A tie of multiple personalities...

All fashion experts will whole-heartedly agree to the fact that the tie has a personality of its own. The countless varieties of ties available in the market are ample proof. Ties differ from each other on four main factors; the material, the design, the color combination and the wearing style. As for the material, silk, satin and polyester are the favorite fabrics. These fabrics are easily washable and also add a touch of elegance to the tie.

The largest variations in Belisi ties exist in the design and the looks. On a visual basis, ties can be separated into two broad categories, plain ties and designed ties. Plain ties have one uniform color running across the body of the tie. For an added variation, some plain ties have weaves in the horizontal or diagonal direction. Designed ties, on the other hand, may have stripes, dots, and various other motifs. Designed ties are ideal to be worn with plain shirts. Nowadays, manufacturers experiment with innovative color combinations, with bold colors being trendy. Some ties even sport cartoon characters. Truly, there is a tie to suit almost all tastes. Men's power ties colors today are just limited to the imagination of the user.

As regards the manner of wearing, a tie could take on more than one form; the bow tie, cravat, and the clip-on-tie. The bow tie, usually worn for formal occasions such as black-tie dinners, is a belt-like tie having a uniform thickness throughout its length. This tie is worn around the neck with the two ends being looped together like a bow. A cravat is an elaborate version of the common necktie. This tie is relatively broader and often has a slipknot. Clip-on ties are pre-folded with the knot usually being stitched into place. A metal clip at the back of the tie enables it to be affixed to the shirt collar.

Catering to the diverse demands of the fashion conscious, new arrays of ties are being released all the time. Novelty ties, as the name suggests, are made to commemorate a certain occasion or famous event. These ties also make interesting and memorable gift items. Fashion ties are those ties that are designed by style professionals and fashion designers.  Insignia or crest ties are used as part of the uniform in many schools, Boy Scout leagues, military academies, and certain hospitality services. These ties, like club ties, are designed as per the specifications laid down by the respective organization. Celtic ties exude an old-world charm.

Three-piece ties, contrary to what would be commonly deduced by the uninitiated, are not used with three-piece suits. Rather, these ties have a three-piece construction themselves. These ties are composed of three separate parts; the apron, the neckband, and the back-piece. Such a construction enables the tie to fall neatly across the chest and also smoothly follow the contours of the neck.

In tropical countries and in places where summers are relatively hot, cooling neck ties are often used. These ties have water absorbing polymers that actually cool the wearer’s skin when the water contained in them gradually evaporates.

Ties say a lot about the wearer’s personality, taste and style. They have a language of their own and visually draw attention to the neck and head. Ties also send subtle messages and make statements about the wearer to the world at large. Examples of these are the breast cancer ties that are worn to spread awareness about the disease and also to provide companionship with patients.