The Biggest No-Nos for Office Wear

You may have heard the term "Dress for Success". Just as the right ensemble can benefit your career path, the wrong type of clothing can do just the opposite. Below are the 4 most common mistakes men make when dressing for work.

Making a Fashion Statement
When dressing to work try to remember what you want your outfit to say and what image you would like to portray. Most executives and managers will agree that dressing too trendy and flashy can be a bad thing. Therefore, unless you are working in the entertainment or fashion industry, keep your ensemble classic and elegant. If you are uncertain about the appropriate dress, then just look at what your superiors are wearing.

No Attention to Detail
Even the nicest suit, shirt and tie can look out of place if you forget to pay attention to the little detail such as shoes, socks, belt, and other accessories. Make sure that your socks match your trousers, and your belt matches your shoe colors. Besides your clothes make sure that you are well groomed and have well manicured fingernails.

Bad Casual Fridays
Casual Friday does not mean that you can dress like you do on vacation. It is always better to slightly overdress than showing up too casual. For more information on this commonly misinterpreted dress code pleases visit our style guide on: Business Casual Attire

The Not-So-Polished Look
Make sure you keep your clothes clean as well as wrinkle and odor free. If suit and tie is part of your daily business attire then make sure to alternate between different suits each day. After each day, hang the suit on a hanger in a well ventilated area. The fabrics will straighten out again and odors will disappear. For the dress shirts you should have a new and freshly pressed shirt each day. In addition keep your shoes polished!

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How to Clean a Silk Tie
Dress CodeTips from our Fashion Blog

Your Bows-N-Ties.com Team - Neck and Bow Ties on the Internet

New Selection of Neckties in XL Length

Dear valued customer, we now added a few more ties in extra long length. We are constantly working with our designer and suppliers to get all their most popular designs made in longer size. By now we feature about five dozen different neckties in XL length. In the next two to three months we will continue to expand our XL tie collection.

What is a XL tie and who wears them?
A regular length necktie is typically 57-59 inches in length and will be the right fit for most men. Big and tall men occasionally have difficulty tying a regular length tie to the right length so that the tip of the tie ends near the center of the belt buckle. That's why extra long ties are available. Most extra long ties are 61-63 inches in length and will be the right fit for men taller than 6 foot 3 inches. Besides height, neck size as well as the type of tie knot someone choose are deciding factors on how long of a tie is needed. Larger tie knots such as the double Windsor need more of the tie's length and therefore might be difficult to tie with regular length ties.

How to Find your XL Tie
We at Bows-n-Ties.com want to make the shopping as easy and convenient as possible for you. If a tie is available in different sizes than we will indicate this in a section right below the product picture. Should you see a tie that you like but that is not available in extra long length then please let us know and we will try to find this tie for you.

Your Bows-n-Ties.com Team

Overview of Mens Suit Fabrics

Even though wool is the most common fabric for men's suits many different natural fabrics as well as textile blends are used. This article will give you a good overview on fabrics, will teach you what to look for when buying a suit, and will also teach you about advantages and disadvantages of each fabric.

Wool
Wool is the most popular fabric for mens suits, and this for a good reason. Wool is a very insulating fabric giving warmth and comfort. At the same time it is a "breathable" and moisture wicking fabric. When buying a suit look for the inner label indication the materials used. Quality suits should be made from pure wool. Do you also see a number such as 100, 120, 140, etc? This number indicates the quality of the wool. The higher the number the finer the individual wool thread. High wool numbers are much more expensive. They have more shine, a very soft feel, but are also much more likely to get wrinkled. For daily business attire we suggest suits made from super-100 or super-120 wool. Higher numbers are better suited for special appearances and for tuxedos worn for black tie attire.

Polyester & Blends
Even though fabric blends containing man-made fibers are usually associated with lesser quality there are some advantages. First of all most fabric blends are much cheaper in price. Second, fabric blends containing synthetic fibers such polyester, nylon, and rayon, are much more care-free and do not wrinkle as easily as a pure wool suit. In addition they do not absorb odors as easily. For this reason suits made part from man-made fibers are well suited for certain professions such as limo-drivers and wait-staff. To make the suit more comfortable and "breathable" we suggest that suits are at last made from 60% wool.

