At Ties Unlimited we have the knowledge and resources to fulfil all of your neckwear needs. From classic silk ties to tie clips, tie pins and cufflinks, we have everything you’ll need to ensure you look sharp in a man’s suit. Take a look through our site and you’ll see that our extensive collections contains just about every colour and style you can imagine, with designs as diverse as the ever-popular classic paisley tie to quirky novelty ties. We also have dozens of beautiful silk bow ties suitable for everyone from academics and best men to the budding James Bonds out there.
Ties Unlimited orders ship for free to our UK customers, and we endeavour to keep shipping costs to a minimum for international purchases. Most importantly, we value customer service above all, always endeavouring to go the extra mile to ensure our customers are satisfied. Please contact us for more information concerning large or custom orders. We offer bespoke designs to organisations such as schools, councils, sports clubs and businesses at little to no extra cost, and bigger orders may eligible for bulk discounts.
The humble necktie may now be an integral element of business and formal fashion for men, but it wasn't always so. In fact, we can trace its origins to a very definite, and very unlikely, circumstance; which gave birth to these strips of decorative cloth. Oddly, it was a meeting between Croatian mercenaries and the French during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) that led to the birth of the tie. The French were intrigued by the Croatians' undersized knotted neckerchiefs and soon came to adopt them as part of their own attire. Before long, the tie made its way back to Paris, a city where unparalleled fashion influences soon saw ties designed in countless different fabrics, forms and styles. The tie came to be known as the “cravat” as a result of confusion between the French word for Croats, Croates, and the Croatian word, Hrvati.
As with many fashion trends emanating from Paris, the practice of wearing a tie almost immediately found favour among well-heeled Europeans, and within a few years the upper and middle classes across the Continent commonly took to sporting a piece of a fabric around their neck. By the turn of the eighteenth century the lace cravat had become the most popular variation of the tie, with silk versions a costly alternative. These were often incredibly ornate and required a great deal of patience on the wearer’s part, with the process of fixing the cravat in position with cravat strings, arranging it evenly and tying a complex bow often taking upwards of an hour.
In the centuries following the first appearance of the tie, the garment underwent numerous changes which saw dozens of different styles emerge from the original design. One of the earliest of these was the Steinkirk which, like the tie itself, originated from a conflict situation. Legend has it that princes dressing for the Battle of Steenkerque had no time to tie a neat knot, and instead simply twisted the fabric ends together and fed them through a buttonhole in their jackets. French philosopher Voltaire gives a similar account of the Steinkirk’s origin, writing that the French gentry were forced to fight with their cravats untied after a surprise attack was mounted by the Allies.
The “stock” tie followed in the early eighteenth century. Such ties were originally nothing more than a small square of muslin which was folded into a thin strip, wound around the collar of a shirt several times and pinned at the back of neck. These were often worn in conjunction with the then-popular men’s hairstyle known as the “bag wig” in which the ends of the hair were held in a black silk bag at the nape of the neck. While such fashions have, thankfully, fallen by the wayside, the tie avoided a similar fate and continued to evolve over the years.
Later in the century, the standard cravat returned to prominence when a group of young Englishmen educated on the Continent brought back contemporary French and Italian fashion. This led to ties being widely worn in England for the first time, with their popularity giving rise to a debate as to how they should be properly tied. Indeed, one of the bestselling books of the time was “Neckclothitania”, which contained detailed instructions concerning the fourteen different methods of tying a tie. Notably, this was also the first book to formally use the word “tie” to describe the item of neckwear which had almost invariably been known as a “cravat” up to that point.
By then ties had become deeply entrenched in men’s fashion habits, with white silk ties the neckwear of choice for formal evening occasions, and black ties a necessary companion to men’s smart day-to-day outfits. Since that time ties have come to play a number of new and different roles in fashion, and nowadays the tie may be donned by everyone from presidents and prime ministers to teenage punk rockers.
In fact, in recent years ties have come to be increasingly associated with the young and trendy, with Justin Timberlake, Ne-Yo, Jay-Z, P Diddy and Lady Gaga all sporting ties of surprisingly traditional designs in their music videos. The tie also remains a fashion staple of pop rockers across the globe, with the standard short-sleeved schoolboy shirt matched with a thin, black tie remaining very much the look for such musicians and their fans. R&B stars like Usher and the aforementioned Justin Timberlake popularised the tie-and-waistcoat look late last in the 2000s, taking the bold step of matching the core components of the classic men’s work suit with white trainers.
