Burl Veneer's Tie Blog

Paco Rabanne

2012-01-12T22:13:00.000-05:00

This necktie from Paco Rabanne takes a traditional medallion design and updates it with larger shapes and a wider, bolder color palette. Originally a jewelry designer, Rabanne (born Francisco Rabaneda Cuervo) launched his own fashion house in Paris in 1966. His use of metal as a dress fabric has inspired an enigmatic short story, "The Dress" by Elizabeth Brown, published by David Longhorn in Issue 17 of his excellent Supernatural Tales journal. (Note that there is a free PDF edition if you feel inclined to read the story right now.)

Arguably modern

2012-01-08T23:13:00.000-05:00

Today's tie comes from Ruff Hewn, "True American Wear". The look is supposed to be rustic, but I see a lot of modernism in the minimal shapes and machine-precise lines.

Brownian motion

2012-01-08T23:06:00.000-05:00

Continuing the molecular theme, here's another pattern that looks like molecules zipping and caroming randomly around their medium. It's a black-and-white monotone print on patterned silk jacquard, with the label printed on the back: "Design by LOFT Eternal Veri-ties"-- adding some metaphysics to the physics.

The building blocks of Art Deco

2012-01-05T22:15:00.000-05:00

This perplexing tie is from Jacques Estier, a brand of Brooklyn-based necktie wholesaler The Tie King, Inc. I like to think of the pattern as an electron microscope image of art-deco molecules.

Stripes

2012-01-05T22:04:00.000-05:00

The uneven stripes on this mid-80s-looking tie are in the style of Leonard of Paris, but it's from Conte San Giorgio of Santa Ynez, California.

Tablecloth

2011-11-27T15:19:00.000-05:00

I like the colors and pattern in this silk tie from Linea Moda, but I can't help thinking that it looks more like a vinyl tablecloth than a necktie.

Mystery Marble

2011-11-27T15:01:00.000-05:00

The label on this unmistakably hand-marbled tie is for "Martin K, New York." I can't find out anything about the mysterious Martin K, but I suspect the tie was actually marbled by one of the half-dozen professional marblers I have featured here in the past. I'm guessing it's the same one who made my x'Andrini branded marbled tie, whoever that may be. If I had to wager on it, I'd wager on Cosette.

Chains

2011-11-27T13:20:00.000-05:00

Today's woven-patterned polyester tie is a relic of a Washington, DC menswear institution: it's by Bronzini, "made expressly for Raleigh's, Washington". The Raleigh's at White Flint is where I bought my first serious necktie. While the Raleigh's name went defunct in 1992, a group of employees bought it out and continued the business as Boardroom Clothiers in the White Flint location. There is now a second location at Tyson's Corner.

Monotone floral redux

2011-11-27T13:07:00.000-05:00

This monotone floral necktie is of fairly recent vintage from Liz Claiborne. Practicing brevity to expedite backlog processing.

Patchwork print

2011-11-13T20:07:00.000-05:00

Bear in mind it was summer when I wore this tie, so its summery look was fitting at the time. There are six different patterns printed onto one piece of silk, in seven colors: three blue foulards, a muted gold paisley, a cartoonish yellow floral, and a red pattern that may be going for an Indian look. Tie by Club L'Uomo.

Deco nightmare

2011-11-13T20:06:00.000-05:00

Most of the ties I wear I actually like, but some of them I wear in the spirit of saying, "Holy cow, can you believe they actually put this on a tie?!" This art deco/op art mishmash from J. Blades & Co. is an example of the latter category.

All eyes on me

2011-11-13T20:05:00.000-05:00

Here's another tie that I am posting sans maker information in the interest of working through my backlog. More to come when I locate the tie.

Nadia Roden

2011-11-09T20:58:00.000-05:00

Nadia Roden is a painter, animator, textile designer (e.g. this tie), and author whose advertising work includes a campaign for Beano, a product near and dear to my heart. I think it's fair to characterize her style as "whimsical."