Cotton, Linen, & Other Natural Fabrics
Suits made from cotton and linen are much less common in business. They usually have a much less formal appearance. Suits made from linen are popular in the south - think Panama Jack - and are commonly made in lighter, natural colors. Linen suits can range very widely in quality in price. High quality linen has almost no "knots" in the fabric". The down-side of linen, besides the high cost for quality fabric, is that it wrinkles very easily and must be steam-ironed and cannot be dry-cleaned.

Other Suggested Reading:
Styles of Mens Dress Shoes

Your Bows-n-Ties.com Team - Mens Neck and Bow Ties on the Net

$10 Off at Bows-n-Ties.com

Dear visitor, we at Bows-n-Ties.com made it a habit to post promotional discounts once per month. Use one of these coupons below and $10 will be taken off from your total order. Please note that coupons can only be used for orders larger than $20. Also, each coupon only works once. If you do get an error message during checkout then this means that someone has been faster. We look forward to earn your business.

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Your Bows-n-Ties.com Team

How to Build a Complete Business Wardrobe on a Budget

Sooner or later any man will need to start building a wardrobe that compliments his career. Dressing well to work not only shows that you care about how you look. Dressing well will help create a positive impression. It will show that you take your job seriously and it can nothing but help in your career. Dressing well does not mean that you have to spend a fortune on exclusive designer brands. This article will teach you how to create a business wardrobe on a budget.

Understanding Your Dress Code
First, you will have to look at the dress code in your office and your industry. You will get a good indicator on what is acceptable when you look at your boss's attire. If he/she wears a suit, then you will likely be best off doing the same. In general it is always better to overdress than showing up too casual. Keep your outfit professional and classic. In doubt, it is better to dress on the slightly conservative side than trying to make a fashion statement -unless you work in an industry such as architecture, art, photography, fashion, etc.

The Professional Business Wardrobe
If you are in an industry or a position where it is requited to dress in suit and tie, then consider yourself lucky because you will always know what to wear. Even though some believe that the "suit & tie" look is very uniform and does not allow for much personal interpretation, there are actually quite a few things you can do to add a more personal and fashionable touch.

If suit and tie is part of your daily work attire then you should have at least three suits. Have one suit in solid charcoal, one in navy, and one in a lighter gray. If your wallet allows for a fourth suit then add a tan colored one - the perfect suit for the spring and summer. Have at least one suit that is solid on color. Pin-stripes, checks, herringbone, and birds-eye pattern are perfect for those who already have the basics covered and are looking to widen their selection. Most important when shopping for suits is the proper fit. Make sure to get your suits tailored properly!

Your basic dress shirts should be solid white in color. The next most popular color is light blue followed by medium blue. Once you have at least 2 of each color you can add some "wilder" shades and patterns. Pink, lavender, and lime colored shirts are perfect for the summer. Striped and check patterned shirts are always a great way to add a more unique look, but at the same time they also require a larger necktie collection to allow for the perfect match.

The best tie colors are navy and burgundy. The best patterns in business are solids, stripes, and foulard. For the spring and summer you may want to experiment with some brighter color shades such as lime, pink, yellow, and baby blue. In general, ties are perfect to create a new look each day. If suit and tie is your daily business attire then you should own at least a 8-10 ties.

Shoes, Belts, and Other Accessories
If you are a daily suit and tie wearer then you should own at least two pairs of dress shoes. Alternating your foot wear allows the leather to breathe and to go back into the original shape. We suggest you use shoe trees made from cedar wood after each day of wearing your shoes. The first pair should be solid black - preferable the classic oxford style. The second pair can be in a darker shade of brown - a perfect color for suits in tan and navy. Keep in mind that your belt should always match your shoe color. For more information on shoes you may also want to read our article on: Mens Dress Shoe Styles.

Still looking for more ways to add personal character to your look? Then cuff links, watches, and pocket handkerchiefs are excellent accessories. Unlike novelty ties which has a tacky reputation, novelty cuff links are acceptable in business attire.

You Might Also Like:
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Your Bows-n-Ties.com Team

Men's Fashion 2010: Classic Styles, New Takes

Fashion for both men and women is roughly cyclical: a style becomes a trend now, gets tired in a couple of months, and then goes back into the spotlight once again a few years later. Even seemingly 'perfect' and unassailable styles tend to get a bit of an upgrade every now and then. The upcoming spring season is no exception. If you thought your wardrobe's already complete, you'll want to look for these items at a store near you.

