The venerable Countess Mara

Salvatore123 · Jan 15, 2010

When I was just starting undergrad (early 1980's), I recall seeing some pretty well dressed guys (attorneys, doctors, businessmen, etc.) wearing these ties. I knew them from the CM logo imprinted on many of them near the bottom.

What ever happened to this tie? It sounded like it was THE tie to go to for class and style (redundant?) back in the day, but I don't see any one wearing them now.

Although I am a big fan of Robert Talbott, RVR neckwear is about to steal my business. The RVR brand produces some of the sharpest looking ties I have seen in a long time.

And I kid you not about the dimple. I don't know how they do it, but I do not have to really even try to get a perfect dimple - it somehow appears.

And no, I am not a shill for RVR in any way. In fact, I am kind of aggravated that they do not have 2 that I want and neither do any of their retailers . . .

Thanks to anyone who can add to this history.

Regards,

Sam

Avers · Jan 15, 2010

CM brand is still around, but I suspect it's totally different from what it used to be in the heydays.

I have seen some CM ties at various discount stores - in my opinion they are nothing special these days.

PJC in NoVa · Jan 15, 2010

Looking thru my collection, I see a very nice CM I got at Syms maybe, oh, five years ago.

It's a woven tie with a dark-navy background and a pink grid pattern; very nice with a pink shirt and a navy or dark-gray suit.

The tie is a five-fold that is self-lined all the way up, with a self-fabric keeper loop stiched into the center back seam and the "Countess Mara" label on the tail (the usual woven "CM" monogram on the front of blade is absent--a plus in my view).

The small tag inside the narrow end says "All Silk Hand Made in Italy RN 67207," indicating that its FTC-registered maker, importer, distributor, or seller is "Countess Mara, Inc."

I must have bought it during a BASH for $15.99 or so. A good buy.

StephenRG · Jan 15, 2010

I confess I had no idea CM was ever a good brand - I only know of it from the vast numbers of them regularly to be found in Syms, etc.

PJC in NoVa · Jan 15, 2010

I still have some I got at Raleigh's, a DC-area chain that closed about two decades ago.

Now the brand is still around, but it's all made-in-China stuff and not what it used to be.

Mad Hatter · Jan 15, 2010

I hadn't thought of CM ties in..well, a long time. Very popular, in the day, and the reason a lot of men attempted to wear ties-just to be seen with the ubiquitous "CM" logo. Seems like they were aways worn with those chains that hooked-over a shirt button.

Adagio · Jan 15, 2010

This seller on ebay has five CM ties for sale at the moment. https://clothes.shop.ebay.co.uk/Men...ories-/4250/i.html?_catref=1&_fln=1&_ipg=&_ssn=swankienda&_trksid=p3911.c0.m282

Scroll about 1/3 down the page.

yoippari · Jan 15, 2010

I can't tell you anything about the history of the brand, just that we have it at macy's and as such probably derives scorn from this board. I will say that they seem a bit inconsistant in construction. My Countess Mara is the only tie I have that the loop on back has partially detached. Though like most of our ties length seems to vary by up to 4 inches.

The venerable Countess Mara

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities