How to Celebrate National Tie Month in December

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Thu 01 Dec 2011 - Sat 31 Dec 2011

December is National Tie Month, which means it's time to get rid of ugly ties, recycle or donate ones you no longer want, and learn some facts about them. If you're located in NYC, there's no shortage of places to shop for some exquisite ties. There are a variety of ways to celebrate, so raid your closet and prepare to have your tie collection revamped.

Learn the facts
Did you know that Shih Huang Ti, China's first emperor back in 221 B.C., and his Terracotta Soldiers, provided evidence of the first necktie? Until 1840, the word "cravat" was primarily used before the word "tie" replaced it. In 1998, even Bill Clinton's necktie made news because it was a gift from Monica Lewinsky.

Learn how to tie a tie
Sure clip-on ties are easy, but learning how to tie a tie will come in quite handy. There's four different types of knots to learn; however, from a female perspective, I'm partial to the way a Pratt knot looks. It also goes well with any dress shirt, so once you master it you're set.

Buy ties in NYC
When I need to buy a tie for a guy, there are usually two places in NYC I go. The first is Macy's ; they have a huge selection for those of us who would rather not spend $100 dollars on a tie. My top three favorites are the #fn =sp=1&spc=281">Super Satin Stripe Silk Tommy Hilfiger Tie in Navy , the #fn =sp=1&spc=281">Alfani Dark Stripe Silk Tie , and the #fn =sp=1&spc=281">Perry Ellis Fox Silk Tie (any color). Nordstrom is the other store I prefer to shop for men's ties. My top three choices are the Michael Kors Woven Silk Tie , the Nordstrom Woven Silk Tie in Lavender Stripe , and the Nordstrom Woven Silk Tie in Eggplant .

Make a tie
It's surprisingly easy to make a necktie . You need about one yard of silk to make two ties, and some other items you'll need for the project include thread, scissors and a marking pencil. If you have some time and patience, you can make some unique gifts for yourself or friends.

Get rid of old ties
Go through your tie collection and clean out all the ones you no longer use. If you haven't worn them in years, they're only taking up space and someone else could use them. Donate them to a local charity in NYC, such as The Salvation Army or to Goodwill . If you're short on cash, consider selling them on eBay or Craigslist to make yourself some holiday cash.

Make new items from old ties
Rather than donate or sell your ties, consider recycling them into some new items. Wise Bread has a great list of resources of what you can do with your unwanted neckties. Some of the projects include making a Christmas tree skirt, making Christmas ornaments, and making a case for your cell phone.

Considering Christmas is in December, National Tie Month gives you a chance to make gifts for others from ties you no longer want, to learn how to tie a tie just in time for those holiday parties and, of course, buy yourself some new presents while you're at it.

Photo copyright belongs to Gato Azul via Flickr

#shopping
#fashion
!date 01/12/2011 -- 31/12/2011
%wnnewyork