Unkempt Ties
More of a fashion statement than a completely new style of necktie, this is something you should expect to see on a lot of guys in the upcoming months. Slackening the tie, in this case, isn't really a slackening of standards; it's more of the counter-statement to the image of the immaculately dressed man in formal-wear.

An unkempt tie categorically places your outfit under the description of 'casual'. A clean and immaculately done shirt and tie is the only kind you should be wearing to work. The loosened, rakish look might be fine after five, but not a minute before. It is, however, an edgy look for going out in the evenings and for chilling out on the weekends.

The key to making an unkempt tie look good is to keep the rest of your outfit consistent with that sense of "I-don't-care cool". Throwing one into an otherwise formal ensemble will only make it look like you were in the middle of yanking off your tie. Best done with a slim or skinny tie (big ties can look too unkempt), try pairing it with a button down shirt or, if you're feeling adventurous, just a tee or V-neck. A slim blazer, sports coat, or suit jacket should finish off the look satisfactorily, especially with dark jeans.

Colored Chinos
If unkempt ties were a casual take on a formal style, this trend is an even more laid back update to an already relaxed classic. Chinos are already seen as quintessential Casual Friday (for more info you may also want to read our guide on: Business Casual Attire) and weekend fashion. A few brands are now simply giving it a shot of color to add a dose of new life to this decades old piece.

Aside from that ever available khaki color in all its shades, you should now also see pairs in less conventional colors like red, green and blue. They feature exactly the same comfy fabric and modern construction; it's just the colors that have changed. It's the perfect way to add something subtle yet interesting to your weekend outfits.

When pairing these chinos to make an outfit, treat them like you would a shirt or a tie with regard to color matching. The easiest route to take is to simply wear it with a white tee to give focus to the color of your pants. Alternatively, you could wear an understated top and then finish off your look with color matched accessories like – for a pair in red – a solid red necktie to establish a color scheme.

Laceless Shoes
It used to be that you removed the laces of your shoes only when you're about to clean them. This season, though, omitting the laces could also mean that you're riding the trend of laceless shoes that have walked through fashion shows all over the world.

Deconstruction is a common practice in men's fashion, with some garment getting its technical side explored every so often. This doesn't just work with any shoe, however. The trendy shoes for spring don't just have their shoelaces removed; the tongue is fused to the upper, which encloses the shoe and gives it a secure fit. The eyelets where the laces would otherwise have passed, meanwhile, remain.

As with many deconstructed styles, laceless shoes are firmly placed under the heading of Casual, especially since most of the designs involved were casual to begin with. Expect this style of shoe to pop up on popular laced sneakers like those from Converse and Adidas. Another casual shoe might not seem like much of a good investment, but you could always think of the time you'd save from not having to tie your laces.

Further Suggested Reading:
Mens Fashion 2010
How to Wear a Sports Jacket

Your Bows-n-Ties.com Team

Celebrate the Winter Games with Ties in Gold, Silver, Bronze

Show your support to the US Olympic team by wearing a tie in the game's most desirable color: GOLD! Want to switch it up depending on the team's success of each day? Then choose ties in gold, silver, or bronze, or if no metal has been scored, go "tie-less" to the office. Currently the US is in the #1 spot in terms of medals with 2 gold, 2 silver, and 4 bronze. Germany comes in second with a metal count of 1, 3, and 1, followed by France in third place. To see a larger image of each tie, and/or to buy one of these ties please click on your favorite one from below.

Your Bows-n-Ties.com Team

New Collection of Striped Ties by Parsley

Dear valued customer and reader, we are excited to announce a brand new tie collection by necktie designer label Parsley Luxury Neckwear. The narrow striped pattern on these ties is woven into the fabric using an intricate jacquard weaving technique. Have a closer look at the narrow stripes: There is actually a very fine basket-weave pattern woven into them. Also, the stripes lie a little deeper and create an illusion of more texture and more shine of the background color. In addition, these ties are made with a slightly thicker inner lining giving them a more luxurious feel. They are are perfect for those who like larger necktie knots and thicker/heavier looking neckties. For more information on each tie such as matching tips, please click on your favorite one from below. Each tie is handmade from 100% silk and only costs $18.90!




