WHAT HAPPENED TO NECKTIES?

I am standing in my closet on this cold winter day looking at my neckties. I like to look at my neckties. I find it relaxing. Kind of comforting. They bring back memories. I try to keep them organized, Red with the reds. Blue with the blues. Stripes with stripes and at the end of the. rack is the miscellaneous section. Ties really don't go out of style. I rarely get rid of one. Sometimes wide ties are more popular than narrow ones. The trend changes and narrow ties become more popular. Something in the middle will usually work.

Men have been wearing neckties of some sort for many centuries. The type we wear today {when we wear one} goes back to about 1900. M father sold men's clothing most of his life. He wore a tie almost every day. My first accounting job was for a young C.P.A.. During the interview he said wear a tie to the office every day. You will look and feel professional. The clients will have more respect for you he said. I liked that idea.

I wore a tie almost every day for forty years. It was the tie that would usually catch a person's attention. People would say such things as "nice tie" "like your tie" or "sharp tie." People notice.

A tie completes the outfit. It adds a decorative touch to men's clothing. It says I am a professional. The tie says I am ready for business. Wearing it shows respect for the client, the patient, the customer. The tie sends a signal of authority. It says I appreciate your business. When invited to an important event wearing a tie acknowledges the special occasion.

Towards the end of my working life the business casual look became popular. I tried to discourage that look in my office. My younger associates did not agree. I lost the argument but that does not mean I was wrong.

I probably have only worn a tie just a few times in recent years. I would like to wear one more. People almost seem annoyed when you show up wearing one to a nice restaurant, maybe a dinner party or holiday gathering for example. I have tried a few times in recent years and found before I had one foot in the door someone would shout, "why did you get so dressed up?"

I wonder what bothers people about neck ties after literally wearing them for century's. Have they become too expensive? Maybe to uncomfortable? Could people have become spoiled ? Possibly lost some pride and self-respect?

I take one more look at the ties in my closet. They mean a lot to me. I will keep them forever. When they again become popular I will be ready!

WRITTEN BY

RON TURETT