[WBuffettJr]

I understand silk is an expensive fabric, but was hoping to be educated on the difference between, say, a $40 tie and a $100 tie. Polo labeled RL ties can be $135, Brooks ties can be $80 - $100. Are these better than Geoffrey Beane or Clubroom ties from Macy's which would be more like $30-$40 on sale? If so, how are they better?

On a side note, I bought a $5 tie I found at Walmart two weeks ago just because I thought it was hilarious that a men's tie was $5 brand new. Half way through the second wearing it fell apart. I don't even think there was an ounce of real silk in it. I am shocked and appalled that a $5 tie would fall apart so quickly!

 

[The Rambler]

silk comes in various grades; the whatchamacallit stuff that goes inside ties comes in various grades, from fat and stiff to thin and flexible; construction can be machine sewn or hand sewn, and the difference can be easily seen in the tie edges, which can be elegantly rolled or hard pressed. Tie shapes vary, from bottle shaped to straight lines. However, I've seen many nice ties for cheap, and costly ones where you're paying for the label.

 

[WouldaShoulda]

Ties are funny.

Regardless of price, if it looks cheap and feels cheap it is cheap.

If it don't, it's not!!

 

[Flanderian]

Why, sir, it's the price! The price makes it expensive!

A few dollars of labor, plus a few more for cloth does not a $160 tie maketh. Granted, nice anything in limited supply is going to get bid upward more today than thirty years ago, but ties have traditionally carried much bigger margins than many other items. I have little doubt that fine silk in small runs is going to have greater demand than it might in the past, but even assuming a wholesale cost per tie of say, $30, and a generous labor cost of $20, you're going to be running a gross margin of three, or perhaps even four. And I have little doubt that those in the trade will look at these numbers and snicker, and think, "Oh, we can do better than that."

 

[Wisco]

Marketing my friend. Marketing. Yes a $250 Rubinacci is a nicer tie than a $15 Tie Bar tie, but not almost 20X better.

In the end, luxury good are priced at what the market will bear as their price has no rational correlation with material, costs to manufacture or other meat and potatoes elements of making stuff.

Pure capitalism in the end...

 

[AlanC]

1) silk quality
2) construction quality
3) manufacturing location
4) brand

There is no question that a quality tie blows a cheap tie out of the water. With any luxury item, you also reach a point of diminishing returns. But you can always find high quality ties used or on sale for what you would pay for a cheap tie new (or for much less).

 

[The Rambler]

^I quite agree with Alan's remarks. It's true of many things that that top 5 or 10% of quality can add way more to the price than 5 or 10% (if that makes sense), but once you've learned to see these things (and it takes time to educate the eye) there's no going back.

 

[WBuffettJr]

Hmmm. So when people say things like "don't buy BB 346 line", why would they say that with respect to ties? If $130 ties are not worth $130, are Brooks 346 ties just fine? I'm asking because I know they will be very cheap on Black Friday at the BB outlet this year.

I need a lot of ties in the next two months and I'm just wondering how I should play it. I happen to know that most silk ties at Macys will be $20, from brands such as Perry ellis, Alfani, Club Room, Nautica, etc. I know most raise their nose at the thought of an Alfani shirt for example, but for ties, is there too much of a difference that one should not buy $20 silk neckties on Black Friday from these brands?

 

[32rollandrock]

Alan nailed it. I have a hand-made Italian (can't recall brand off-hand--it's more appropos for the movie Wall Street than Ivy League) that is thick, luxurious and ties a fabulous fat knot. I'm certain it cost well over $100 new, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was in the $200 league. It gains, without fail, multiple compliments every time I wear it. That doesn't happen with cheap ties. Is it worth $200? Not a chance. No tie is. But I'm glad it's in my closet. Expensive ties are like cars, only more drastic: The second they roll off the showroom floor, they're worth a quarter of what they cost new, which is why it makes zero sense to shell out for a new tie. There are tons available secondhand, and, unlike cars or shoes, they don't, for the most part, wear out.

 

[AlanC]

Why do you need "a lot of ties" in such a short time span? My advice would be to pick up just a few for cheap, then start buying quality ties. If you're just starting to buy ties you really don't know what you're doing (no offense), and you'll blow a lot of money on junk ties you won't want in 6-12 months.

Personally, I wouldn't buy a 346 tie new. Contact member SteveSmith and see if he has any mainline Brooks Brothers ties he'll sell you (he sources from the BB outlet in NC, the real one). Check our own Trad Thrift Store exchange. Send me your address and I'll send you a tie or two.

Read through this thread to help develop your taste in ties. The switch will turn on.

Hmmm. So when people say things like "don't buy BB 346 line", why would they say that with respect to ties? If $130 ties are not worth $130, are Brooks 346 ties just fine? I'm asking because I know they will be very cheap on Black Friday at the BB outlet this year.

I need a lot of ties in the next two months and I'm just wondering how I should play it. I happen to know that most silk ties at Macys will be $20, from brands such as Perry ellis, Alfani, Club Room, Nautica, etc. I know most raise their nose at the thought of an Alfani shirt for example, but for ties, is there too much of a difference that one should not buy $20 silk neckties on Black Friday from these brands?

 

[Flanderian]

Hmmm. So when people say things like "don't buy BB 346 line", why would they say that with respect to ties? If $130 ties are not worth $130, are Brooks 346 ties just fine? I'm asking because I know they will be very cheap on Black Friday at the BB outlet this year.