Your Bows-n-Ties Team - Neck and Bow Ties on the Web

Over 100 New Designs Coming Soon - All under $10!!!

Dear valued customer and visitor, we at Bows-n-Ties have expanded our selection of ties for under $10. Within the next 2 weeks we will be adding over 100 new designs of ties that cost only $9.90 each. Most of the designs are classic two-tone stripes as well as over two dozen of new solid colors. Even though the prices are already very low we still offer additional discounts of bulk orders. Simply send us an e-mail or call our toll free number for a quote on your bulk order.

Your Bows-N-Ties.com Team

Popular Lime Green Necktie is Back in Stock

Dear valued customer, one of our best selling ties is back in stock! The lime green striped tie on the left is one of our best selling ties for the spring and summer season. The bright color will instantly lighten up the "stiff" suit and tie ensemble that dominates so many offices throughout the US. Even though this tie is quite bright in color it will still fit into any office environment. We suggest to wear this tie with suits in navy, tan, or gray. The best dress shirt colors are solid white - perfect to set a nice contrast to the tie.

Besides office fashion, this lime green tie is one of our best selling "wedding ties". For that reason we now also carry this tie in extra long length, for the big and tall men, as well as in kids size. To view these special sizes please click on Extra Long Lime Green Tie for the XL sized necktie, and Kids Ties for our entire selection of boys neckties.


Your Bows-n-Ties Team - Finest Neck and Bow Ties on the Internet

How Dressing Right Can Help you Loose Weight - Or at Least Appear that Way

The average man isn't built like the "model type" posing on billboards or underwear packaging. Good style and great outfits, however aren't exclusively for guys with a six-pack but instead should appeal and flatter the average American male. Below are a few tips and tricks that will teach you how outfits and particualr clothing items can help you look leaner, more athletic, and overall more attractive.

Proportionally Pleasant
There's a reason that all the clothes in the store have size tags on them. If you're yet to master the skill of picking out garments that are exactly your size, then it's time to figure it out. Dressing in clothes that complement your proportions is always the first step towards dressing the non-Abercrombie body. You have to buy clothes that fit right!

If you are on the heavier built side you want to avoid clothes that are too baggy. Instead of hiding your excess weight, baggy clothes will add extra weight to your frame. Intead look for clothes that hide the problem areas, such as a belly, while being a touch more snug on all the other body parts. As a general rue, everything in your outfit should be proportional to your size and the style of outfit that you're trying to wear. If you donned a large- to plus-size suit, say, a skinny tie is out of the question. A regular or wide tie will be much more pleasant for your build and outfit.

Fit Fabrics
Believe it or not, something as simple as the fabric of your clothes can drastically change the way you look overall. It all boils down to the things that people perceive. If the fabric can somehow create an illusion or convey a shape, it could potentially make you appear in better shape than you actually are. Wearing stripe patterns, for example, is one of the oldest tricks in the book, but it works today as well as ever. Geometrically speaking, vertical stripes give off the impression of length and/or height, altering your visual proportions enough to make you look thinner.

Right Colors
Color is another angle that you may want to explore. Black is a much loved color in the fashion industry because it conveniently diminishes your size. It's not the only one that does that, though; any dark enough color like midnight blue or burgundy should have a similar effect on your appearance.

Layering to Look Leaner
The best approach to slimming yourself down through style is more about a holistic and cohesive outfit instead of merely wearing this piece and that piece individually. Consider layering slimming pieces over one another; not only will it upgrade your level of dress, but it'll make you visually trimmer from every possible angle.

A Note on Business Attire
If suit and tie is your daily business look, then there are a few tips and tricks you can use to look thinner. First of all, make sure to buy the right suit cut. Italian suits are more tapered at the waist while the American cut is more straight, and therefore better suited for a heavier built man. Next, look at the dress shirts. Never wear shirts that are too tight in the stomach area. If you have difficulty finding a good fitting shirt that it is highly advisable to invest in some bespoke shirts. The shirt's collar should also match your proportion. If you have a short neck wear a standard cut or pointed collar. Wide -spread collars worn by a man with a wide and short neck will look humorous and not professional. Finally think about the ties. Most men with a larger neck size need extra long ties. The type of knot you wear should compliment your body and neck size. A longer necktie knot, such as the Four in Hand knot is a perfect choice for men with a larger than average neck size.

