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
Photo copyright belongs to Gato Azul via Flickr
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 tieSure 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
Super Satin Stripe Silk Tommy Hilfiger Tie in Navy, the
Alfani Dark Stripe Silk Tie, and the
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 tieIt'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 tiesGo 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 tiesRather 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