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

2011-11-09T20:50:00.000-05:00

The blue boxes on this tie from Jacques Ploenes harbor foxes (though their bushy red tails break out of the boxes). That makes me happy, as (1) foxes hang out in my back yard, and they are cute; and (2) The Fantastic Mr. Fox was a terrific movie, a strong return to form for Wes Anderson after the awful Darjeeling Express.

Tropical blend

2011-11-09T20:45:00.002-05:00

Identification of the maker of this fever-dream of a tie depicting...tropical leaves and fruits?... must await such time as I find the tie again.

Found it: it's by LDM.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Confetti

2011-11-06T19:50:00.000-05:00

The Boxelder company of Milwaukee is the premier maker of neckties from historical fine art designs. Their Frank Lloyd Wright line is mostly adapted from stained glass windows, with designs certified by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. This tie's pattern, "Confetti," is based on windows in the Avery Coonley Playhouse of Riverside, Illinois, built in 1912.

Spanish Gold

2011-11-06T19:38:00.002-05:00

In 1977 (give or take a year) my family got a new car: a Dodge Aspen station wagon in "Spanish Gold", the same color that predominates in this paisley tie from Robert Stewart of Hartford, Connecticut.

Happy Happy Joy Joy

2011-10-28T09:56:00.000-04:00

Isn't this a joyous tie? It's perfect for a sunny June day and reconnecting with old friends I hadn't seen in years. (Yes, this photo is from June--that's how far behind I am! But this blog provides me with one little luxury: deadlines that can be blown without consequences.) Tie by Teo Grimaldi, Milan.

(P.S.: My microcheck shirt sure plays havoc with the camera!)

Lino

2011-10-26T18:08:00.002-04:00

"You know what would be a great idea for a tie? A kaleidoscope of psychedelic linoleum tiles!" That is how I imagine this necktie from Marcello Tarantino came about. It is every bit as subtle as the films of another Tarantino. Some days I don't have to worry that people won't notice my tie.

Double Flower Power

2011-10-26T17:59:00.000-04:00

The pastel-toned impressionistic flowers on this tie from Mimmo Messineo are printed on silk with a jacquard-woven floral pattern for double the flowers of a print alone. Worn with a burgundy shirt and black slacks, my neutral-toned silk sportcoat looked like a dinner jacket: very dapper, if I do say so myself.

Atomic

2011-10-16T21:29:00.002-04:00

This tie with a vaguely "atomic" design is by "Royal Club", which sounds like a department store house brand, but I have no idea what store it might be. Made in U.S.A. of Italian silk, it was most likely produced by one of the two major suppliers of U.S. neckwear, Randa or Superba (now PVH Neckwear Group).

Monotone floral

2011-10-16T21:17:00.000-04:00

Not all floral prints are colorful, but the joy and beauty of flowers are transmitted even in a monotone. There's no label on this tie, and while it is definitely not a Liberty of London, the fabric is a fine cotton in the Liberty tradition.

Chalkboard

2011-08-11T07:38:00.004-04:00

A few entries back I wore a Van Heusen necktie with a pattern that looked as if it had been drawn with felt-tip pens; the colored strokes that make up the pattern on this Valentino tie look like chalk marks, appropriately enough on a field of slate gray. In the realm of logos on the fronts of ties, the Valentino "V" near the bottom is pretty unobtrusive; it's the next best thing to not being there at all.

Here comes the Express

2011-08-11T07:37:00.003-04:00

At first glance this tie from Express looks like a luxury woven-patterned silk tie as purveyed by Charvet or Ike Behar, but upon handling it the difference becomes apparent at once. Its thin, stiff interlining (possibly cardboard) is no match for the heavy, supple wool used in better, more expensive ties. It looks good enough to wear once, though.