There are, however, celebrities who continue to wear the tie as originally intended. George Clooney, for example, is often seen sporting ties with wide strips paired with a pinstriped suit and a crisp white shirt, a look which has been a men’s fashion favourite for over thirty years. Prince Charles is another prominent individual who refuses to let the traditional tie die, and indeed his preference for wearing striped ties under double-breasted suits with matching pocket squares earned him Esquire’s recognition as the best dressed man in the world in 2009. David Beckham has, at times, adopted an even more traditional men’s style, donning a classic silk ascot and blazer that wouldn’t have looked out of place in a 1960s Cary Grant film.
To help with choosing a new silk tie please find below a guide and information on the different colours available.
Black Silk Ties
Black silk ties are a timeless must-have item in any wardrobe. This fashion classic goes with hard-to-match tuxedos and dress suits and makes a stylish alternative to a bow tie for black tie events. Our black silk ties are available in a wide range of patterns and styles. Traditionally black silk ties are worn with solid colour shirts, but who are we to judge? We’re sure that our customers will be able to create some stylish looks with patterned shirts and black silk ties – in fact we’d love to see what you come up with. Why not email us and show us your best black tie combo – our favourite photos will get showcased on our blog.
Black silk ties are very versatile and last for years. Whether for a formal occasion such as an interview or funeral, or celebrations such as weddings or black tie dinners, a black silk tie is a wardrobe staple and every guy should have one.
Girls – if you’re looking for a beautiful tie to give your outfits a distinctly different touch, then look no further. From pop stars to celebrities, stylish women everywhere are learning that ties can look great on men but fabulous on women - make a statement today with our black silk ties.
Ties also make an excellent gift – perfect for Christmas, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, birthdays or other special occasions. Our beautiful, top quality silk ties are bound to make the right impression so treat someone you love today!
Blue Silk Ties
Our blue silk ties are beautifully designed, of excellent quality and come in a range of styles and shades. Our blue silk tie collection covers the whole spectrum of blue shades. Whether you prefer a cool blue persona, upper class royal blue or a dashing navy blue, let your tie do the talking and portray the right image to suit your mood.
Blue is an extremely versatile colour and will work with many shirt and suit colours. From pale blue, sky blue and light blue, to royal blue, mid blue, navy blue and dark blue we think you will find the shade you are looking for but if you can’t see what you need then get in touch and we will do our best to help. Traditional or modern, patterned and plain, our range of blue silk ties suits all ages; Silk ties never go out of fashion and every well dressed man needs at least one blue silk tie in his wardrobe.
Perfect as a gift for Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, birthdays or other special occasions, a silk tie is a wonderful way to show that you care and that you have put real thought into your gift.
Cream Silk Ties
Cream silk ties are the epitome of sophistication. Versatile and stylish, a cream tie adds the finishing touch to the discerning man’s outfit. Simply put, if you’re wearing a cream silk tie then there is an air of je ne sais quoi, an expectation... it’s quite something to live up to!
Cream ties are neutral, therefore perfect with a whole range of outfits. Try one with a bold coloured shirt, a dashing strip or a matching cream shirt for the ‘subtle stylish’ look.
However you choose to wear your beautiful cream silk tie, it will complement and enhance the rest of your outfit. We offer a wonderful range of solid cream ties as well as some beautiful patterns and textures.
If you are a bridegroom looking for a wedding tie then you will be spoiled for choice – our silk tie collection covers all of the colours in the rainbow.
If you want understated luxury, then cream would be a great choice. Perfect for weddings and special occasions, a cream silk tie is guaranteed to bring a touch of class to your important day.
Green Silk Ties
May we introduce our Green Silk Ties? Distinguished and Stylish, we’re sure you’ll love them. Once the domain of the country set, a green silk tie is a definite statement which will turn an ordinary outfit into an extraordinary one.
We offer an extensive range of green silk ties – whatever green you’re seeking, we’re sure to have something which will suit. Light green, mint green, blue/green, racing green, jade or emerald, and many in between – we have greens for every season.
Our textured green silk ties work especially well with winter suits; our smooth pale green ties are perfect with crisp summer shirts. Green is also a wedding favourite, but is just as appropriate for the office, interviews or entertaining.
If you’re looking for a gift for a special man, then a green silk tie is a great option which we’re sure he will love.
Grey Silk Ties
A thing of beauty is a joy forever, and our grey silk ties are really quite beautiful. In fact, we are firmly of the opinion that no gentleman’s wardrobe is complete without at least one grey silk tie.
Fashionable and subtly stylish, a grey tie is perfect for business meetings but is just as suitable accessorising a morning suit for a special occasion. Pale grey, dove grey, dark grey or slate, we offer an excellent selection of silk ties covering many shades of grey - clearly it’s not just a black and white decision...
