Being required to wear neckties if you are male.

[crfriend]

Bola tie

I've got one of those! I wore it quite a bit back in the 1990s when I was really interested in poking a finger in the eye of my ex-employer and their "dress code".

It was also the source of a pretty good punch-line one time when I was descending a flight of stairs with a couple of co-workers. My normal motion when walking has a strongly vertical component to it because of the length of my stride, and that made the ornamental stones at the base of the bola strings tend to bounce off one another. Needless to say, the question came up one time of, "What's that clicking sound?"; I immediately came back with, "Oh, that's just my rocks banging together." There was a very pregnant pause in the conversation until I held up the ends of my tie and said, loudly, "These rocks! Get your minds out of the gutter.".

Bolas are not freestyle at all; they're completely acceptable in Southwest US fashion, right on up to the most macho imaginable.

[Uncle Al]

It was the source of a pretty good punch-line one time when I was
descending a flight of stairs with a couple of co-workers. My normal
motion when walking has a strongly vertical component to it
because of the length of my stride, and that made the ornamental
stones at the base of the bola strings tend to bounce off one
another. Needless to say, the question came up one time of,
"What's that clicking sound?"; I immediately came back with,
"Oh, that's just my rocks banging together."
There was a very pregnant pause in the conversation until I held
up the ends of my tie and said, loudly, "These rocks!
Get your minds out of the gutter.".

You mean you didn't add "and come down to the sewer with the rest of us


Sorry, couldn't resist

Uncle Al
Duncanville, TX

[Grok]

Bolas are not freestyle at all; they're completely acceptable in Southwest US fashion, right on up to the most macho imaginable.

Indeed, but bolas add another choice.

Variety is the spice of life.

[shropshire steve]

Seems to me that one of the problems is that partly what drives the wearing of ties is the design of men's shirts, apart from T-shirts and Sports shirts they are mostly all designed to be capable of being worn with a tie. Such that many shirts if not worn with a tie look like you have not quite finished getting dressed.
There are now some Kaftan style shirts around which you could not wear a tie with, Tesco sell some
as http://www.tesco.com/todayattesco/lifes ... ns_5.shtml
and I picked up one from a charity shop the other day.
We could do with a few more shirt and top styles that could not take a tie to start to change things, but then change in the conservative world of mens fashion is slow to happen.........which is i guess a major theme of this whole site.

[Since1982]

I have an idea...Remember the old bad days book burnings? How about a tie burning??? Only silk ones allowed.

[crfriend]

I have an idea...Remember the old bad days book burnings? How about a tie burning??? Only silk ones allowed.

No offence intended, but I wholeheartedly disagree. Neckties are very useful accessories in a complete outf^W loo^W rig. (Dammit, what words can we use to describe an all-up aesthetic vision? )

[Since1982]

To each his own! The last time I wore a necktie was to my college graduation in 1966. Tweed coat, white shirt, plain black clip on tie. I can say with clarity that the only time I ever had anything around my neck as tight as a properly tied tie gets was once when I was 14 and I and several friends were messing around with a rope pretending to hang each other. We didn't really do it, but my foot slipped on the rock I was standing on and I almost really hung myself. Last time anything went around my neck for the rest of my life to this moment. I don't even snap the top snap and buttons on a business type shirt. I don't wear necklaces, wrist watches, rings, personal jewelry of any kind. I own some, just don't wear it. Anything like that just bothers me. I don't know why. I carry a pocket watch and my cell phone when I go out, and both can give the time. Lately I've been using a Blue Tooth for hands free operation of my cell. I like it.

[JRMILLER]

I have come to enjoy the quirk-e-ness of bowties. Take a look at this site, many interesting choices. Would much rather wear one of these than a neck tie.

http://www.beautiesltd.com/

[Kilted Musician]

I've never had a job where a necktie was required. In a band I used to play in, ties were required but since I don't play in that band anymore... no problem! In my current band, I occasionally will wear a black Utilikilt, black long sleeve dress shirt [top button unbuttoned], and a narrow black tie worn loose. A somewhat classy and casual look. I'll see if I can get some pics the next time we play somewhere...

--Rick

[Since1982]

Carl said: complete outf^W loo^W rig. (Dammit, what words can we use to describe an all-up aesthetic vision? )

I . It's the total of all the parts that goes into the unit. hmm...I guess if you wanted to be different, you could call it a "Unit"...or "Package" but then package might be confused with hidden areas..No, I think Unit is best. hehehe

[Lawrence de Grande]

I had to wear neckties in private school to dinner five nights a week and when I wore my dress uniform in the U S Air Farce. I refused to wear one to my wedding and will not wear one in my coffin.

[Brad]

I have to wear neckties to work but I don't mind. It makes me look professional and I get respect from customers and employees. That's entirely different from my personal feelings on neckties or other male attire. Of course I see the women coming to work in flip-flops and bare legs. But even if it were acceptable for me to dress like them, I wouldn't get the respect I feel I deserve in my position.

[skirtingtoday]

I now very rarely wear ties and indeed at most of the meetings I now attend with clients, architects, contractors, there are almost no ties visible. Sometimes one, maybe two out of a meeting with 8-12 people present.
I would only wear one at a funeral or wedding - though I do wear a tartan tie with a matching kilt when going to a ceilidh (despite much tutting from the fellow I bought the kilt from when I suggested that... )
There was only one meeting I was at (for ASDA) where the representative of that company demanded that, "we are professional here and as such must wear ties." (Think that was only directed at the male participants of that meeting.) The meeting was being held in a sunlit room with no air conditioning (temp outside was 27deg C which I noted after we got out), no openable windows and there was no water or other drink supplied by them.

[Sarongman]

Those of us who are averse to ties may have a high profile ally in Richard Branson. I got the quote off LinkedIn that ties should be thrown out and----now this is really a call to common assault----"if you see a co worker in one, grab a pair of scissors and cut it off"

[skirted_in_SF]

----"if you see a co worker in one, grab a pair of scissors and cut it off"

I hope no one does that to me. Quality silk ties like I wear are very expensive.