The Tie Pin

Everything You Should Know About Wearing Tie Pins

A gentleman’s tie is a statement of individuality. From a solid conservative color motif, to an array of stripes, to an elaborate pattern of dots, swirls, or what-have-you, a tie does more than simply hang; it projects the given mood and disposition of the wearer in a way that perhaps no other men’s fashion accessory can. They project us, and in many ways, who we wish to be. So, imagine you’re standing on a street corner, sporting a smartly composed and executed business ensemble, when a sudden gust of wind comes along and, in one swoop, reduces you from a confident, well dressed man in control, to just another pedestrian with their entire look flapping in the breeze. This has happened to almost every man before, and it will happen again. The lesson here is clear. It isn’t enough to simply wear an outfit; you must control it. The most perfectly chosen tie in the world will still look foolish when it’s jutting out from your neck like a windsock in a storm. Fortunately, there is a way to deal with this problem; the tie pin, tie chain, or tie bar.

A tie pin does basically one thing, and does it well. It keeps your tie in place. That might sound silly, if not for the fact that it has been doing so successfully for literally hundreds of years. In fact, the invention of the tie pin is nearly as old as that of the tie itself. As far back as the early 17th century, western European men were beginning to adopt a fashion accessory that would, eventually, come to be known simply as the tie. Though not exactly what we would think of as a ‘tie’ these days, the ‘cravat’ was ‘borrowed’ from the Croatian military, who would send their troops into battle with distinctively patterned and colored scarves knotted about their necks. To the Croats, these flourishes were simply meant to denote a man’s rank within their battle columns; ranging from coarse plain material for enlisted men, to fine silks for the officers. But when Parisian men caught sight of this spectacle, they quickly did away with their traditional starched and ruff collars in favor of what they called the 'cravat'; a term derived from the French word ‘cravate’, which is a corrupt French pronunciation for ‘Croat’. However it was pronounced, the cravat was fashioned from multiple layers of often fine cloth, draped and bunched about a man’s neck, and finally knotted in a bow at the front. For men of the time, this presented the look that they were after, but, the materials involved were often light and frilly, and then as now, the garment would tend to ‘get away’ from the wearer. Of course, as you might have guessed, there was a solution to this problem; a pin to hold the tie down, and keep it under control. As the tie evolved into the thing that it is today, the need for a way for controlling the garment remained the same.

Though simple in design, (indeed, just a long, sharp pin that is passed through the cloth of the tie and shirt themselves, so as to keep them together) tie pins are available in an extremely wide variety of styles and looks; in fact, as they are not governed by the need to be flat, probably more than the silk ties that they were designed to accompany. Pins featuring various gem stones and precious metals are always popular, as well as a host of other totemistic symbols and charms; animal heads, horse shoes, insects, flowers, stars, moons, and abstract designs. The list is virtually endless. Many men have their tie pins custom designed to reflect familial affiliations; coats of arms for example, or collegiate, lodge, political, or sports connections. There are even hosts of what might be termed ‘novelty’ tie pins, featuring detachable and functioning knives and forks, pocket knives, compasses, and lighters. In many ways, tie pins can project who a man is more so then the ties they are designed to go with. In recent times, many men opt to replace their tie pins with tie ‘clips’ that do not actually pierce the fabric of the tie, but rather clip the tie to the shirt much like a paper clip would. But, whether a pin or clip, the invention has grown from a simple utilitarian devise to a clear statement of person.

So, now that your tie is being held firmly in place, remember that a tie pin is as much a part of your wardrobe, and outfit, as your cufflinks or shoes. It should be complimentary to the tie and suit that it is going with, and like everything else in assembling a smart outfit, balance is the key. With a suit that is under control in a variety of situations, you may be ready to begin incorporating a tie pin into your everyday look. Confidence is not just the belief that you’re in control, but the knowledge that you are.

Your Ties-Necktie.com Team