New to me

2011-08-11T07:36:00.005-04:00

The keeper label on this "Swisster" tie is from a haberdasher, Foley and Bonny "Distinctive Men's Wear"; it evokes bygone days when haberdashers still existed. But guess what? Foley and Bonny still exists in El Cerrito! They are celebrating their 65th year! Imagine this tie in shades of blue, purple, and pink, and it would fit right in with the British Woven Tie Invasion of the mid-twenty-aughts. It's about 30 years older than that, though, and hand made of 100% Dacron polyester instead of silk. It still has the manufacturer's price label on it ($7.50) and I do believe I was the first person to wear it.

Motorola

2011-08-11T07:36:00.004-04:00

Those are little Motorola "batwing" logos (officially, the "Stylized M Logo") on this shiny silver silk "Motoriginal" tie. It's pretty high-end for a corporate tie. The Motorola logo was introduced in 1955, from a design by Morton Goldsholl. It must be considered one of the most successful logos of the age for its sheer durability. Here's hoping it survives the move to Google. (I wish Larry Page would do a Victor Kiam-style commercial: "I bought a Motorola Razr, and I liked it so much I bought the company!")

Overlaid

2011-08-11T07:35:00.003-04:00

The prominent jacquard weave on this tie from Luca D'Altieri (a house brand of the Italian-based Coin department store chain) gives it a palimpsestuous look, while the unusual 50/50 blend of silk and linen gives it a luxurious feel. The colors make it suitable for any earthtone ensemble; not that versatility is an issue for a guy who wears most ties once, but I just might wear this one a second time.

Jimmy Pike's Unknown Creeper

2011-08-11T07:34:00.004-04:00

I had hoped to be impressive and identify the species of vine depicted on this Desert Designs tie by Jimmy Pike, but I couldn't find a source of Australian native vines with enough pictures to make a positive ID. So you will just have to enjoy this one for its aesthetics alone; it was much admired by colleagues and random people downtown.

Return of The Other Pierre

2011-06-04T10:21:00.002-04:00

Hot on the heels of the Pierre Cardin tie from three entries back, here is an old favorite from the other Pierre, Pierre Balmain. The pattern is obviously part of a large-scale floral print, but the "flowers" featured on it also bear an unsettling resemblance to crustaceans or crinoids.

Fliberty

2011-06-04T10:20:00.001-04:00

Hickok brings us this reasonable pastiche of a 70s-era Liberty floral print. It's a rather exuberant print that proved quite popular among officemates and the public at large.

Flair

2011-06-04T10:19:00.005-04:00

Outside of novelty ties of famous paintings, it is not often that tie patterns are printed to convey artefacts of the pattern's original medium, e.g. brushstrokes. And so far I have seen only one example where the original medium appeared to be felt-tip pen: this tie from Van Heusen. You may have to click through to the larger picture to see what I mean.

Earthtones

2011-06-04T10:19:00.004-04:00

Does this tie just shout out "Burl Veneer!", or what? The wavy jacquard weave is almost a woodgrain, even. I can't say a Pierre Cardin tie has ever turned my head in a retail store, but the handful of vintage Cardins I own, of which this is one, are among my favorites. This tie would be perfect to wear in a room that has a photomural of a woodland scene.

And now for something completely different

2011-06-04T10:18:00.001-04:00

I still can't decide whether I like this Gianfranco Ruffini tie or not. I like wavy stripes, and I like florals, but I'm not sure this is the best way to combine them. I am not conflicted at all, though, about loving the jacquard weave, which deftly combines wavy stripes and polka dots. Click on the picture for a better look at it. That weave would make a great print in its own right.

Still marbling

2011-06-04T10:17:00.004-04:00

Today's tie comes from one of the less represented marblers in my collection, Michael Kensinger. This variation on the traditional "peacock" pattern stands in contrast to the freeform extravaganza on my other Kensinger tie.

Marblesque

2011-06-04T10:17:00.003-04:00

Brian O'Malley of Australian tie maker Marblesque takes marbling in directions I haven't seen anywhere else, such as the marbled stripe pattern on this tie.

Tornados

2011-06-04T10:16:00.002-04:00

The label on this hand-marbled necktie is unhelpfully blank, but I am 99% certain it is from Moth Marblers of Sausalito, as the pattern is very close to another one I have from that studio (in different colors). The shapes here look almost tornado-like.

