# Are bow ties professional enough to wear at the office? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 12, 2009, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bow-ties-professional-enough-to-wear-at-the-office/489189 "2009-03-12T13:17:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bow-ties-professional-enough-to-wear-at-the-office/489189/41 "2009-03-13T01:42:33Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > The short answer is “Yes, but…” > > I have a few bowties and wear them now and then; my wife likes me in them. But many people think they’re faintly ridiculous. You could be Chuck Norris or Jack Bauer in a bowtie and still be giggled at by some. IMHO, you’re more likely to get away with wearing a bowtie if you’re not already thought of as effete, a prig or a wimp. And you have to wear one _all the time._ You have to own the look - it’s not a sometime thing. If you’re not prepared to make it part of your identity, it’s just going to be an affectation. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bow-ties-professional-enough-to-wear-at-the-office/489189/42 "2009-03-13T04:30:47Z")
The only time a bow tie looks bad is if it’s too small. That’s what makes Pee Wee Herman’s tie comic, it’s a kid’s sized tie on a grown man. Also points off if it’s too loud a paisley or floral pattern. I like men in bow ties. It shows that they’re thinking about what they’re wearing and trying to make a statement. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bow-ties-professional-enough-to-wear-at-the-office/489189.md?page=2)