Further Suggested Reading:
Creating a Perfect Physique with Clothes
Dress Shirt Colors by Season

Your Bows-n-Ties.com Team

New Bow Ties with Matching Handkerchiefs in Stock

Just in time for the spring season we have received some new brightly colored bowties and the matching handkerchiefs. New in our selection are bright colors shades such as a bright lemon-yellow, a bright orange, lavender, and a bright apple-green - to just name a few. For those bow tie aficionados that are looking to add a matching pocket square, we have good news. All our bow tie colors are also available as a solid color pocket square.

All our bow ties are pre-tied and are worn around the neck. The bow is handmade and looks just like a self tied bow tie that took close to an hour to perfect. The handkerchiefs are made from pure silk with hand rolled edges - a signature for quality craftsmanship and attention to detail. Bow ties start at $14.90 and silk pocket squares are $7.95 each.

Your Bows-n-Ties.com Team

Job Opening at Bows-n-Ties.com

Are you excited about mens fashion as much a we are? Are you also interested to learn about online retail and online marketing? Then we would like to hear from you. We at Bows-n-Ties.com are currently looking for a customer service representative. We will train you on our products, our industry, a swell as give you a good overview of online marketing. Part of the job responsibility is to handle customer inquiries, phone support, as well as provide sales support for our account management team. If this sounds intriguing then contact us and tell us about yourself. We look forward hearing from you.

Your Bows-n-Ties.com Team - Fine Neck ties and bow ties.

Tips and Tricks on How to Create the Perfect Physique with Clothing

Knowing a few clothing tricks can help you enhance the appearance of your overall physical proportions. The trick lies in knowing how to alter those body parts that may fall out of proportion to create a well-balanced look. Below are some tips can tricks on how to "dress up" particular body parts.

Your Chest
If you are narrow chested, meaning that your chest is slightly hallow the you want to add vertical stripes on shirts or ties as they will create the illusion of depth. Also good are double breasted jackets and overcoats. To avoid is layering as it will add unwanted bulk to those areas that don't need to be addressed.

On the other hand are full-chested men, meaning having a strongly developed pectoral muscles through some form of exercise. Keep in mind that horizontal stripes are slimming and will make you appear taller. Best are softer and lighter fabrics rather than heavy and/or crisp ones.

Your Arms
If your arms are longer or shorter than average then there are also some tricks for this. You will know if this holds true to you if standard dress shirts don't have the right sleeve length. For men with long arms you may want to wear French cuffed shirts as well as cuff links. If you have shorter arms make sure to get your shirts tailored so that only about 1/2 inch of the sleeve is sowing underneath the jacket. For men with short arms so-called raglan sleeves are best.

Your Shoulders
Men with sloping shoulders should stay away from raglan sleeved dress shirts (shirts that do not have armhole seams). Men with narrow shoulders in proportion to the waistline should wear tops with a dropped shoulder line - where the shoulder seam extends beyond the natural shoulder line.

Your Neck
The neck area is one of the most important things to pay attention to when selecting clothing. People first focus on the face and then the neck when first meeting someone. People with long and narrow necks should try to create the pick clothes that shorten the neck. Great are Nehru collars, funnel necks, crew-necks, wide-spread collar dress shirts, bow ties, or if wearing a necktie tying a double Windsor knot. Men with short necks on the other hand are well suited with open collared shirts, V-necks, or when wearing a necktie a standard or button down collar dress shirt. The best necktie knot is the Four in Hand knot. For tips on all necktie knots you may also visit our tutorial on How to Tie a Necktie.

You might also find interesting:
How to Wear a Sports Jacket
Mens Dress Code

Your Bows-N-Ties.com Team

Save $10 on Your Next Tie Order

Who doesn't want to save money when shopping? Occasionally we at Bows-N-Ties.com post coupon codes to our store which will save you an additional $10 on your next order with us. Simply take a pen and some paper and write down the codes listed below. Then, enter one of these promo codes during checkout - at the section where you enter your billing and shipping info - and $10 will be subtracted from the order total.

Don't wait to place your order! Each coupon only works once and should you get this message "invalid coupon code" then this coupon code has already been used by another customer. Also, please note that a minimum order size of $20 is needed for coupons to be valid and that only once coupon can be used per customer.

Promotional Codes:
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Your Bows-N-Ties Team - Neckties and Bow Ties on the Internet