More tracery

2011-06-04T10:15:00.001-04:00

Like the tie of two entries previous, the pattern on this Fashion Affairs tie resembles Gothic window tracery. But it more closely resembles carved wood instead of stone; the kind of carved wood you would find on a three-paneled screen/room divider at Pier One. Also like the previously-featured tie, this one has patches of different colors printed over the pattern, though this one goes one better by adding two-tones scales at top and bottom.

Tiny pattern

2011-06-02T22:45:00.004-04:00

The graphic pattern on this tie of mysterious origin (no brand label, just a content label--100% silk) is very tiny and intricate; you will have to click through to the bigger image to see it properly. Despite the quality of the materials, the construction is such that the tie lies crooked, no matter what you do.

Tracery

2011-06-02T22:44:00.003-04:00

Gothic window tracery makes a good pattern for a necktie print, but if you find it too boring I suppose you could saturate it in gaudy colors and add some snowflakes or something. Tie by J. T. Beckett.

High-tech

2011-06-02T22:43:00.008-04:00

With a pattern evoking tickertape, IBM punchcards, and magnetic tape tracks, this tie from Pierre Balmain embodies the state of the art of technology... circa 1968 (probably its year of production, give or take).

Missoni Earthtones

2011-06-02T22:43:00.006-04:00

Sometimes earth tones are so earthy they can barely be differentiated from each other. Missoni's foray into the dark side is a far cry from their characteristic vibrant palette, but the intricate geometry of the print makes up for it.

Marble scrumble

2011-06-02T22:42:00.002-04:00

Brian O'Malley's patterns are to marbling as scrumbling is to crochet. Tie hand-marbled for Marblesque of Australia.

Delaware Tie-Wearing Man

2011-06-02T22:41:00.007-04:00

In light of recent scandals in which bloggers were revealed to be not what they said they were, you might be wondering, does Burl Veneer really live in Delaware and wear all those ties? Yes and yes, I assure you. (The preceding is in lieu of any information about this tie, another one misplaced somewhere in my tie closet. But if you like this pattern, you should check out graphic artist Matt Lyon, who works in a similar exuberant style.)

Update: I found the tie! It's by Splendore, from Milan.

Cosette

2011-06-02T22:41:00.004-04:00

I lucked into a cache of hand-marbled ties on eBay five or six years ago and I still haven't worn them all yet. Here is another one from Cosette Originals of Austin, Texas, with a layer of traditional marbling on the bottom and a larger-scale, "peekaboo" layer on top of it.

Pampered

2011-06-02T22:36:00.002-04:00

Here is my seventh and penultimate tie from Pamper Him of Chicago. The fabric came from Exotic Silks, and features a freeform polygon tile print which is similar to, but predates, Tim Biskup's direction in art for the last few years. My only quibble with these ties is the bar tack (the knotted loop of thread that holds the two sides of the tie together in back, at the bottom): it is of black thread, which shows through light-colored silk, sort of like an ingrown hair. White thread would have solved that problem.

Tundra

2011-05-04T06:07:00.003-04:00

Tundra was Canada's version of Australia's Coogi, purveying wild "Cosby sweaters" and equally colorful neckties. Whereas my previous examples of those brands were actually knitted or woven with a complexity similar to that of the sweaters, the "knitted" texture in this Tundra tie is just printed onto silk, a textural trompe l'oeil as it were.

Carlos Falchi

2011-05-04T06:05:00.004-04:00

Brazilian-born, US-based designer and leathersmith Carlos Falchi is known primarily for his handbags. In the 60s he was a manager at the seminal New York rock club Max's Kansas City; in the 70s he designed stage outfits for Mick Jagger, Miles Davis, Tina Turner, and Elvis. I can only find references to handbags and other women's accessories, but at some point Falchi had a men's necktie line, as evidenced by this Carlos Falchi tie right here. It's certainly an unconventional print, and the jacquard weave has a pattern that references the grain of animal skins so prominent in Falchi's handbags.

