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NECKTIE INSTRUCTIONSFollow these necktie instructions to buy the best tie and take good care of it.
SILK NECKTIES: A good silk fabric is never rough to the touch. An inferior quality silk is brittle and the end frays easily. There are also misweaves and puckers if the tie has not been inspected.
STANDARD NECKTIE DIMENSIONS: The standard length is between 52 to 58 inches. If you are tall, or use Windsor knots, a longer tie can be custom made. Make sure that the tips of the necktie reach the waistband of the trousers. The ends of the tie should either be equal, or the smaller one just a fraction shorter.
QUALITY TIES WITH WOOLEN LININGS: The best ties today are lined with 100 percent wool and are generally made only in Europe. Most other quality ties use a wool mixture. The wool content shows the quality of the tie. Fine linings are marked with a series of gold bars. Open up the back of the tie to inspect them.
RESILIENCE STITCHES: A loose black thread is used as a slip stich to provide resilience to the tie. A tight wrapping would not therefore rip the tie open, and it retains its original shape.
NUMBER OF STITCHING PIECES
Running a finger down the length of the tie should reveal three separate pieces stitched together. Most commercial ties use only two. A three-piece tie wraps easily round the neck.
NECKTIE CARE
- Ties are extremely perishable and so need to be cared for appropriately. This begins while you take them off your neck. The longevity of the tie goes down if you slip the small end out of the knot. The best method is to untie the knot first, reversing the steps for tying it. This helps untwist the fibers of the material and lining and alleviates light creases.
- For severe creases, roll the tie around your finger with both ends together. Slip it off and leave it rolled up overnight. The following morning, if it is a woven silk tie, hang it in your closet. Knitted or crocheted ties should not be hung but laid flat.
- Do not send a necktie for dry-cleaning. It may clean the tie but will also compress the lining and dull the luster of the silk. Remove water stains by rubbing it with a piece of the same fabric.
- A spot remover like carbon tetrachloride can be used.
NECKTIE STORAGE
Use racks or holders, or go for necktie storage boxes. There are beautiful oak hand made boxes available with glass panes that give a view of the whole collection.