tie.

Men In Pink

Is pink the new black? Everywhere you look guys are wearing pink and you know what… they look great.

From our birth pink is associated with femininity. You don’t see a whole lot of pink “It’s a boy” signs. So we have been raised with this idea that pink is for girls. We beg to differ! Psychological attributes aside, pink is a very alluring, versatile color that plays well with all sorts of colors – greys, tans, black, blues… pink goes with just about everything. It also has a great way of providing contrast to skin tone.

So why is it that pink is getting so much attention from guys these days?

Just as men are realizing that taking good care of yourself on a daily basis is not just for women, they are re-thinking the color lines of what is considered masculine. There is this social stigma that “pink is for girls”, so a man in pink is stepping outside those rules to let everyone know that he is not afraid and will wear what he wants. That conveys a message of confidence and security. Plus they get tons of compliments from women! A man wearing pink goes against all those social mores ingrained in their brain, so they can’t help but notice. Try it sometime and see if you get a woman or two looking your way.

Here’s a couple suggestions on how to incorporate pink into your wardrobe:

Get a pink dress shirt – Dress shirts are the easiest way to incorporate pink because of their versatility. Not bright pink or salmon colored… just a nice light hue of pink. You can wear them with a suit or under a sweater when you need to look professional or with a pair of jeans in a more casual setting. Stay away from the ones with white collars and cuffs, unless you are holding an “I’m a tool” sign.

Get a pink tie – a good looking pink tie goes great with a suit and can be worn with lots of different color shirts. Rock it with a full windsor knot for a really distinguished look.

Get pink shoes – just kidding… don’t do that!

Get a pink golf shirt – A pink golf shirt goes great with a pair of tan khakis to celebrate a beautiful day

Get a pink flat cap (aka golf cap) – having a nice throwback like a flat cap is a great accessory, but add a little pink to that and you’ll really be making a statement

Get a pink insignia – If you can’t bring yourself to a full pink wardrobe item, you can always opt for a more traditionally colored item with pink insignia to get started

Keeping It Cool

Warmer weather brings about many good things; the beach, swimming pools, and road trips with the windows down, just to name a few. However, it can also bring about some bad stuff if you aren’t prepared; like pit sweat (aka bat wings) and foot funk. Here are few things you can do when the weather gets warm to help keep you more comfortable:

• Choose fabrics that breathe – Cotton, linen, and other natural fibers breathe and are good at absorbing moisture.

• Wear an undershirt – Wearing an undershirt beneath your clothing in warmer weather will help absorb moisture, protecting you from perspiration stains (just be sure to obey the rules of the white tee).

• Sport lighter colors – Lighter colors reflect the sun’s rays and will keep you feeling cooler.

• Powder up – Keep the “land down under” fresh and dry with a little powder, which will prevent chafe-age.

• Care for the dogs – The foot of an average male can exude half a pint of sweat a day! All that moisture is a breeding ground for bacteria, molds, toenail fungus, and viral infections, leading to smelly feet, rashes, or other more serious medical issues. Keep your feet dry by making sure your socks are not too tight and made of wicking materials such as silk, acrylic, nylon, polyester, or olefin. There are also products available that will help safeguard by protecting the skin with a layer of glycerin.

In My White Tee

When it comes to the topic of white undershirts we turned to the expertise of, Dem Franchize Boys. Following their philosophy about looking good in a white tee, we’ve come up with a few tips to help you stay on top of your game!

Wear, wash, and repeat

Rule #1. Keep it clean! Nobody likes a stinker and the best way to keep from becoming one is to wear fresh shirts. You may be able to get a couple wears out of your favorite pair of jeans before they get ripe, but not your undershirt. Undershirts, as the name implies, are worn under your clothes, next to your body. There they absorb sweat and body odors, which combine to form, stank! We here at Foreman are not avid supporters of stank! The best way to avoid turning into Pig Pen is to wash your shirts after each wear. Since there are a lot more fun things to do in this world than laundry, you should keep an abundant supply of clean undershirts. About a three week supply (at least 21 for the mathematically challenged) should do it. That way you will have a steady source of clean shirts without spending everyday washing them.

I look clean in my white tee

Make sure you take good care of your white shirts. Wash them by themselves or with other white items and throw in a little bleach (about a cup) to keep them as white as possible for the long haul.

