The selection of kids’ ties available has never been better, so most parents of young sons will be in the youth tie market sometime soon. However, younger boys have a well-earned reputation for loving being dirty and disliking dressing up. There are several ways, though, to make your youth tie experience painless, and maybe even fun.
Establish A Positive Tie Attitude
While some men and boys see ties as restrictive, there are many who recognize the style and enjoyment that ties can bring to their wardrobe. Whether in real life or on television, point out men who wear ties well. Maybe a favorite teacher sports a variety of fun, colorful neckties. Perhaps a well-liked character always wears a bowtie, such as Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat, Bill Nye the Science Guy, or Sesame Street’s Mr. Hooper. It isn’t hard to find kid’s ties that mimic styles of men your son admires, and the appeal of looking like a role model will likely make him more open to ties. Approach the idea of wearing a tie as a fun opportunity, not apologetically.
Give Your Child a Choice
The well-known book Parenting with Love and Logic points out that giving children choices results in less confrontation and gives the child a sense of ownership of his own choices. So, when it comes to choosing a kids’ necktie, bring the child into the process. Instead of saying, “put on this pink tie for Easter,” a child is much less likely to resist the question, “Would you like to wear a yellow tie, green tie, or blue tie for Easter?”
Also, take into account whether your child would be more enticed by the endless options of online kids’ neckwear shopping or by the more tangible, immediate experience of visiting a store. Tie-oriented websites such as tiecoon.com, neck-wear.net, and thetiebar.com have a wide youth necktie selection, offering 48’ ties to fit boys 6-12. Choosing a tie is probably the most fun part of shopping for boys’ dress clothes, so involve him in that part, then finish the outfit based on his choice.
Make Comfort a Priority
When selecting youth neckwear, comfort should be a top priority. For a younger child to enjoy wearing a necktie, he cannot feel constrained or uncomfortable. Clip on youth ties are a great option, since they clip right to the shirt collar without encircling the neck. Pre-tied kids’ bowties usually allow for easy adjustment for comfort too, and they are less likely to interfere with your son’s activities. Any pre-tied tie or bowtie also has the advantage of being taken on and off quickly. Little boys aren’t known for their love of standing still, so the faster the tie comes on and off, the better.
Purchasing an inexpensive kids’ tie may make you less concerned about the tie getting damaged or dirty. If doesn’t get reprimanded every time he eats, runs, or plays while wearing a tie, he will likely feel more comfortable about the experience. He won’t associate a tie with no fun and sitting still.
If your son does find his necktie a bit uncomfortable, let him know how long you expect him to wear it, why, and when he can reasonably take it off. For example, you may explain that he should wear his tie while at the synagogue for his cousin’s Bar Mitzvah to show respect, but he can take it off on the car ride over to the after party.
Provide Positive Feedback
When your son dons his kids’ neckwear, pile on the praise. Give him specific compliments, such as, “That orange tie makes you look so grown up!” or “you look very handsome in that nice grey bowtie!” If your son has positive early experiences with kid’s ties, you can enjoy the variety of adorable and dapper youth neck wear for years to come.
The Slim Tie Story
If you've picked up a magazine or even been out and about lately, you've likely noticed that skinny ties are back. For many men over sixty, this brings back vivid memories of the 1960s, when skinny neck ties were all the rage, and slightly younger men might flash back to the 1980s. But this accessory's history goes back even further. It has been reinvented many times, and likely will be many more.
When Do You Need Long Ties, XL Ties, or Large Ties?
Most men may assume that an extra long tie is only necessary for men who are extremely tall or unusually rotund. However, 6’7” men aren’t the only ones whose style would get a boost from an XL tie. The men’s fashion community seems fairly united on the acceptable length for a neck tie, and a number of things could prevent your tie from reaching quite to that perfect zone.
Building a Quality Neck Wear Collection
Most men have a few ties in their closet, but many will come to a point where those three wrinkled, cheap neckties just won’t cut it anymore and a real neckwear collection is needed. Most likely, he has landed a new job where ties are part of the daily wardrobe. Whatever the reason, it’s time to begin building a collection of excellent neckties.
