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WHEN you buy a tie for yourself, you can be very choosy. The trick lies in mixing old with new—-sort of combining classic patterns with slimmer modern shapes. Ram Malhotra, chief executive of Atlanta Dresses, Bombay, says it has become an industry joke that a seemingly small detail such as tie width or lapel style could be considered a drastic shift. The attention to narrower ties and slimmer lapels comes as the industry continues to embrace dressier looks. In the world of men’s fashion, the shrinking of the tie from a three and three/fourth-inch width to around three and one/fourth inch counts as monumental news. That would never do in women’s fashion, where changes can be measured in volumes—-say, from sleek to swinging—-in the course of a season or two. But the real clincher this season is the width of the tie. As a matter of fact, thin ties are in. Men in their 30s and beyond may see the likes of Hrithik Roshan and his slim tie on TV and think to themselves: "I can do that," and the influence permeates their subconscious. Recently, the well-known Indian brand Zodiac re-sized its men’s tie—-an article of dressing up that has been traditionally four inches at its widest to three-and-a-half inches. Fashion designer Rajen Sharma of Bombay feels that "it is all about younger attitudes," and he sees the trend from Calvin Klein to Tommy Hilfiger, and says: "People are more fit; they are working out and they really do want to get credit for all the work and effort they are putting into taking care of themselves." Akshay Mehta, owner of Real Fashion Boutique in Bombay’s Big Bazaar, says that today’s ties are a major shift from the four-inch of decades past, when skinny neckwear was reserved for Hollywood. "It used to be that you had to spend a lot of money on them because they were trendy and high fashion. Now everybody’s jumping on the thin tie bandwagon.’’ Fashion maestro Deeepak Karant feels that this shift has come as fashion designers want to cash in on the tie that is the icon of men’s (and ladies, too) fashion. A decade ago, the tie was not cool, he explains, and now men have returned to a more formal office look, meaning that now the right neckpiece, like a well-tailored suit, conveys "you’re gonna close the deal perfectly." The main point is that, unlike their wider equivalents, slimmer ties add youth to your looks. But the thin tie is not always the solution. If you are a serious accountant, anything too slim or too trendy is a wrong buy for you. For the average middle-aged guy, one should keep the middle path, that is ties that are two-and-a-half-inches to three inches. These skinny ties should not be too loud and the colours preferred should be light plaids or tasty browns. Again, thin ties, too, can be very loud. Keep away from exploding pattern ties and ensure that the designs on the thin tie are woven in and not stamped on. If you want to inject youth in your appearance, you can opt out for thin ties with small repeated icons. This season floral and vine patterns are in, while many middle-aged office-goers prefer bursts of pinks to compliment their grey suiting. — MF
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