What comes around goes around. That is the case with mens skinny neckties. The style started during the beginning of the 20th century and hit its highest popularity during the 50’s and 60’s, then made a stylish resurgence in the 80’s. Today they are returning to style again with stars like Will Smith, Jeremy Piven and other celebrities choosing narrow black neckties to go with their tuxedos at the recent Acadamy Awards.
Thin Ties from the 1920’s
It is generally accepted that skinny men’s neckties range in width from 1 to 3 inches across the widest part of the necktie. Both traditional neckties and flat bottom skinny neckties during the beginning of the 20th century were thin, varying from 2 to 2 ½ inches wide. Some ties measuring as narrow as 1 ½ inches, were even referred to generally at the time as string neckties. Due to lack of materials associated with World War I, ties remained unchanged for the next several years. 2 inch wide ties remained in fashion throughout the 1920’s and then disapeared until the 1950’s.
In the period after the war, as stated by Sarah Gibbings, in her essential volume “The Tie: Trends and Traditions”, the rationing of World War II left no funds, no extra materials or manufacturing base in Europe. The United States became an exporter of change and upbeat postwar hopes and dreams for war ravaged Europe. Ex soldiers wanted colorful and exciting patterns, something exuberant and free. The United States responded with a trend toward the broader, flamboyant and extravagantly colored neckties which continued to set the style for the 40’s and early 1950’s. Suit jacket lapels became broader and suits were buttoned lower, giving the man more space needed to display such a necktie.
Skinny Ties of the 50’s
The American attitude of the mid 50’s was subdued by Cold War, the Korean War and a recession. Men’s fashion reflected the country’s more somber mood. Styles became more unadventerous, with tighter pants, less wide lapels and slimmer neckties to match. Vibrant and bodacious color combinations were substituted by subtle patterns and solid colors. Thus the quintessential thin black tie was reborn.
Narrow ties of the early rock era were the style among young men who were fans of stars such as Elvis who regularly wore narrow neckties. By the mid 60’s ties as thin as 1 inch were worn by most business men and young men alike.
The 80’s Resurgence of the Thin Necktie
As the excessive style style of the 1970’s wound down the narrow tie reapeared, primarly as a rejection of the former decade’s bad taste.
The Modern Trend Towards Skinny Ties
Thin ties are here again. Just the other day attorney Anthony Romero, executive director of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) made an appearance on the Colbert Report sporting a dark narrow necktie. During the show, Stephen Colbert challenged him to show something wrong with him. After a brief glance at Colbert’s broad yellow foulard style necktie, Romero promptly pointed out, “That tie is not my favorite”, which predictably brought plenty of laughs at Colbert’s expense.
While there is definately room for all types of ties to match one’s personel style and comfort level, there will always be something striking about the sleek and slender look of a well dressed man wearing a distinctive skinny tie. Original classic skinny ties from the 50’s, 60’s and 1980’s can be found online when searching for “vintage skinny ties”. Try one today!
