Dress Accessories

[AFDavis11]

I've been looking for tie bars, clasps, tacks, collar bars and collar spacers. I'm not in to collar stiffeners yet, but maybe I should look into them. I've found a few things but the collar spacer (designed to allow a little more room between button and hole) remains an enigma.

Anybody have thoughts on where a tie bar goes? I've seen a lot of tie tacks too high I think. I've always been told to wear mine so it breaks the tie in half. I've seen guys wearing them near the top 1/4 of the way off from the collar. That looks a little odd to me.

Anybody have a good websites for formal dress accesories?

[Mike257]

ok Im not an expert but my mom has worked at Todays Man for 17 years, my understanding is the tie bar goes about mid way down the tie , about the 4th or 5th button down from the top

[Mike257]

ok heres something to think about, if your wearing a suit jacket and you have it buttoned you would want to be able to see the tie bar, Now a tie clip is a different story, they tend to be worn a little higher.

[Quick Orange]

Bars and tacks should be around the bottom of your sternum. The idea is that if you don't have your jacket buttoned or just plain don't have a jacket, the tie doesn't fly around in the wind or other tie bothering incident. Obviously something of this nature shouldn't be too high on the tie. People that wear these too high typically don't understand how a tie is worn and usually have too long or too short ties.

A collar bar is simply something that hides behind your tie and pushes the knot up so it looks better. Better tie tying can usually help this.

If you're interested in spacers, check into newer shirts that have elastic collar buttons. They stretch out and adjust easily for your neck. I mostly have shirts that feature them and love them. Another option, albeit more expensive, is to get tailored shirts. Their quality is superior and are made so that you don't need spacers or elastic. An added bonus is being able to use cuff links, adding a whole new area of suit accessories.

If you're just trying to spice up the suit, look at lapel pins that have some meaning to you. Affix it to your left lapel President style and get ready to be noticed. A have a special Great Seal of Oklahoma pin that never fails to get approving looks and questions.

[Tonsor]

My dad wore tie bars and tacs in the late 50s (when he stil wore his fedora). He wore them below his sternum, between the 4th and 5th buttons. You couldn't see them when his jacket was buttoned. He also had matching cuff links / tie bars, then folks could see his cuff links when his jacket was buttoned. He, of course, shot his cuffs. No need to show off the tie bar.

[WireBeard]

Esquire has been providing men with grooming and style tips since early in the last century. Also, look at Men's Fashion and Style Magazine - Men's Flair for tips and trends. This site: The Art of Manliness has some good articles.

My rule for suits, ties, etc.: when in doubt, follow Carey Grant's example.

I go with 1/2 to just below 1/2. If you are wearing a 3-piece suit, you do not need a clip or tack.

[honedright]

If you're interested in some vintage style dress accessories like celluloid collars, collar stays, cuffs, etc, check out http://www.riverjunction.com and http://www.amazondrygoodscollarsandcuffs.com/. Some of the stuff might be too old school, but you might be able to incorporate some of it into your modern garb.


Scott

[The Dude]

I dont own one, but i KNOW i have seen one of the button spacers at Mens Warehouse but it cant be found on their website, you may call your local store and check on em. I dont know exactly what they are called either, but anyone working there should know what you are talking about.

[RayG]

I don't use collar spacers, but do like Charles Tyrwhitt shirts with collar stiffeners for some occasions. The one thing I use everyday is an old tie pin (yes, bottom of sternum) my late father gave me many years ago. He wore it for years, and gave it to me when I started working. The point dulls after sometime, but the DMT-C once again proves useful.

[AFDavis11]

If you're interested in some vintage style dress accessories like celluloid collars, collar stays, cuffs, etc, check out Authentic Victorian Clothing as worn by the cowboys of the Old West in the 1800 ' s and Amazon Dry Goods Collars And Cuffs Home Page. Some of the stuff might be too old school, but you might be able to incorporate some of it into your modern garb.


Scott

This would probably work pretty well. I work for a 100 year old private consulting firm. Old fits in just fine. Thanx!