Ectomorphic paisleys

2011-05-04T06:04:00.003-04:00

Have you ever seen paisleys so slender and sinuous? Marja Kurki of Finland has fashioned this richly-colored silk print into a similarly slender tie.

New Modules

2011-05-04T06:03:00.002-04:00

Some ties languish in my closet for years before being worn; some may never be worn; others arrive in the mail and get worn two days later, as is the case with this Modules of Japan tie, the latest addition to my Modules hoard. Interesting prints, funky jacquard weaves, tiny knots... I just love 'em.

George Machado

2011-05-04T06:02:00.004-04:00

George Machado's Zylos line is one of the top Art Deco tie brands; this tie, however, is from his Machado line, which may simply be Zylos fabrics in an extra-long size. (Don't be afraid to wear an extra-long tie even if you don't need one: you can use up plenty of length in the knot.)

It came from the past (and Belgium)

2011-05-04T06:01:00.003-04:00

Scoff if you must, but this monster was a premium necktie in its day. Offered by Roland (London, Paris, Madrid), the shell is made of an unusual blend of polyester and wool (70/30), but the crowning touch of quality is the fact that it was hand made in Belgium. (To see how a necktie is made by hand, go to The Necktie Series, Part II: The Manufacturing Process on Put This On.) That makes this the perfect tie to wear while enjoying fine Belgian ales, chocolate, and waffles.

Not that Paul Smith

2011-05-04T05:59:00.004-04:00

This tie is from Paul R. Smith, not to be confused with British designer Paul Smith. Paul R. Smith may be based in Germany, as the label also says "reine seide", or "pure silk" auf Deutsch. And that's all I can tell you.

The Countess' Labyrinth

2011-05-04T05:58:00.002-04:00

Too bad Countess Mara insisted on putting her logo on this tie, which has an otherwise elegant, vaguely industrial minimalist pattern woven in gold thread on a field of navy. I think I have some more surprisingly good CM ties stashed away somewhere, which will appear here if and when I locate them.

Ikat

2011-05-04T05:57:00.003-04:00

From Solo (Surakarta), Java, the batik capital of the world, comes this tie from Danar Hadi of ikat fabric. Ikat differs from regular batik in that the resist-dyeing is performed on the threads which are then woven into a patterned fabric, as opposed to resist-dyeing already-woven fabric. Danar Hadi may be the most popular batik maker in the world, based strictly on availability of batik shirts in secondhand shops and on eBay. I have some good ones to wear on the days I don't wear ties.

Biggie

2011-05-04T05:56:00.004-04:00

I've hit a bottleneck again, as I can't find this tie in my closet to take down its particulars. If memory serves, it's made of Dralon polyester, and a prodigious amount of it. Such a generous serving of a petroleum-based textile could only have originated pre-Energy Crisis '74. And that brown....!

Update: I found the tie! It is "Distinctively Styled by Lancashire" of Imported Trevira. (Not Dralon... memory did not serve.)

Klimtish

2011-04-12T07:36:00.004-04:00

This Gustav-Klimt-by-way-of-Heinz-Edelmann-looking print is brought to you by Pierre Cardin.

Picnic

2011-04-12T07:35:00.004-04:00

Doesn't this tie make you want to have a picnic? The cotton fabric is more suited to a picnic blanket or perhaps an apron, but some whimsical soul thought of making a tie out of it. The John Weitz label indicates that it is probably meant for country club or resort wear. Yes, it's gaudy, but it sure does make people smile.

I Touch Roses

2011-04-12T07:34:00.002-04:00

This particular entry in Martin Wong's Screenplay line (designed by Robert Taliver) looks farther back than the Art Deco inspiration of the rest of range, showing strong echoes of the Art Nouveau roses of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Back under the microscope

2011-04-12T07:33:00.004-04:00

Abstract shapes, or lethal bloodborne pathogens? If it's the latter, I trust the white blood cells in the background to keep me safe. This polyester tie by Canda has about the silkiest luster of any synthetic I've handled.

