The tie

A tie is a band of tissue passed around the neck, under the collar of a shirt, and which is tied in front to hang freely in front of the chest. This is an accessory, which is worn primarily by men. It is often worn with a suit, on grand occasions, and is an element of habitual or even required dress for certain professions. This accessory is very much in style. Some consider it as too serious, and a symbol of conformism. In face of this sentiment, a trend began in the United States in which executives are allowed to not wear a tie on Fridays, the day before the weekend. This is what can be called Friday Wear, or Casual Friday. This new trend rapidly spread across the globe. In France, it was quickly adopted by some of the largest businesses, like L'Oréal Paris...

In modern commerce, we find ties in printed silk, in woven silk, in mogadore silk, in cotton, in wool, or even in polyester. They can be made in diverse motifs or tints. The different motifs, which can be found on most ties today, are :

• Geometric motifs, stripes, polka-dots, paisley or plaid
• Figurative motifs, which often decorate ties. These are represented by drawings on specific themes like hunting, sport, animals, vegetation, humoristic motifs, gags... This last category serves especially to engage in conversation or to encourage conviviality (conversational ties).