# Bow ties: Yea, or nay? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 7, 2016, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446 "2016-04-07T14:58:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/61 "2016-04-08T16:35:09Z")
Bow ties are suitable only for college professors or clowns. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/62 "2016-04-08T16:57:35Z")
> [@Periwinkle](#): > > I think there’s something cheerful about them, and I like it when people are confident enough to wear what suits them and could not care less if it is “in style”. This is really great, this is how I tend to view bowties when they work well! However, and this is a big one, there is a line, and when you cross that line, you get right into affectation territory. I sideeye them when I suspect that the wearer is trying to make bowties be his “thing.” As long as you opt into your bowtie on its merits as a tie, and not so you can be “that guy who wears the bowties,” it’s all cool. Trust me, no one has ever viewed “that guy who wears the bowties” with admiration; it’s always with disdain. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/63 "2016-04-08T18:04:23Z")
You should only wear them if 1) you like them and 2) are fairly indifferent towards other people’s opinions about what looks flattering. There are a lot of people out there who think they make men look ridiculous, me included. Few things are as likely to make me form an unfairly negative snap judgment about someone than a dude in a bow tie, unless he’s wearing a tux. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/64 "2016-04-08T18:05:50Z")
I think they’re ridiculous but the exception is a Seahawks bow tie. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lowdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Lowdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lowdown)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/65 "2016-04-08T19:46:22Z")
Other. They’re fine. I don’t like or dislike them, although they are a bitch to tie. The issue is that, like Hawaiian shirts, you can either pull it off or you can’t, and the majority of dudes who wear them fall into the latter category. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/66 "2016-04-08T19:53:27Z")
I think they look ridiculous and make the wearer look kid-like (then again, I have the same view about men wearing shorts… which I realize is a decidedly minority opinion). ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/67 "2016-04-08T20:31:15Z")
I don’t like them. However, I’m in a couple of music groups and formal attire is generally required for their concerts, so I’m obliged to wear one occasionally. I’d _never_ wear one independently of formal-dress events. They’re perceived as an affectation, even when they’re not. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/68 "2016-04-08T22:35:56Z")
I’m not a fan of ties at all. And bow ties even less so than regular ties. Although, in the ranking of neckwear, bowties would rank a bit higher than bolo ties. So, neckties \> bow ties \> bolo ties, but “no neckwear” beats them all. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/69 "2016-04-13T16:28:21Z")
It’s Bow Tie Wednesday. Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/70 "2016-04-13T18:09:46Z")
I think they’re ok on the right person. I’ve been curious to see my husband in one. He’s got the kind of sartorial chutzpah to pull it off, and wears a suit everyday anyway. Sometimes with vest or suspenders. One of his more interesting ensembles is a brown velveteen suit with a paisley vest and spectators…it’s kind of steampunk. A bowtie just might work with that one. But he’s in a field where he can get away with eccentricity. (Oh, and alluding to a comment above–he’s getting a seersucker suit for the summer if I can find one in that tan/white pattern in 44L 🆒) As a woman, I couldn’t see myself wearing one, unless it’s one of those 70s-ish blouses with an attached bow in the same fabric. [Like so.](https://img0.etsystatic.com/029/0/6664601/il_570xN.646823128_58fr.jpg) I’ve always liked that look. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/71 "2016-04-13T18:18:52Z")
In the book “Dress for success” it says bow ties are just for college professors and clowns. I think they should add the groomsmen at weddings. Come to think of it have you ever seen a businessman wear one? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/72 "2016-04-13T18:29:31Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Bow ties are suitable only for college professors or clowns. I’ve never had a college professor who wore one. But then I didn’t go to clown college - clowns I buy. Bowties are great and I loved wearing one in second grade. After I learned to tie a real tie, forget it, and I wear real ties when I have to wear a tie every three years or so. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/73 "2016-04-13T18:52:56Z")
They’re a silly affectation. There’s that tiny minority of terminally cool dudes that can look good wearing dumb clothes. Those guys can look OK with a bow tie. Not the rest of us. Definitely not me. Kinda like the 1890s style slicked back hair and heavily waxed handlebar moustache you now see on some big city hipsters. Kinda cool in an abstract sense, yet the overall impression given off is “Look at me!!! I’ve got an unhealthy fixation with grooming!” ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/74 "2016-04-13T19:26:05Z")
> [@Elemenopy](#): > > (Oh, and alluding to a comment above–he’s getting a seersucker suit for the summer if I can find one in that tan/white pattern in 44L 🆒) Sending you a PM, I 'm pretty sure I have a tan/white seersucker suit in 44L. If I can find it, I’ll send it to you for free! (My 44L days are gone and not likely to return). ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/75 "2016-04-13T19:31:05Z")
Seriously?! That’s really nice of you!! :eek: 🆒 I’d certainly cover S/H. Let me know if you find it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/76 "2016-04-13T21:49:17Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > In the book “Dress for success” it says bow ties are just for college professors and clowns. Of course, the book was written in 1975. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/77 "2016-04-13T22:02:12Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > Sending you a PM, I 'm pretty sure I have a tan/white seersucker suit in 44L. If I can find it, I’ll send it to you for free! (My 44L days are gone and not likely to return). > [@Elemenopy](#): > > Seriously?! That’s really nice of you!! :eek: 🆒 I’d certainly cover S/H. Let me know if you find it. There, you see? Bow ties bring people together! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/78 "2016-04-14T00:54:04Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Of course, the book was written in 1975. Aaah, yes, but men’s fashion is eternal. Ask any elderly fuddy duddy & he’ll tell ya all about it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/79 "2016-04-14T12:47:20Z")
I own two (one purple silk, one brown velvet) which I occasionally wear. I like them; much neater and less likely to get into your dish than regular ties. Of course, they’re of the ready-knotted variety, so tying them is not an issue. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/80 "2016-04-14T13:44:28Z")
I’ve got a few and have nothing against them, but I tend to wear them for function rather than style. Early in my career I worked around equipment with lot of drive belts and pulleys, but the dress code required men to wear ties. Most guys flipped their ties over their shoulders to avoid them dangling in the equipment - I bought some bow ties to solve the problem. Later, I tended to wear them when it was crazy windy out but I didn’t want to wear a tie clip. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446.md?page=5)