More wool

2011-03-22T23:12:00.006-04:00

Not all wool neckties are heathered solid-color weaves: this plaid tie comes from Basil Elliot in Scotland. (The thickness of wool really puts a bulge all the way around one's collar!)

Et in Arcadia Ego

2011-03-22T23:12:00.005-04:00

Today's tie looks like it could be Gene Meyer's take on the diagonal brocaded ties of the 70s, though it's from Italian maker Milano. The row right in the middle that resembles an Islamic arcade takes the design one step beyond pure abstraction. This is another pre-blog favorite that I am happy to wear again at long last.

Ungaro

2011-03-22T23:10:00.002-04:00

Here is an old favorite from the pre-blog days, which I have deigned to wear a second time so I can share it with you, Dear Reader. (Though this Ungaro tie actually got a mention in one of my early posts.) I think it looks quite festive with the pattern's resemblance to balloons or flowers.

Don't try to work political unrest into promotional tweets

2011-03-22T23:08:00.002-04:00

Kenneth Cole Reaction ("to Gene Meyer", as I have joked before, and will continue to do).

Birds, candles, saints

2011-03-22T23:07:00.005-04:00

Astute observers who know of my love for "overlaid stencil" patterns will need just a brief glimpse of this Enrico Capucci tie to guess (correctly) that it's one of my favorites. There are overlapping shapes in cream, brown, and gold, with balancing black space between them in a mod lattice pattern. The shapes themselves are not quite figural, but suggest birds, candles, or haloed saints. Underneath all that is a floral pattern woven into the silk jacquard. I-love-it-I-love-it-I-love-it! I'll not part with this one.

Botanical fantasy

2011-03-13T22:57:00.001-04:00

Here is a nice stylized botanical pattern on a "Swing" brand tie, made in the U.S.A. of Italian silk. If the colors would be bolder this would be a standout tie (I have already punched them up a little in GIMP), but their relative dullness makes this a "B" tie at best.

UK Style

2011-03-13T22:56:00.001-04:00

Anglophile that I am, I naturally like to dress like an Englishman. Hence this tie ("St. Michael from Marks and Spencer") featuring such icons of Old Blighty as Big Ben and double-decker buses. Tally-ho, guv'nor!

Palimpsest

2011-03-13T22:55:00.007-04:00

This design on this extra-wide tie from an unknown maker looks like pick-up sticks, or a bunch of city street maps superimposed on each other. The repeating compass roses support the map theory.

Whatever

2011-03-13T22:55:00.006-04:00

Mrs. V. liked this tie (from Echo), but I am indifferent to it. I don't see any particular inspiration in its seemingly random, vaguely rug-like design. At least it gives off an overall cheerful vibe, and that's something, I guess.

Soviet art

2011-03-13T22:53:00.002-04:00

Here is the second of Boxelder's four-tie Soviet Art series to be featured on the blog. The first one depicted "Collective Farming," while this tie presents "Naval Shipyards c. 1920's" in a style much like Italian Futurism.

Gel-git

2011-03-13T22:41:00.002-04:00

According to master marbler Galen Berry, the pattern on this tie sold by the Smithsonian is called "Gel-git" (hard g's), which is Turkish for "coming and going."

Gloomberg Tempest

2011-03-08T06:14:00.004-05:00

The colorful masses of umbrellas on this Jacques Ploenes tie do not seem large or sturdy enough to protect their bearers from the giant raindrops slinging down on them.

Double duty

2011-03-08T06:13:00.004-05:00

I am a sucker for cutout patterns that reveal other patterns beneath, like the waves and underlying stripes on this monstrous-sized Juka Spitzenklasse tie of "Dralon 100% Polyacryl." The use of "Spitzenklasse" (top class) indicates a German origin; the use of polyester in such a voluminous amount indicates a 1970-ish vintage.