I need a lot of ties in the next two months and I'm just wondering how I should play it. I happen to know that most silk ties at Macys will be $20, from brands such as Perry ellis, Alfani, Club Room, Nautica, etc. I know most raise their nose at the thought of an Alfani shirt for example, but for ties, is there too much of a difference that one should not buy $20 silk neckties on Black Friday from these brands?

IMHO, price often has a greater relationship to quality in tailored clothing and shoes than ties. (Though its entirely possible to pay ridiculous markups for both for many of the same market reasons as ties.) And again, IMHO, it's better to have a cheap tie with good tailoring and shoes, than the other way round. I have never thrifted, but if I had to add ties quickly (Rather than having a lifetime supply representing perhaps $7,000 in frivolity.) I think that's what I would do. Good consignment shops often have beautiful, high-qaulity ties for a song.

 

[32rollandrock]

Upscale ties are, without question, the easiest clothing item to thrift for pennies on the dollar. That's because there are so many ties out there ("Hmm, what should we get Bob for Christmas, he has everything? I know: a tie!") and such varying tastes. The OP should get in touch with Patrick--he's running a tie grab bag sale.

 

[oldominion]

I just bought a fancy tie from Ben Silver in Charleston through their sale page. It was $150 (or something...anyhow, way more than I'd ever pay for a tie) marked down to 48. I would happily pay another 50 bucks for another Ben Silver tie, and I may yet...Luxurious fabric, British-made, super-cool looking and ties a perfect knot. Go check em out if you want a great tie but don't want to pay full freight. In fact, I may head over there now myself!

 

[Himself]

^I quite agree with Alan's remarks. It's true of many things that that top 5 or 10% of quality can add way more to the price than 5 or 10% (if that makes sense), but once you've learned to see these things (and it takes time to educate the eye) there's no going back.

I agree. But once you've learned to see these things, you're better equipped to spot a bargain!

Wisco is right too.

 

[dorji]

I just bought a fancy tie from Ben Silver...

+1 for the BEnSilver sale page. Seaward and Stearn (who supply some ties to BS) are wonderful.

 

[WBuffettJr]

Why do you need "a lot of ties" in such a short time span? My advice would be to pick up just a few for cheap, then start buying quality ties. If you're just starting to buy ties you really don't know what you're doing (no offense), and you'll blow a lot of money on junk ties you won't want in 6-12 months.

Personally, I wouldn't buy a 346 tie new. Contact member SteveSmith and see if he has any mainline Brooks Brothers ties he'll sell you (he sources from the BB outlet in NC, the real one). Check our own Trad Thrift Store exchange. Send me your address and I'll send you a tie or two.

Read through this thread to help develop your taste in ties. The switch will turn on.

Alan, I can't thank you enough for your helpful post, and I took no offense. Thanks. I need ties because I'm going to be wearing suits regularly for my job and I do not own any ties. I'll drop a note to Stevesmith as I love all things Brooks so if I could get mainline ties cheaply I would love that.

What is the Trad Thift Store exchange? How is that different from the Buy and Sell forum? Can it only feature things picked up from a thrift store? I had an idea about heading to the Goodwill in the exceedingly wealthy part of town thinking that would be the place to find high end ties...is that a goofy idea or is it reasonable? My plan thus far was to print out looks from Brooks Brothers pictures where I like the outfit and try to copy the tie as best as possible.

If you're serious about sending me a tie or two, I would love that and would be happy to pay postage.

 

[32rollandrock]

There is, in my experience, no correlation between the socio-economic aspect of a neighborhood and wares offered in a Goodwill therein.

Alan, I can't thank you enough for your helpful post, and I took no offense. Thanks. I need ties because I'm going to be wearing suits regularly for my job and I do not own any ties. I'll drop a note to Stevesmith as I love all things Brooks so if I could get mainline ties cheaply I would love that.

What is the Trad Thift Store exchange? How is that different from the Buy and Sell forum? Can it only feature things picked up from a thrift store? I had an idea about heading to the Goodwill in the exceedingly wealthy part of town thinking that would be the place to find high end ties...is that a goofy idea or is it reasonable? My plan thus far was to print out looks from Brooks Brothers pictures where I like the outfit and try to copy the tie as best as possible.

If you're serious about sending me a tie or two, I would love that and would be happy to pay postage.

 

[Orgetorix]

There is, in my experience, no correlation between the socio-economic aspect of a neighborhood and wares offered in a Goodwill therein.

To expand on this, Goodwill and Salvation Army and other such chains often have a central distribution point where everything is sent, sorted, priced, and then sent back out to the individual stores.

Stock quality is more likely to be associated with neighborhood wealth when you're dealing with small, independent stores.

 

[AlanC]

Thrift is good. You should definitely try it. Were I you I would go here. Don't pay too much, though, and don't get ties that are too wide.

Trad Thrift Exchange is a thread where items, usually thrifted, are sold.

I am serious about sending you ties. PM me your address.

 

[WBuffettJr]

To expand on this, Goodwill and Salvation Army and other such chains often have a central distribution point where everything is sent, sorted, priced, and then sent back out to the individual stores.

Stock quality is more likely to be associated with neighborhood wealth when you're dealing with small, independent stores.

Wow, thank you for the suggestion Orgetorix, that's really helpful. I had never heard of that store. By the way, I viewed your blog earlier today and enjoyed it. I think you look great and the deals you got are fantastic.