Skinny Neckties Are Coming Back

All good things are worth repeating. That is the case with mens skinny ties. They first became fashionable at the beggining of the 20th century, only to become the dominant style in the 50's and return in the 1980’s. Now they are returning to style again with such luminaries as Will Smith, Jeremy Piven and other celebrities choosing skinny black neckties to wear with their tuxedos at the recent Acadamy Awards.

Skinny Ties from the 20's

It is regularly agreed that thin mens ties vary in size from 1 to 3 inches across the widest part of the necktie. Both traditional ties and flat bottom skinny ties during the beginning of the last century were thin, varying from 2 to 2 ½ inches wide. Some ties measuring as thin as 1 ½ inches, were even referred to popularlly at the time as string ties. Due to lack of materials brought about by World War I, neckties remained the same for the next decade. Skinny ties in the area of 2 inches were the style into the late 20’s, but wouldn’t resurface again until the 50's.

In the period after the war, according to Sarah Gibbings, in her great book "The Tie: Trends and Traditions", the rationing of World War II left no funds, no extra supplies or manufacturing base in Europe. This propelled British soldiers to move towards the United States for a new direction, a style to reflect their positive postwar expectations. Returning soldiers wanted bright and bold patterns, anything happy and free. The United States answered with a movement toward the broad, florid and extravagantly colored ties which went on to set the standard for the 40's and early 50's. To show off these neckties, the suit jacket lapels became wider and jackets were buttoned lower which provided more area for the necktie.

1950's Skinny Neckties  

The American psyche of the mid 1950's was subdued by Cold War, the Korean War and a recession. The more somber attitude was reflected in men’s suits. Fashions became more unadventerous, with slimmer trousers, less wide lapels and thinner neckties to match. Bright and dramatic color combinations were replaced by subdued patterns and plain colors. This hearlded the official rebirth of the quintessential skinny black tie.

As popular stars such as Elvis began to wear narrow neckties, the young men imitated their style. By the mid 60's ties as narrow as 1 inch were worn by most business men and college students alike.

The 80's Resurgence of the Skinny Tie

Narrow ties returned in the 80's, particularly in the new wave music world, which was a repudiation of the florid and extravegant fashion of the 70’s.

Thin Neckties Are Popular Today

Skinny ties are here today. Just the other night attorney Anthony Romero, executive director of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) appeared on the Colbert Report wearing a dark narrow tie. During the show, Stephen Colbert asked him to find something wrong with him. After a quick glance at Colbert’s broad yellow foulard style tie, Romero quickly replied, “That tie is not my favorite”, which predictably got plenty of giggles at Colbert's expense.

Style is a matter of personal style and fashion trends but a well dressed man wearing a distinctive skinny tie will always be classy. Original vintage thin ties from the 50's, 60's and 1980's can be found online when searching for "vintage skinny ties". Try one today!