Candy

2011-03-01T23:20:00.001-05:00

Even though there is just as much lavender as there is green in this vintage Pierre Cavet tie, now that I see the picture it is evident that the green stands out more and I should have worn it with a green shirt. I'll have to remember that when this tie comes back to the front of the queue in 2015 or so.

It's just a jump to the left

2011-03-01T23:15:00.002-05:00

This is about as far-out as you can get from Ralph Lauren. (Polo)

Wild Style

2011-03-01T23:08:00.002-05:00

The Urban Canvas line of neckties aimed to capitalize on the ascendant popularity of graffiti art. I think I prefer the vitality of this classic graffiti style to the arch social commentary that Banksy has steered the medium into.

The same only different

2011-02-22T22:14:00.003-05:00

Here is a red deco-inspired Ralph Lauren Polo tie, slightly different from the last red deco-inspired Ralph Lauren Polo tie I wore. (The next one, however, will be more different, and not even red.)

Zing! Zing! Zing!

2011-02-21T22:19:00.003-05:00

The Italian Futurists were all about motion and speed, and this Italian tie from Gabrielle Molteni (if the haphazardly-attached keeper label is to be believed) captures that enthusiasm, with pinballs (atoms? satellites? Pokeballs?) caroming around on a field of green. (You can tell they're in motion by the blurgits.)

Desert Designs, continued

2011-02-20T12:17:00.003-05:00

I keep finding more Desert Designs ties in my boxes! Here is another one by Jimmy Pike.

Floral arrangement

2011-02-18T07:17:00.003-05:00

Here are some yellow flowers for you! Some of them appear to be in bowls or teacups, and some are on a plan white disc or plate, and they are all floating on a field of red. I can't think of anything else to say about it. Tie is by Baltimielto of Italy.

Zig Zag Zug

2011-02-16T07:21:00.002-05:00

This two-tone tie was woven in France of Rhodia, some decades ago. I don't know if the Rhodia chemical conglomerate of today is the same one that made the synthetic fabric for this tie, but they do have a textiles branch: "Rhodia Fibras, a GBU operating in Brazil, manufactures polyamide-based fibers used in lingerie, clothing and sportswear." So it's possible.

Bamboozled

2011-02-14T21:58:00.002-05:00

The pattern on this tie looks like multicolored bamboo, or perhaps seaweed, or maybe even muscle fibers. The maker is not credited, but the retailer was Greenhaw's of Little Rock ("Voted number one in Arkansas").

Donegal tweed

2011-02-14T06:39:00.003-05:00

Here is another wool tie for winter, of 100% Donegal tweed from Glenshane. There are several other colors of thread mixed in with the predominant black and yellow for the "heathered" effect.

Bottleneck

2011-02-13T21:39:00.003-05:00

I've been fiddling with GIMP for a month now trying to remove the glare from this photo, but nothing is working, so in the interest of moving on, here it is, glare and all. The super-lustrous silk tie is from Lagerfeld (and it is a very luxurious silk); the auction listing described the figures on it as "little gods", and I can't come up with anything more specific than that. For some reason this was an especially popular tie around the office.

Carson is still king

2011-01-20T18:32:00.003-05:00

Branded neckwear-wise, Johnny Carson is still at the top of the heap of late-night talk show hosts. The glyphs and icons on this Johnny Carson tie may have been a 1970s attempt at "tribal", but they more resemble current depictions of extraterrestrial writing. The polyester material is the most unpolyesterlike I have ever encountered; I have never seen this particular strain anywhere else, which is too bad, because it's quite nice.

Streamline Moderne

2011-01-20T18:29:00.003-05:00

This tie from de Casi Fashions probably dates from the resurgence of narrow widths for ties in the wake of punk and new wave, i.e. the 1980s. The material is highly-reflective silver and copper silk, woven into an engaging, mildly industrial pattern in the style of late-deco "Streamline Moderne".

