Understanding French Ties

[Noble Savage]

French and some European politicians often wear dark, single color, ties. Is this a hold over from an earlier age? What is the reason for this development? Are British tie-wearers braver?

[Concordia]

I'm doing more of that these days. Black or midnight blue.

A firmer spine to the image, and allows for much more diversity in the choice of other fabrics.

[Milo]

I would agree with Concordia on the diversity in choice of fabrics.

As prominent example, former President Nicolas Sarkozy too used to wear dark, single-colour ties, but they were very often knitted (I think - though here I am less sure - Emmanuel Macron also wears knitted ties quite regularly). The structure of the knit adds visual interest without diminishing the seriousness conveyed by a tie in a single, sombre colour.

Milo

[rjman]

Sarko allegedly wore grenadine silk ties, I believe the erstwhile tailoring company Stark & Sons claimed he wore theirs (which were made by Boivin).

[Concordia]

I would agree with Concordia on the diversity in choice of fabrics.

As prominent example, former President Nicolas Sarkozy too used to wear dark, single-colour ties, but they were very often knitted (I think - though here I am less sure - Emmanuel Macron also wears knitted ties quite regularly). The structure of the knit adds visual interest without diminishing the seriousness conveyed by a tie in a single, sombre colour.

Milo

I was thinking more about jackets and shirts. A black, slightly textured tie can stand up to a tweed jacket with a Jermyn St striped shirt quite well. No need to fuss about finding exactly the correct shade of whatever.

[aston]

Interesting. For many years all I wore were ties from Hermes. Now, long retired, I have chosen to wear small knot grenadines from Budd in dark, muted, colours, and little else.

[Concordia]

Not what I would endorse for everyone, but a small handful of those will cover most of what one needs.

[alden]

French and some European politicians often wear dark, single color, ties. Is this a hold over from an earlier age? What is the reason for this development? Are British tie-wearers braver?

At certain levels of society and in most formal settings, understated dress is a constant across many European cultures and particularly in France and Italy. The contest seems to be who can understate who in gray suits, white shirts and dark gray or black ties. More daring blue suits with white shirts and navy ties can appear racy in this context.

rvklg6 by The London Lounge, on Flickr

4a786f6ba08a5_zoom by The London Lounge, on Flickr

Just remember that style comes from within so muted dress on an Agnelli or Toto will appear "understated" while it will fade to "dull" on any other mere style mortals.

I have always favored plain or micro patterned navy or dark blue ties in my own dress and those silks get a real workout while other gather dust.

DDD67BB6-572D-4F7E-8B91-8EE909CBA454_1_201_a by The London Lounge, on Flickr

Cheers

[Scot]

muted dress on an Agnelli or Toto will appear "understated" while it will fade to "dull" on any other mere style mortals.

A thought that obviously keeps HM awake at night.

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/lo ... it-8124575

[Noble Savage]

If one looks at pictures of European royals in the same countries, however, one doesn't see this sort of thing. The King of Spain does not usually wear that dark single tone tie as Macron does.

[Nem500]

Politicians used to dress more varied in the XX century. One could find plenty of suits with checks, windowpanes, herringbones, flannels and other interesting fabrics. There was also more variation in the ties. Dressing well and elegantly, like say Eden, was an admired trait.

For better or worse, these days politicians' dress has narrowed to a single-breasted navy or grey worsted suit with a fairly plain tie (or no tie at all). There are few if any politicians that dare step out of this very narrow consensus. The ones that come to mind are Obama when he wore a tan suit (and he never did it again after the press remarked upon it) and Trudeau who has worn three-piece suits in the past. Perhaps some lesser-known politicians are more stylish and wear some nicer fabrics.

Female politicians on the contrary do have a much wider wardrobe.

[Noble Savage]

(from left) UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron in Berlin

The UK Prime Minister chooses a tie which, while dark, has some color in it, and a non-white shirt. The US President can't resist "Brooks Brothers" stripes, perceived by many in the US to be formal enough. And the European politicians are in a contest of who has the most understated tie. The French President wins in the tie department, although it is rather loosely tied compared with the efficient and orderly tie knot of the German Chancellor, with the waistcoat perhaps an attempt to appear more statesmanlike and experienced.

Even these very subtle differences reflect regional stylistic preferences.

[rjman]

Sarkozy allegedly wore grenadine ties from Stark & Sons, which were made by Boivin.

If you suppose that a certain set of men in Continental Europe aped an idea of British dress that was conservative and more Catholic than the Pope in terms of sober and muted colors, you would not be wrong.