# So, bow ties: dressy or done? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 13, 2012, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bow-ties-dressy-or-done/640925 "2012-11-13T22:55:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bow-ties-dressy-or-done/640925/41 "2012-11-16T15:45:22Z")
Unless you look like David Beckham, Daniel Craig or Bradley Cooper, wearing a bow tie signifies you as either a nerd or a hipster. Actually, hipster nerd. And you can’t pull off hipster unless you’re young, skinny and wearing tight clothes. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bow-ties-dressy-or-done/640925/42 "2012-11-16T15:46:27Z")
> [@picker](#): > > No he’s not. That’s Neil Simon. Laughing my ass off. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bow-ties-dressy-or-done/640925/43 "2012-11-16T15:53:15Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Only if they’re [not done up into a bow](http://www.kickette.com/images/uploads/boysweekdi.jpg). As commonly done by a certain Korean singer. ---
**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:** [November 16, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bow-ties-dressy-or-done/640925/44 "2012-11-16T15:57:47Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > It cracks me up that the Midwestern folks are united on this front. _cough_ post 31 _cough_ ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bow-ties-dressy-or-done/640925/45 "2012-11-16T16:04:16Z")
My apologies, sir. ---
**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:** [November 16, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bow-ties-dressy-or-done/640925/46 "2012-11-16T16:14:28Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > My apologies, sir. No worries! In fact, this thread inspired me to wear a snazzy blue and gold number from J. Press into the office today. The reaction has been flattering. ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bow-ties-dressy-or-done/640925/47 "2012-11-16T16:44:46Z")
A bow tie, made of good fabric and properly tied, is a thing of beauty and classic elegance. Wear it with confidence. Bolo ties, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bow-ties-dressy-or-done/640925/48 "2012-11-16T16:47:32Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > No worries! In fact, this thread inspired me to wear a snazzy blue and gold number from J. Press into the office today. The reaction has been flattering. I was in a monthly meeting this morning and two attendees had on bow ties. One was a former University of Alabama football player. It was the first time I’d ever seen someone wear a bow tie and a national championship ring at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bow-ties-dressy-or-done/640925/49 "2012-11-16T17:46:28Z")
Done, unless you’re Bill Nye. Or a whiney Republican pundit (take your pick of which one). ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bow-ties-dressy-or-done/640925/50 "2012-11-16T20:50:51Z")
Wearing a bow tie is an affectation, like walking around with a snake draped over your shoulders or unicycling to work. ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bow-ties-dressy-or-done/640925/51 "2012-11-17T00:00:00Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > I was in a monthly meeting this morning and two attendees had on bow ties. One was a former University of Alabama football player. It was the first time I’d ever seen someone wear a bow tie and a national championship ring at the same time. I was going to mention the race thing. It is quite acceptable in african american communities to wear bow ties. New School athletes (Lebron, Wade, Bryant, etc) are some of the hippest dressing people on earth and they wear bow ties, and look damn sharp. ---
**Author:** ![gms453](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@gms453](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gms453)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bow-ties-dressy-or-done/640925/52 "2012-11-17T00:16:09Z")
FWIW: Years ago, I read about a study that determined that, in a business setting, men wearing bow ties were considered less trustworthy than those wearing conventional ties. ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bow-ties-dressy-or-done/640925/53 "2012-11-17T00:19:11Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > Wearing a bow tie is an affectation, like walking around with a snake draped over your shoulders or unicycling to work. Yeah, as long as your wearing cargo shorts, adidas soccer sandals (with socks) and an old navy tee, you are normal. Right bra? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bow-ties-dressy-or-done/640925/54 "2012-11-17T00:23:02Z")
Why in the world would anyone want to dress just like everyone else? Even my “normal” long ties are eccentric. I have a penchant for dinosaurs or sailboats, with an occasional cocktail, as the pattern on my ties. Made it difficult to find something appropriate to wear to a funeral this last summer. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bow-ties-dressy-or-done/640925/55 "2012-11-19T01:01:09Z")
> [@tomcar](#): > > I was going to mention the race thing. It is quite acceptable in african american communities to wear bow ties. New School athletes (Lebron, Wade, Bryant, etc) are some of the hippest dressing people on earth and they wear bow ties, and look damn sharp. He is white, but the other guy is an African American. ---
**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:** [November 19, 2012, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bow-ties-dressy-or-done/640925/56 "2012-11-19T02:33:15Z")
It’s a truth seldom acknowledged that Black men can get away with a lot more elegance than White ones. Fedoras, ice cream suits, bow ties, don’t faze anyone when worn by the “urban” peacock, but a porky middle-aged Caucasian like me had better being some serious eccentricity if he wants to get away with them. ---
**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:** [November 19, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bow-ties-dressy-or-done/640925/57 "2012-11-19T18:58:55Z")
I have an irrational dislike for bow ties. They have a way of making men look like prissy boys who enjoy cutesifying themselves like toy poodles. When a guy in a bow tie tries to talk to me, I either want to punch him in the face or laugh at him. Taking him seriously is not an option. I’m a woman, by the way, and I do feel guilty for my bow tie prejudice. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bow-ties-dressy-or-done/640925/58 "2012-11-19T19:09:19Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > I have an irrational dislike for bow ties. They have a way of making men look like prissy boys who enjoy cutesifying themselves like toy poodles. When a guy in a bow tie tries to talk to me, I either want to punch him in the face or laugh at him. Taking him seriously is not an option. > > I’m a woman, by the way, and I do feel guilty for my bow tie prejudice. You shouldn’t feel guilty. Most guys shouldn’t be wearing them for the reasons you mention. Some can get away with it, more power to them. I recommend against it for the average guy unless he’s trying to stand out, in a not too positive way. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bow-ties-dressy-or-done/640925/59 "2012-11-19T19:12:43Z")
> [@tomcar](#): > > Yeah, as long as your wearing cargo shorts, adidas soccer sandals (with socks) and an old navy tee, you are normal. Right bra? I don’t understand what you’re trying to say. I have my own affectations that I’m perfectly happy with; they don’t happen to be Bow Tie Guy, Snake Guy or Unicycle Guy, but more power to 'em! ---
**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:** [November 19, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bow-ties-dressy-or-done/640925/60 "2012-11-19T19:16:40Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > You shouldn’t feel guilty. Most guys shouldn’t be wearing them for the reasons you mention. Some can get away with it, more power to them. I recommend against it for the average guy unless he’s trying to stand out, in a not too positive way. I keep hearing about men who can get away with bow ties, but honest to God I have never met one. Someone care to post some pics of men successfully “getting away” with it? I have a feeling these guys are as rare as the women who “get away” with drawn-on eyebrows and super long fingernails. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bow-ties-dressy-or-done/640925.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-bow-ties-dressy-or-done/640925.md?page=4)