A Guide To Tie Width and Wearing Tie Bars by Aristocrats Bows n Ties

These days, it seems like ties are getting skinnier and skinnier. This raises an important question: What’s the proper, stylish width for a tie that will complete your business, leisure, or evening outfit? The answer lies in proportion. After all, slimmer suits look better with slimmer ties, but you don't want to go as far as wearing a tie that’s just an inch wide. A general guideline is to keep your tie width (measured at the widest point before the tip) approximately the width of the lapel on your suit. Of course, other factors like the material of your tie will also play a role in choosing the right width.

The Stylish Width for Ties

When wearing a tie, two key things to keep in mind are:

1. You want to avoid looking overly dated by wearing a tie wider than 3.25 inches.
   
2. You want to steer clear of fad territory by wearing skinny ties narrower than 1.75 inches.
   
   

So, your widest ties should measure about 3.25 inches at the widest point, and your narrowest should measure around 2 inches. Of course, personal taste and fashion trends can influence your choice, but everyone will agree (or should agree) that a six-button double-breasted jacket would look ridiculous with a bootlace tie. Another consideration is the pattern and color of the tie—checked and patterned ties typically look better when they’re on the wider side, while knitted ties tend to look best when they’re a little more narrow.

How to Wear a Tie Bar

In today’s world, a suited man without a tie bar runs the risk of looking a bit amateurish rather than dapper. If you’re wearing a tie bar, it’s crucial to make sure it’s worn correctly.

Here are 3 essential rules for wearing a tie bar:

1. Always clip together the two ends of the tie and the shirt’s placket.
   
2. Get the position right—place the tie bar between the third and fourth buttons of your shirt.
   
3. Never wear a tie bar wider than three-quarters of the tie’s width.