However, your undershirts should be separated from your white tee shirts outside of the wash. What do we mean by that? Even when you take proper care of them, your undershirts can quickly lose that crisp, clean, “new” look after several washings, so for those times when you want a nice white tee look you don’t want to wear the undershirts. Instead, purchase a couple high quality shirts that live on a hanger for that purpose.

Get the funk out

Over time your undershirts can still build up an inherent funk. It will not be noticeable right out of the drier, but as soon as a little moisture hits it… it won’t have that fresh-off the-clothesline smell. We won’t go into the science behind this affect, but throwing a little Borax (a natural laundry booster found in the detergent aisle) into each load of laundry will help keep things on the fresh side.

Yellow is the pits

Have you ever noticed a slight yellowing in the pits of your older undershirts? Unless you go European style, you most likely have. It is the result of your antiperspirant. Most antiperspirants use an aluminum-based substance as the part that keeps you dry. This compound keeps from getting bat wings, but in the process of doing so leaves those nasty yellow stains. There are two things you can do about this: 1) Toss the stained ones and buy a new supply 2) Switch to a deodorant that does not contain the aluminum as an ingredient.

Foreman says, “Keep your undershirts looking righteous!”

Dress for Success

Disclaimer: This article reviews the basics… if you read GQ or Details on a regular basis… it may not be much of a stretch for you.

“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society.”

- Mark Twain

Perception is definitely a big part of the impression you leave with others. How you dress is a big part of how people view you and can also influence your own self-image. When you take time to plan how you present yourself and feel good about how you look you will exude that confidence to all those around you. That does not necessarily mean you have to get GQ’d up to go into the office everyday, but you should take some time to plan the look you want to convey.

Your company’s culture will determine the level you go to look good at work, but whether it’s all suits or polo and some khakis, make sure you are conscious of what you’re putting on. Many men update their wardrobe rather infrequently, thinking that their favorite shirt looks just as good now as it did five years ago. Try to go through your wardrobe at least every six months (if not more frequent) and purge. If it’s getting faded or frayed just do yourself a favor and throw it away! If it’s a little too tight, chunk it or give it away. Then, think about a few items you might want to add, maybe another pair of slacks or a couple more nice dress shirts would keep you from going to the dry-cleaners every other day. Purchasing these items frequently will not only keep you looking good, but it will also reduce the huge blow to your wallet by spreading out the dollars you spend over time. Below are a few tips for the fashionably challenged.

The Suit

Even if your company is more buttoned down make sure you have a couple nice suits for special occasions. A single-breasted suit of gray, navy, black or brown is recommended. Look for suits made of 100% “worsted” wool. Wool is a natural fiber that breathes, which means you’ll be more comfortable, you’ll perspire less, and the fabric will travel well. Also, look for suit jackets that are fully lined and pants that are lined to the knee. Lining increases comfort and reduces wrinkling. Sleeves should end at the wrist (a rule of thumb is that when you extend your hand to shake someone’s hand your sleeve should feel comfortable and should not retract halfway up your forearm). Don’t just take it off the rack and start wearing it. Get a tailor to help make sure you have everything sized to fit you correctly.

The Shirt

If you’re wearing a suit go with a long sleeved, button down, collared white or light blue shirt. The collar should fit perfectly and about half an inch of the cuff should show beyond the suit. The shirt should be cotton fabric (breathes better, which will cut down on perspiration) and well ironed.

If it’s a little warmer and your company allows it, a nice polo (or golf) shirt can still present a professional look as long as it is well ironed and is not faded.

The Tie

Don’t overdo it here! Your tie should make you appear businesslike and complete a professional-looking package. The pattern/design should be conservative, not flashy. The tie color should match your shirt/suit color.

Shoes, Socks, and the rest

Socks should match in color to your suit. Black with black, gray with gray, tan with… well, you get the point. Buy a wide variety of colors in significant quantities (a half dozen of each color you need). This will assure that you always have a pair ready to go.

Black or burgundy shoes can be worn with navy blue or gray suits for a professional image. Make sure they are well polished, free of scuff marks, and the laces are not frayed or broken.

Your belt should match the color of your shoes and if you’re wearing a watch make sure it goes with the metal on your belt buckle.

Finally, carry a professional looking portfolio or briefcase to any business meetings in lieu of just a pen and pad. This will top off your look and help keep your business life organized!