Button to Button - The Ideal Length For Your Tie

When it comes to men’s fashion there are certain rules one should adhere to, after all, if the devil is in the details we want to be the most handsome devils out there don’t we?

Before I go on let me make it super clear that these are not MY rules, I never made them up and most of them have no recorded history. Much like a good brownie recipe, I suspect they have been passed down from generation to generation. Whether you adhere to them or not is your decision, but let’s try ensure our generation isn’t the first to forget them shall we.

I believe it was Oscar Wilde who declared “A well-tied tie is the first serious step in life”. Now, to be fair, the man was a poet, so he did have a way with words but he was also the original playboy so I see no reason why we shouldn’t believe him. This begs the question “why is it so many men struggle with their ties”? I ‘m not even talking about tie knots and shirt combinations, I’m talking about something far more basic. Length.

The ruling on this is pretty simple: Ties run button to button – that is your tie should cover the top button on your collar and the button of your pants. Now unless your pants have no button, this should be fairly simple. That said, if you’re wearing a tie with track pants (or any buttonless trousers that is) then length is not your problem so more power to you. For those of you striving for ultimate precision, the widest part of the tie should hang at the same height as the upper edge of your belt leaving the tip dangling somewhere down the middle. There is, of course, some leeway here, not much, but some. When in doubt, go longer rather than shorter, I generally like the tip of my tie to juuuuust cover my belt buckle – This is mostly because I hate belt buckles, but still. If you prefer a little shorter, just ensure the tip of the tie is at least touching your belt buckle, please (I have a pet hate for short ties).

The above also applies to straight edged ties, like knitted ties (where the widest part is also the edge) and should at the very least touch your belt buckle.

Now, this rule may be simple, but it’s not always easy to get right and will definitely require a little practice. Prepare for a little frustration, different tie lengths, fabrics, and knots will all play a part in ensuring that perfect button to button length. Remember, if at first, you don’t succeed, TIE, TIE again!!

Okay. Stay Fancy.