Stupid Question: Narrow end of tie not long enough to reach loop?

Slice57 · Mar 8, 2011

So I recently started wearing neckties on a daily basis for work. Problem is, regardless of the knot I use, the narrow end is never long enough to reach the "loop" on the back of the tie that will keep it in place. So now when I walk around, the narrow part of the tie ends of being visible. I'm 6'2 and have a 16 1/2 " neck.

I'd like to avoid buying XL long ties. Aside from sticking the narrow end in my shirt or wearing a tie tack, is there something I can do to keep it in place?

Thank you

Finian McLonergan · Mar 8, 2011

This sounds like a problem more than a few large tall men are having due to the low waisted trousers that are now almost ubiquitous in the RTW suit market, so by no means a stupid question.

Other than removing the loop and sewing it back on higher up, the only other options I see are XL/bespoke ties or higher waisted/rise trousers.

27807 · Mar 8, 2011

There's not a lot of ways to 'fix' this issue other than getting longer ties and/or going custom. If you check out Sam Hober (link under Andy's Selected Merchants) they do custom ties for a very fair price.

27807 · Mar 8, 2011

FYI - I too have a 16.5 neck and at 5' 10" I run into this problem when tying a half-windsor on some ties and almost always when I use a full windsor.

Flanderian · Mar 8, 2011

You can pin the small end to the back of the larger end with a saftey, or even, a straight pin. But assuming you tie your tie to proper point, and don't wear your slacks too low, you would probably do better with longer ties.

Cruiser · Mar 8, 2011

Why are you avoiding buying longer ties? That's why they make longer ties. It's nothing more than common sense. If your tie isn't long enough to do what you want it to do, the tie is simply too short for your height, neck size, and knot you are using; or some combination of these things. The only logical solution is to buy longer ties.

Cruiser

Slice57 · Mar 8, 2011

I was looking for a solution other then buying longer ties due to financial constraints. I'm recently out of law school and after buying several suits, jackets, shirts, pants, shoes, belts, I was hoping to get by with the 20 or ties I already had.

Also, I always see regular length ties on sale, but never the XL variety. So basically it boils down to trying to save money.

Thank you for the responses.

DoghouseReilly · Mar 8, 2011

Could you move the loop farther up the tie? I've thought about doing this myself.

mlongano · Mar 8, 2011

Try to allocate $100.00 per month for the next year and purchase one tie each month from Sam Hober. At the end of the year you'll have twelve high quality ties that fit perfectly and will provide good service to you for many years to come...

...with any luck at all, at the end of the twelve month period you'll be laughing at the days when purchasing a quality tie was such a financial burden.

Congratulations on completing law school!!

CuffDaddy · Mar 8, 2011

As Finian suggested, I wonder if the problem isn't that you're wearing your dress trousers on your hips, rather than your waist. Answer me this: Do you wear your suit pants at the same place, relative to your torso, as your jeans? If so, you're almost certainly wearing them too low.

Also, remember that there's no need to have the long end of the tie reach below the top of your waistband. You can be entirely traditional and leave it an inch or two shorter than your waistband. Less length on front means more length available in back.

Another thing you can do to get a touch more length out of a tie is to use the "oriental" knot, which is basically an overhand knot tied around the skinny end... it does require that you put the tie on inside-out. Should get you another .5-1" of tie length, which may be enough to get the small end to the keeper.

Slice, congratulations on the JD. Lots of naysayser, both non-lawyers and disgruntled lawyers, will try to tell you that you should hate your new life. Ignore them. I actually know a lot of happy lawyers - including me!

Sator · Mar 9, 2011

The first thing is this: what knot do you use? I think the commonest reason for ties being too short is the unfortunate use of the hideous so-called "Windsor" knot. If you tie a four in hand, arguably the best knot of them all in the first place, you should encounter fewer problems.

harvey_birdman · Mar 9, 2011

Dear Op, I have the exact same problem. I tuck the short end of the tie into my shirt above the second button. It never comes loose and no one is the wiser.

JerseyJohn · Mar 9, 2011

I did some experimenting. After three tries with both knots, I found that the full Windsor consistently uses about an inch more tie than a four-in-hand (twice around). So if you're using a FW, switching to a 4iH will gain you another inch. But frankly, I'd get the big end where you want it and the heck with where the short end is - it shouldn't show anyway unless your tie is loose and wandering around. If the short end is showing, then maybe either you're tying your tie too loose or your shirt collar is too big.

jjskywlker · Mar 9, 2011

Two words, tie bar.

Country Irish · Mar 9, 2011

The answer is obvious. You need a longer tie. Honestly tucking the tie in your shirt is one of those things people come here to learn how to avoid doing so you simply have to face the fact that you are not a munchkin and should not wear their clothes. Depending on the knot you probably need a tie that measures from 60 to 62 inches. Give the little tie to some unfortunate leprechaun.

Matt S · Mar 9, 2011

The solution isn't to get longer ties, it's to get trousers with a longer rise. Since you are so tall, your trousers probably don't reach anywhere close to your waist. Find a place where you can get long rise trousers and then your tie problems will be solved too.

Leighton · Mar 9, 2011

Cruiser said:
Why are you avoiding buying longer ties? That's why they make longer ties. It's nothing more than common sense. If your tie isn't long enough to do what you want it to do, the tie is simply too short for your height, neck size, and knot you are using; or some combination of these things. The only logical solution is to buy longer ties.

Cruiser

Beat me to it.

I fail to see the logic in refusing to buy longer ties. I buy shorter garments because I'm short.

Try tie tacks if saving money is your only concern.

www.augustusbrine.com. All his ties are long, I couldn't find any for my short stature.

Benjamin E. · Mar 9, 2011

When you get the money, look for longer ties. Also, if you're not wearing your pants at the waist, do that. If all else fails, sew the loop higher up on the tie. One of my deans has asked me to do this several times. It's not complicated unless the loop is sewn through the center seam in the back of the tie. Otherwise, it's not that hard.

Master-Classter · Mar 9, 2011

send me a few inches off the top!

Flanderian · Mar 9, 2011

Slice57 said:
So basically it boils down to trying to save money.

While the concept of thrift/consignment shops has never had that much appeal for me, ties are a different matter. With the price for good quality new ties often around $100 for $10 worth of silk and $5 worth of labor, self-preservation becomes an issue. While I haven't shopped them there, I understand that high quality, good looking ties can be had dirt-cheap. Would also think E-Bay might be a source.

Stupid Question: Narrow end of tie not long enough to reach loop?

Slice57

Finian McLonergan

27807

27807

Flanderian

Cruiser

Slice57

DoghouseReilly

mlongano

CuffDaddy

Sator

harvey_birdman

JerseyJohn

jjskywlker

Country Irish

Matt S

Leighton

Benjamin E.

Master-Classter

Flanderian

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