Walking on Air in New Neckwear

Few articles of clothing trigger as much discussion as bowties, neckties, scarves, and shawls. Worn about the neck, these vestiges of old-school formality and poise are scrutinized by discerning buyers who seem to delight in folding fabric with sartorial flair.

A pull here. A pinch there. Before long you have the perfect tie-knot dimple. Similarly, scarves are tied, tucked and draped in a variety of knots to yield a graceful look.

Like icing on a cake, neckwear demands your attention. The eye-level pop of color punctuates what may otherwise be a plain vanilla uniform. But where icing is a guilty pleasure, a vibrantly hued pure-silk scarf remains a guilt-free pleasure.

Think of neckwear as an accent piece. Smallish in size, it affords the wearer license to “go big” style-wise while maintaining a modicum of conservatism. It can evoke a distinct style, era or theme. And it lends a cohesive look across a disparate workforce.

Because neckwear comes in a plethora of styles, colors, fabrics and prints, buyers often wrestle with what to buy. While conservative colors and patterns are unlikely to be second guessed by anyone, there’s nothing like putting your own stamp on a look. For example, nautical- or equestrian-themed neckwear with a flourish of color can leave a lasting impression. So too can a smart geometric motif or even a playful or quirky design.

When absolutely nothing else will do, there is custom neckwear. Here you can match a corporate color or pattern, adding a discrete logo or even a not-so-discrete logo. The choice is yours.

The hospitality industry is replete with examples of workers wearing perfectly serviceable uniforms with well-worn ties. Often an afterthought, ties, it seems, are passed from employee to employee with little regard for their condition.

It’s ironic. After all, ties are easy on the pocketbook. And there is nothing like fresh neckwear to spruce up a uniform lickety-split.

Add a matching pocket square and you’ve hit it out of the ball park!

-Alex Arencibia