I’ve been reading about what seems to me (as a European) a peculiarly American type of necktie called bolo. I’ve never encountered one in real life, but from the pictures I’ve seen they seem to be just a cord slung around the wearer’s neck, with the two ends held together by some sort of ornamental metal buckle.
I’ve seen them on sale online, but only on Western or country themed stores. Also, from what I’ve read they tend to be associated with the Southern or Southwestern United States.
So what is the American etiquette or dress code surrounding bolo ties? Do they have a cowboy or redneck sort of reputation? Is it only something your grandfather would wear for family occasions but nobody younger than 60, or anyone in the Eastern US, would ever put on? Would they be appropriate in a business setting? John Travola wears one in the Jack Rabbit Slim’s scene in Pulp Fiction, and I doubt Tarantino would have intended to give the film a sort of country theme.
Huh. Last time I definitely recall seeing one, it was in the US but the man was definitely not under 60. It was not fancy dress or, oppositely, some kind of formal occasion— he was just wearing it with a normal shirt.
They’re definitely Western/Southwest attire, at least in origin. Native tribes in the region such as the Navajo have traditions of making the slide/buckle and metal tips for the end of the “rope”. A couple of states such as Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas have passed resolutions making them official state ties/neckwear. Definitely associated with “western wear”. Wearing one can simply be a fashion choice, and expression of regional/cultural pride, or both.
Although they are often associated with “dressing down” in the US Southwest they may be considered appropriate for any other reason you’d might wear a tie - business, formal meeting, going to church on Sunday… I gather there are some subtle cultural nuances with wearing them in more formal settings so those new to them might want to start with them as casual wear.
Keep in mind that ties used to be worn all the time. My dad wore a tie every day of his working life. When I was a kid in the SW, I used to see bolo ties on men. Ties in general are worn less now, so you’d expect to see Bolo ties less often. You probably wouldn’t expect to see a car salesman or a supermarket manager in a tie now.
I’m a New England Yankee, and they were always referred to as, “string ties”. I never saw one IRL, but have seen them worn by southerners in old movies.
I live on the East Coast and haven’t seen a bolo tie in the wild since there was a Western craze (mechanical bulls at bars , western shirts with snaps, cowboy boots) in the late 70s/early 80s. Since then, I’ve only seen it as part of a costume at theme parks.
Bolo ties are something that seems to have hit their popularity in the 1980s, and ever since have basically been something ironic(?) that you’d see as maybe over-the-top Western wear, or maybe all-hat-no-cattle villains would wear. I think the last time I saw one was on Sylvester Stallone in “Tulsa King” which seems to fit that for any number of reasons- a New Yorker, a mobster, an over the top dresser, and all in Oklahoma, which isn’t the West.
Outside of that, they fall into that sort of sartorially splendiferous items that are worn by men who are way out of touch with modern trends- really old, goofy men in Texas or elsewhere might wear them, or the same sort of doofus who’d wear a utilikilt out in public anywhere.
Depends a LOT on where you are. In Dallas if you spend the day out in public you’ll probably see one every day.
I think this is probably the best summary for someone looking at this from a non-US perspective:
With a dollop of “I choose to dress distinctively just because”.
Oddly, I saw a bolo tie at dinner on Saturday two days ago. I live in greater Miami FL, not generally a hotbed of country-western.
GF & I had a chat with him & his GF while we sat at a wine bar and had dinner side by side. Just a random encounter; we’d never seen each other before and probably never will again.
He had on a white western shirt with black embroidery, a small-brimmed black western-ish (not hipster-ish) hat, and a bolo tie. Over black slacks and dress shoes. He, like me, dresses up more than most men. He’s lived all over, been in greater Miami for years now, and has sort of adopted the urban cowboy look as his. He, like me, is also a rather larger than life personality in public. He’s not somebody you’ll forget having talked to. And not in the blow-hard sense, just a very interesting extroverted dude living a largish life.
If you see a bolo outside the southwest it’s either a tourist from there visiting where you are now, or somebody like this guy.
I will be attending a wedding this coming weekend. The dress code is dress shirt, blue jeans and cowboy boots. The groom and groomsmen will be wearing bolo ties.
I can fulfill all but the cowboy boots requirement, sei la vie
I grew up in Texas in the 60s-80s and occasionally saw them, and it was usually someone making some sort of sartorial commitment (i.e. they’d usually have a hat and boots as well). Never really liked the look of them.
I’ve certainly seen them in the wild here in Calgary. During Stampede they would not be unusual, but that really is costume play rather than anything like common attire.
Mostly I think of them as a western in the influenced thing you you are most likely to see worn by a hipster musician, (not so much an actual mainstream C&W musician).
I had one with a red cord and a medallion that said “Thank God I’m Polish” that I’d wear on St. Pat’s day.
My grandfather used to wear one, tho he had never been to Texas as as far as I know, he wasn’t into southwest stuff. I’m guessing it’s because in his 80s, he could no longer tie a tie.
A bolo tie (aka bola tie, aka shoestring necktie, aka bootlace tie) is made of leather and jewelry, and is a Western thing.
“String tie” usually refers to a string bow tie, which is made of the same fabric as a conventional necktie or bow tie, and is a Southern thing. (Famously, worn by Colonel Sanders.)
I associate bolo ties with both western and rural attire. More common in states west of the Mississippi, but can certainly be seen in the wild on occasion east of the Mississippi if in a rural locale. I saw one in Indiana not long ago at a horse auction. I recall seeing folks wearing bolo ties at the Kentucky Derby as well. My grandfather was a lifelong farmer in Michigan and he only wore one when attending square dances or Grange Hall meetings.
I would say they’re less formal than a proper tie in most contexts and can be worn with fairly casual clothing involving a shirt that has a collar and buttons.