Our silk ties are available in plain, smooth finish or with textures and patterns. Grey is a distinguished and versatile colour which will complement a pink shirt as well as it will a navy blue one. This versatility is exactly why you need one in your collection – we believe that most gentlemen’s outfit dilemmas can be solved with a grey silk tie!
Orange Silk Ties
It takes personality to carry off an orange tie... Are you man enough? Not for the shy retiring type, an orange silk tie says ‘bright’, ‘bold’ and a bit shocking!
Soft and smooth to the touch, our silk ties bring a little touch of luxury to your outfit. We only offer ties of the highest quality and which we would be happy to wear ourselves. Patterned or plain, an orange tie is definitely going to get you noticed. Great with black shirts, striking on white and probably best avoided with pink shirts, you’ll need to pick your shirt carefully to carry this one off!
Orange silk ties look great with suits and will brighten up your day, whatever the weather. If you have a particular penchant for orange ties and feel that you’ve got the recipe for carrying off unlikely shirt/tie combinations, we absolutely need to see them! Email us your favourite orange tie combos and we’ll showcase the best. For an extra frisson of excitement, choose orange silk ties that feature eclectic prints or stripes!
Pink Silk Ties
Pink is hot! It’s official! Pink silk ties are THE must have accessory from Hollywood to Mayfair and not just for men. Women are embracing the tie as a stylish accessory too and pink is the colour the celebrities are wearing.
Once only the territory of the brave man, pink has got rid of its feminine label and become an essential part of every man’s wardrobe. We would go so far as to say that pink is now considered a neutral colour. Fantastic with a crisp white shirt, a pink silk tie will get you noticed for all the right reasons. Silk is an excellent fabric choice for ties; it looks amazing, is extremely versatile and will last a lifetime. Until recently silk was classed as a fabric to be worn only on special occasions but life is too short – if you’ve got a silk tie then flaunt it!
We offer a whole range of pink ties, from pale pink, rose pink, dusky pink, hot pink and fuchsia, plain and patterned, smooth and textured. Whether you’re a bridegroom looking for a wedding tie, or you just need a chic pink tie to wear with a suit, take a look at our pink silk tie collection and we’re sure you’ll find your perfect tie.
Purple Silk Ties
Purple is the colour of royalty and of wealth. Rich and vibrant, purple is a powerful colour and every professional man should have at least one purple tie in his wardrobe. Perfect with a whole range of shirt colours, purple silk ties are classy, stylish, bold and interesting.
Our purple silk tie collection includes some beautiful patterns and styles and embossed patterns work particularly well with this colour. If you’re looking for an everyday tie for the office, then purple is a great choice as it will immediately brighten up a plain suit.
Our purple range includes lilac, amethyst, deep purple, light purple and lavender and we’ve got stripes, swirls and checks.
Purple is a popular choice for wedding ties as it is sophisticated and luxurious and our Italian purple silk ties are highly recommended.
Silk ties make an excellent gift and can last a lifetime. If you need a Christmas or birthday present for a man of any age, then a silk tie is a safe choice. We have a whole spectrum of colours so you can just keep adding to his wardrobe!
Red Silk Ties
Nothing quite tops the cake like a red silk tie. Not for the fainthearted, you need to be prepared to get some comments if you stroll into the office wearing a red silk tie!
Bold and vibrant, red is a strong colour which means that it works best with more understated shirts. Red silk ties are perfect for those men who are looking to spice up their wardrobe without being tacky. There are lots of shades of red from scarlet and poppy red to brick red, burgundy and magenta to name but a few. Red works particularly well with patterns and we have many to choose from.
Red silk ties are an ideal gift for Valentine’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas or birthdays. Red is a colour for all seasons and we have traditional, modern and downright jaunty styles to choose from. If you can’t choose, then take all of them – our view is that you just can’t have too many silk ties in your wardrobe!
Yellow Silk Ties
Yellow silk ties are bright and fun and really versatile. If you are looking for an everyday tie for work, or something a bit different to brighten up a suit, then yellow is a great option.
Yellow silk ties go well with stripes and patterned shirts of any colour. With plain shirts, yellow looks best with purples and dark blues. Our yellow silk tie collection includes gold, pale yellow, mid yellow and lemon with a great selection of patterns.
Yellow silk represents the sun, life and happiness – how can you have a bad day if you’re wearing a yellow tie? Our striped ties are extremely popular and look amazing with blazers.
Brighten your day with a yellow silk tie!
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