# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/81 "2016-04-14T13:50:24Z")
I wear them to special occasions, usually weddings. They look good with a blazer and a vest. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/82 "2016-04-14T18:01:50Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Of course, the book was written in 1975. But updated in 1988. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/83 "2016-04-14T19:42:41Z")
I wear a bowtie when I dress to go out because a regular tie just doesn’t suit me. It is comfortable, I’ve been told that I look quite good in it, and no one has ever given me a strange look. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/84 "2016-04-16T09:33:54Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > In the book “Dress for success” it says bow ties are just for college professors and clowns. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Of course, the book was written in 1975. > [@Urbanredneck](#): > > But updated in 1988. Any word from the present century? ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/85 "2016-04-16T12:17:37Z")
I chose “wouldn’t wear one myself”, although a) I’d waive that if I ever actually had to attend a formal event, which at this point looks like it’s never going to happen; b) I would never impose this view on someone else, so if you like 'em, and you don’t mind being associated visually with Tucker Bloody Carlson, get on down with your bad self. ---
**Author:** ![nicky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f0a364/32.png) [@nicky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nicky)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/86 "2016-04-16T15:40:55Z")
Bow ties are for prats. So : no, because youll look like a prat. And: yes, because youll save other peoples time and effort. ---
**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:** [September 4, 2016, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/87 "2016-09-04T19:07:47Z")
Bow ties came up at The Wife’s company picnic yesterday. One of her coworkers said bow ties were cool. I was like ‘See? _See?_’ But Mrs. L.A. still thinks only weathermen, or people who want to look like a weatherman, should wear one. (We both grew up watching [Dr. George](http://cdn.abclocal.go.com/content/kabc/images/cms/file-kabc-dr-george-img-08.jpg).) Also, she wouldn’t let me wear a pork pie to the picnic. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2016, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/88 "2016-09-04T20:38:12Z")
“Never trust anybody who wears a bow tie. Cravat’s supposed to point down to accentuate the genitals. Why’d you wanna trust somebody whose tie points out to accentuate his ears?” – _State & Main_ Stranger ---
**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:** [September 4, 2016, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/89 "2016-09-04T20:40:08Z")
I am confident enough in myself, that I have no need to point to my genitals. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/90 "2016-09-04T22:47:33Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > “Never trust anybody who wears a bow tie. Cravat’s supposed to point down to accentuate the genitals. Why’d you wanna trust somebody whose tie points out to accentuate his ears?” – _State & Main_ Per Alan Flusser, ties are supposed to accentuate the face, not the genitals. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2016, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/91 "2016-09-05T01:50:24Z")
Count me as someone who likes bow ties on others (I’m a chick). The PA in the medical practice where I’m a patient wears one. It tends to dress him up a without being a bacteria/virus/bodily gunk haven. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2016, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/92 "2016-09-05T03:11:22Z")
I’ll wait for the mandatory-tux event. Which considering how that has itself evolved de facto into not always requiring a bow tie… (Dagnabbit, another thing in which Science Fiction lied to us, we were supposed to no longer wear ties of any sort, but any of a variety of band collars, turtlenecks, Nehru jackets or tunics…) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2016, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/93 "2016-09-05T22:03:35Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Bow ties came up at The Wife’s company picnic yesterday. One of her coworkers said bow ties were cool. I was like ‘See? _See?_’ But Mrs. L.A. still thinks only weathermen, or people who want to look like a weatherman, should wear one. (We both grew up watching [Dr. George](http://cdn.abclocal.go.com/content/kabc/images/cms/file-kabc-dr-george-img-08.jpg).) [I don’t thing Weathermen wear bow ties.](http://thisdistractedglobe.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/Weather%20Underground%20.png) ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2016, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/94 "2016-09-06T14:38:35Z")
Bow ties rock, most especially when you take your wife out to dinner and don’t have to worry about your neck tie falling in your soup. A minor concern to be sure but it only has to happen once…If they’re tied properly they are also more comfortable as well. Besides, if it’s good enough for Dr.Who (although the fish fingers and custard might be a little off putting). ---
**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:** [September 7, 2016, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/95 "2016-09-07T17:16:12Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > Bow ties rock, most especially when you take your wife out to dinner… She says she won’t be seen in public with me if I’m wearing a bow tie. Also, she won’t kiss me until I take it off. Anyway, a coworker came in this morning and said I look very dapper. (White shirt for a change, and a blue-and-burgundy striped tie.) ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2016, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/96 "2016-09-07T19:08:04Z")
I am wearing my blue patterned one. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > … no one has ever given me a strange look. You’re not doing it right. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![edwards\_beard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@edwards\_beard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwards_beard)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2016, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/97 "2016-09-07T20:04:54Z")
I voted other. I like bow tie pasta ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/98 "2016-09-08T00:29:17Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > They only work on Bill Nye. Agreed. I think they’re only for those who are purposely trying to cultivate a dorky/nerdy/“absent-minded professor” type persona. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/99 "2016-09-08T04:48:12Z")
When I see bowties worn as part of an official uniform, they look horrible and tacky(excepting military uniforms as formal wear) When I see bowties worn as fashion or personal preference, I’ve only ever seen one that looked bad, usually the look, to me, anywhere from decent to dashing. I’d wear one if I knew how to tie one, if for no other reason than being able to untie it and have the ends hanging down and looking cool that way too at the end of the day. Don’t think I’d wear a clip-on other than the few times I was part of the wedding ceremony for friends and family. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446/100 "2016-09-08T14:10:40Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > She says she won’t be seen in public with me if I’m wearing a bow tie. Also, she won’t kiss me until I take it off. > > Anyway, a coworker came in this morning and said I look very dapper. (White shirt for a change, and a blue-and-burgundy striped tie.) Now why would you be going for dinner with my wife? 😃 She is so contrary… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bow-ties-yea-or-nay/751446.md?page=6)