Bow ties are suitable only for college professors or clowns.
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.
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.
I think they’re ridiculous but the exception is a Seahawks bow tie. 
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.
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).
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.
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.
It’s Bow Tie Wednesday. Just saying.
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 
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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. I’ve always liked that look.
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?
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.
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!”
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).
Seriously?! That’s really nice of you!! :eek: 
I’d certainly cover S/H. Let me know if you find it.
Of course, the book was written in 1975.
There, you see? Bow ties bring people together!
Aaah, yes, but men’s fashion is eternal. Ask any elderly fuddy duddy & he’ll tell ya all about it. 
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.
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.