U.N. Approved

2011-01-20T18:27:00.002-05:00

Model U.N., that is. I lent my son a couple ties for his Model U.N. conference in Hershey, at which he was a member of India's Council for Economic Advancement. He won three character development awards, two of which made specific mention of this silk tie from Milano (no maker listed). Good job, son! Good job, me!

NEWSFLASH: NECKTIE HUMOR ALERT

2011-01-14T15:32:00.004-05:00

Taylor Caldwell brings us 5 New Ways to Tie a Tie. This post doubles as a Lovecraftian Humor Alert. (via Boing Boing)

The First Liberty of 2011

2011-01-12T21:40:00.003-05:00

Liberty's cotton florals are some of my favorite ties of all. This looks like a William Morris pattern, but I can't definitively identify it.

Speaking of Deco

2011-01-12T21:39:00.003-05:00

Here's one by an unknown maker with a disco-ish take on Frank Lloyd Wright's various "balloon" patterns.

Hollywood or not

2011-01-12T21:34:00.002-05:00

This deco-inspired Polo Ralph Lauren tie looks like it could be part of The Hollywood Collection, but it doesn't say so. So maybe it is, maybe it isn't. Either way it's not as keen as my clearly-marked Polo Hollywood Collection tie, but it covers my shirt buttons just fine.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-12T21:24:00.003-05:00

My first tie of 2011 (worn January 3; I'm running a little behind) is a rather festive-looking deal from Gabrielle Molteni, featuring what look like particolored blood cells. Here's looking forward to a great year!

Wrapping Up the Year

2010-12-21T06:46:00.004-05:00

For my last tie of 2010 I decided to go out with a bang: a double-layered freeform marbled affair in all the colors of the rainbow by Michael Kensinger. See you next year!

Welcome to the Machine

2010-12-21T06:45:00.003-05:00

The designs on this wide polyester tie from Rooster resemble the cartoonish "technical" markings that master album-cover designers Hipgnosis overlaid on a lot of their cover photographs (e.g. Brand X's Moroccan Roll). (By the way, that is the late, great musician and Hipgnosis partner Peter Christopherson himself on that album cover; see For the Love of Vinyl for the story behind it.)

Wooly Bully

2010-12-21T06:44:00.003-05:00

It was so cold today I wore a wool tie for extra warmth. The tie is from John Hanly & Co., Ltd., of Nenagh, Ireland, established 1893.

Modules, Pre-Op to Post-Op

2010-12-21T06:43:00.004-05:00

Modules of Japan breaks from its usual swing-inspired designs for a pattern loosely based on the op-art works of Victor Vasarely.

Mad Man

2010-12-14T07:23:00.001-05:00

Mrs. Veneer and I went to a Mad Men cocktail party, which was the perfect venue for this skinny vintage tie made in Italy. Made by whom is a mystery, but the haberdasher's label shows it was sold by Edward Chapman Ltd. of Vancouver, B.C.

You got plaid on my polka-dots!

2010-12-14T07:22:00.001-05:00

Children think it's a plaid tie, while adults think it's polka-dotted. Imagine the mischief I could get up to in this tie, casually draping an arm across my chest when a witness describes the miscreant as a man in a polka-dotted tie, buttoning my blazer when another witness swears it was a man in a plaid tie. Como Fashion has produced the perfect tie for a locked room mystery. (Though I admit its aesthetic quality is rather poor.)

Batik Winotosastro

2010-12-14T07:21:00.001-05:00

Batik Winotosastro is a family business based in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, founded in 1934. They continue to produce batik fabrics using the traditional wax-resist method, but businesswise they are distinctly modern: they have a Twitter account and their own hotel. I mention all this because that's who made this tie.

Liberty for Lord and Taylor

2010-12-14T07:20:00.004-05:00

This tie has a Lord and Taylor label on the back, but the cotton floral fabric (and the text in the tipping) give it away as a Liberty of London.

Walk the Dinosaur

2010-12-14T07:19:00.001-05:00

Jimmy Pike contributed some of the most whimsical designs to the Desert Designs necktie line, such as a smiling sun and this grazing dinosaur.