The Skinny Tie Statement (Edit)

“They may be challenging to wear, but they have a distinctive look that makes them a favorite. A tiny bit geek, a tiny bit chic, skinny ties have an attitude that’s all their own.” -Karan

The skinny tie trend has been in and out of the fashion world for decades. This trend makes a statement for not only today’s youth fashion but also previous years; it depicts a man’s personality through a piece of cloth for their specific time period.

It began in the early 20’s and reappeared in the 50’s. The dark skinny ties truly reflected the 50’s time period. American’s reactions to the Cold War, The Korean War and recession were depicted through the skinny tie. It made a statement; the skinny tie represented a solemn attitude that reflected current events in men’s fashion. The ties gave a conservative look, a more serious look. In order to represent that look men’s fashion was big on dark colors and simplistic style. The look slowly influenced not only conservative men but also college students. Looking through UMBC’s yearbook, Skipjack 1968, I noticed not only faculty wearing the skinny tie but also students, which gave them the appearance that they had very focused and studious personalities.

Today’s youth has been truly influenced by this trend also. Its reappearance had influenced today’s punk culture and was a very common look for punk rock bands. During the punk movement, ties that were worn by punk followers depicted a symbol of being different from the ordinary. They showed a certain type of individuality by taking something as formal as a tie and turning it into a statement of being different.

Slowly, this trend has become something chic in the fashion industry. Men who have been influenced by this trend now show a symbol of confidence with showing off their bodies. The skinny tie gives a slimming look to a suit, which illustrates that these men are comfortable in their own skin.
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