Okay, I know most men don’t like wearing neckties and bows except during desperate times (job interviews, meeting your girlfriend’s folks, your wedding). But admit it, neckties and bows add a certain elegant appeal to your get up. Sometimes, you even catch yourself saying, “Bond.. James Bond”. Though ties make you think that your girlfriend is a sadist (Hon, you look dashing when you can’t breathe..), you have to admit that she’s right. You do look good in ties. Besides, it’s not so bad since there are many tie styles to choose from. Aside from making you choke and look good, ties also offer a subtle way to change your look. Though learning how to choose good tie material is important, learning which tie style looks best with a certain shirt or proper occasion is key.

Nowadays, there are four tie styles commonly in use. There is the four-in-hand, half-Windsor, Windsor and Pratt knot. The three mentioned first are the classic knots. They have been choking, I mean adorning men’s necks years and decades before. Pratt knot is a recent tie style having been around only since 1989. Of course, talking about tie styles are not complete unless we talk about the disadvantages and advantages of these styles of neckties and bows. The four-in-hand style is the best style for those only starting to wear ties. For one, they are easily mastered and suit almost all occasion. However, they are suited best for shirts with narrow collars since they are asymetric and would look sloppy with wide collars. Half windsor style knot is more difficult to tie. They do suit most occasions and shirt styles because of their symmetry and formal look. Windsor knots are best for formal occasions. This is a wide tie style and is best for shirts with white collars. Conversely, they would look over the top and improper with narrow collars. The more modern Pratt knott is the most versatile tie style. This is not too wide nor narrow and suits every shirt style. It can also be used for occasions. Plus, it also gives you a neat and polished look without sacrificing a relaxed vibe. However, for more formal occasions (weddings, high society affairs) a bow tie is preferred.

Quit whining when presented with neckties and bows. With a variety of styles to choose from, you could always choose the one you’re most comfortable with. You’ll feel good, fashionable, and most of all distinguished. After all, it is better to feel choked than look and appear sloppy.

For more valuable information on neck ties and bows please visit http://www.cool-ties.net

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I recently worked as Special Features Manager for two lifestyle exhibitions, and as part of my brief, I had to deliver catwalk design shows for both a Spanish and Italian show.

The Italian show, Viva Italia, was a huge success, easy to source designer outfits - we had some fabulous clothes and everyone fell over themselves to show on the catwalk. There was a huge enthusiasm amongst retailers, designers and models. Everything was enthusiastically received by the viewing public and for the next show, I have people lining up to take part. Everyone in the fashion industry are proud to be Italian - I can’t wait until the next show.

The Spanish show, Viva Espana, was still a great success, but it was so difficult to source designs that were Spanish. I contacted the PR teams who mostly came back with a resounding ‘No’. Why? They want to be seen as International Designers. Refusals from Adolfo Dominguez, Mango and Zara were a huge surprise to me, as their clothes are very popular and would have been wonderful. Thank goodness for the wonderful PR team for Armand Basi - they were warm, friendly and incredibly helpful. Why are the Spanish not proud of their designs? Any ideas?

Pam Bates

Special Features Manager, Viva Espana/Viva Italia 2006

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There is no doubt that love for some celebrity exists within us all. This is not the traditional definition of love but rather defined by an excessive admiration for a famous person whom we will probably never meet. The use of “love” is appropriate here as we who love celebrity tend to exhibit signs of undue influence by those highly visible. Famous people, the non-elected representatives of the human race, have always held some influence over the masses. In the days before mass media, television sets and computers fame was circulated orally, carried by the gossipy nature of social beings. Today, we open our eyes and cannot avoid these people. Of course, in a developed society entertainers are necessary. We laugh and sometimes cry at a quality performance. Our memories are seared with images, movies and songs which have touched us, frightened us and stimulated us. They dramatize the political, the romantic, the good and bad. We see in them the potential for perfection of man or woman as an expression of utopian ideals of love and success.

Yet, have we gone too far? How much influence should they have over us? Our choice of clothes, jewelry and hairstyle, our languages and ideas are often areas that we look toward celebrities to define. If you deny this then you are exceptional; the rest of us are invariably, more susceptible. Our culture has become saturated with celebrity influence. We watch their every move including who they are with and what they do. We absorb their politics and gobble up their quotes. We think about what it may be like to be that beautiful, rich and powerful. Fame is an aphrodisiac or so it seems to the unrecognized. Today we have TomKat(Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes). Yesterday it was Bennifer(Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez). Public Interest in these people is frighteningly obsessive in nature. After all, their claim to fame is usually based on pretense or non reality. They are the constant pretenders, illusionists with screens as their canvas.

The entertainment value of a celebrity stretches beyond the screen or stage and they are wholly aware it. We are witness to carefully arranged relationships, sudden sightings in sports arenas and controversial quotes days before a new movie or show opens. They appear on your screen suddenly seemingly not to promote themselves but rather attempting to come across as natural, likable, smart and funny. Sometimes we get a glimpse into what certain celebrities are really like. Unfortunately, it is usually when they do something wrong. Drugs, infidelity and physical assaults are a few areas where celebrities have slipped in their public presentation. Mug shots and unflattering photos of famous people are the currency of entertainment news outlets. Being a celebrity has its drawback in this regard as they are monitored as closely as governmental heads of the biggest nations on earth. Alas, the power of celebrity is here with us to stay. Or is it? Can we teach our children who the chancellor of Germany is before we explain the history of Madonna? If we can’t, America will become a nation of uninformed celebrity worshippers numb to the more important realities of the world.

Derek Belay works for Jewelry Payless.com and KingIce.com as a marketing manager.

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