Tie One On

I appear to be among the small (and shrinking) minority that feels choked up about the sharp decline in the number of men who wear ties to work. I’ve been told by every man I’ve ever met that ties are uncomfortable, useless, annoying ... the list goes on, but there’s just something about a guy in a crisp dress shirt and a smart tie.

Wearing a tie projects a more business-like image. It says, “I’m willing to go the extra step.” It seems to finish an outfit. And yes, I’ll admit it; I think men look more handsome when they wear a tie.

The reason I’m tied up in knots on this subject was the announcement last month that the Men’s Dress Furnishings Association, the trade group that represented American tie-makers, closed its doors after 60 years in business. Membership had declined dramatically since the power-tie era of the 1980s, ushered out by the business-casual revolution and a younger generation that believes ties are optional.

The number of men who wore ties every day to work last year was a record low 6 percent, down from 10 percent in 2002, according to a recent Gallup poll. Adding insult to injury, NPD Group reports U.S. tie sales were $677.7 million in the 12 months ending March 31 — down roughly half from a peak of $1.3 billion in 1995.

Why are men so down on ties? And why are they getting away with not wearing them to work? What if women decided en masse that they would no longer wear pantyhose to the office? Pantyhose, like ties, are frequently a dreaded part of a woman’s business attire. Still, women acknowledge that they’re a finishing touch. Wearing pantyhose allows you to slide your foot into a great pair of high heels; they provide an even tone for a pair of gams, and in many cases, the control top variety helps to rein in the tummy just a touch.

Most women agree that pantyhose, like ties, are not very comfortable to wear. Sure, some are silky soft to the touch, but if you’re blessed with large thighs or a lower half that isn’t quite as proportional as the chart on the hosiery package, binding and sagging can occur in all the wrong places. And, because pantyhose cover a woman’s legs from waist to toe, I dare say women endure more discomfort in the name of professionalism than men do by wearing a tie.

Look, I work from my home full time, which probably means I have no right to espouse a point of view on office attire. It’s fair to say that a lot has changed since I worked in an office setting, and being of a certain age, I cling to tradition.

Still, having an opinion is a woman’s prerogative, and mine is this: More men should wear ties to work. Feel free to loosen the knot a bit, if you like; that’s O.K. in my book.