If you’ve been taking your lunch breaks outside in the past few months, or strolling the streets in the trendier districts of the city, you may have seen a man or two walk by wearing a bow-tie instead of a regular tie. The bow-tie has come back from obscurity and is starting to create a huge following with the nattier men on the scene, but it’s worth giving a shot for even the casual fashion observer.

Most men probably associate bow-ties with tuxedo-wearing, and little else. Over the past years, even fashionable fellows had begun to only wear straight neckties in most circumstances, so the bow-tie had become something of a novelty, immediately leading its few wearers to be described as “quirky” or “eccentric” in their style.

Like many other trends that are reshaping men’s style, the bow-tie has been adopted by a younger generation and given a new life in not just formal attire, but streetwear as well. Here’s how you can pull off this unique style to change things up a bit:

First, it’s not just acceptable, but actually cool, to wear a bow-tie in a more casual environment. If you’re already wearing collared-shirts in a casual fashion to give yourself just a little more presence, then all you need to do is fasten the collar, and slip on a bow-tie. There’s a little more to it than that though, but not much. While a collared-shirt is a prerequisite to brandishing a bow-tie, this look is best pulled off with another layer over top, preferably a V-neck sweater or a cardigan, something with a lower collar to give the bow-tie some room to breathe. When it comes to the colour of the bow-tie, there are a lot of options. Most of them are brighter colours that distinguish the bold move you’ve taken in tying one on, and they’re available at many retailers because this trend continues to flourish.

The bow-tie can also play a part in your work wardrobe if you’re in a more creative career like advertising, but I wouldn’t necessarily wear one to fight a court-case or in any other more conservative field. At work, tone it down a bit and go with some more subdued shades. You still want to look professional. Don’t wear one every day though, or you’ll be branded Bow-Tie Guy.

One thing I want to mention, that may not gain me any favour with the regular bow-tie wearers, is that you do NOT need to know how to tie an actual bow-tie. Unlike what many men’s magazines will say, it is not a necessary skill to be a man, and you will not live a better life because of it. Clip-ons work brilliantly and, having spent a considerable amount of time learning how to tie a ‘proper’ bow-tie, that skill has been quickly relegated to a mere novelty trick in my life. The clip-ons that are on the market today feature a tighter knot than you’ll ever get with fingers, and are easy to slip on and off. So when you’re ready to give the bow-tie a shot, don’t be embarrassed to clip one on. Anyone who gives you a hard time about it should probably go find something better to do with their time.

If you were curious before, now’s the time to tie something new or clip one on. The bow-tie isn’t likely going to stick around for too long, so get your kicks in while you can. It’s a great way to add some variety to your regular wardrobe.

Tim Lucas

Tim Lucas enjoys writing, working on fast cars and sipping fine tequila. He appreciates the delicate art of creating a personal image through one's wardrobe. He has been employed by Club Monaco, Harry Rosen and Holt Renfrew. He now operates his own blog on men's fashion, known as "Mr. Sartorial".

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