You enjoy the pleasure of adorning yourself with one amazing Tieroom tie after another. You know you look good. But maybe ‘satisfied’ is not part of your vocabulary. Maybe you demand that extra little oomph!

If so, we suggest adding either a tie tack or a tie bar for a finishing touch that will elevate your look to a whole new level.

A Little About Tie Tacks

Tie tacks are also referred to as tie pins or tie clips. They can be aesthetically pleasing but also play an important functional role. Fundamentally, a tie tack is used to secure a tie in place. They are particularly useful when wanting to project a polished and professional appearance, which is why they are especially popular among discerning businessmen and men about town, not to mention nervous bridegrooms!

Some tie tacks look like a simple stud in the middle of a man’s tie, while other tie tacks are visibly attached to a chain. The former may be an example of a push pin, screw-back, or clip-on tie tack, while the latter is known as a chain link tie tack.

Whichever type of tie tack is used, the effect is always eye-catching and appealing. Tie tacks have an uncanny ability to make an outfit look that much more ‘finished,’ that much more elegant.

Like so many things to do with ties, tie tacks have a fascinating history. Although very much associated with the Victorian era, it is thought that some form of tie tack can be traced all the way back to Ancient Egypt. There are hieroglyphics that show linen neck cloths fastened with what are akin to tie tacks.

However, they became especially popular during the 19^th century, most commonly used to tie back the cravats that were often used during that era. At that time, they tended to be more decorative and sometimes even quite extravagant. By the 20^th century, tie tacks had become more discreet and increasingly functional.

Tie Tack Essentials

v Placement of a tie tack is all-important. Put it too high and it looks gauche, put it too low and it can get lost. A good rule of thumb is for it to be placed between the third and fourth buttons of a dress shirt. GQ is in agreement with us on this!

v To put on your tie tack:

o Remove the clasp and pin the tack to the tie

o Locate the nearest button hole and pull the stick pin through and button up the shirt

o Attach the closure to the stick pin to secure the tack in place

v Be discerning in the type and design of tie tack that you wear. However, if you have a personal preference, then go with that. Confidence is paramount in a good dresser!

v Tie tacks should be cleaned regularly with a soft cloth.

v They should be properly stored in a separate compartment or box, which will prevent them from being scratched.

A Little About Tie Bars

Tie bars, also known as tie clips, are diagonal strips of metal worn across a man’s tie. Like tie tacks, they help keep a tie in place, although arguably their primary function is to simply make a tie look more appealing.

Tie bars have a more recent history than that of tie tacks, although they also had some popularity during the 19^th century. They really came into fashion during the early to mid-20^th century, becoming synonymous with American and British men’s fashion during the 1940s to early 1960s in particular. Worn with the skinny ties popular at that time, tie bars were all the rage.

You could say that tie bars were the epitome of cool!

They went out of fashion during the more ‘loose’ fashion of the late 1960s and 1970s, although they did have a brief comeback during the more extravagant 1980s, especially when worn with the thin ties popular at the time.

However, tie bars really came back into popularity in recent years, as tie fashion trends have adopted more classic accessories. Fashion leaders like David Beckham and Ryan Gosling have been photographed sporting tie bars. Men’s fashion has become more varied and individualized than ever, and tie bars are a reflection of that trend.

Tie Bars Rules of Thumb

v 1/2 inch thickness is best for either short or long tie bars

v A narrow tie = a short tie bar

v A thick tie = a longer tie bar

v Place the bar between the 3rd and 4th button of shirt

v Clip the tie bar onto the placket (the fabric that runs down the shirt on which buttons are sewn) as well as the tie

v As with tie tacks, clean your tie bars with a soft cloth and try to store them in a place where they won’t get scratched

We here at Tieroom are especially proud of our amazing brand of tie bars or tie clips. As you’ll see, they come in a dazzling array of superb designs, whether trendy, quirky or more classic.

Whatever your choice of tie bar or tie tack, just remember this: subtlety wins the day.