Bowties: Self-Tied Vs. Pre-tied

Whenever the topic of formalwear comes up, the conversation generally turns to the bowtie and the endless debate about self-tied v pre-tied versions. Many people often wonder if it even matters, and this is the first thing we should look at, does it really matter and if so why?


The simple answer is yes, it really does matter, although that, and why it matters does depend on the kind of occasion and venue it will be worn at. The first thing to understand is that you can tell when someone is wearing a pre0ties bowtie, they do not look like a self-tied one, no matter what the manufacturers claim. They are too uniform, too flat and lifeless, and everyone will know it is a pre-tied bowtie. For many formal occasions, this is simply not the way to go but many are putt off the self-tied route simply because of the daunting prospect of having to tie the bowtie itself!


The fear of tying a bowtie comes from the mystery that has somehow built up around them, in reality, its little different to tying a simple shoelace bow, and here is the real trick, it not only doesn’t have to be perfect and completely symmetrical, it is actually better if it isn’t. The personal factor is what really makes a self-tied bowtie stand out, however there are other aspects that show an advantage of the pre-tied versions too.


Size and material both make a difference when it comes to the bowtie, a bow size should be proportional to the wearers face, and this is done by buying a tie of appropriate width, pre-tied tend to be a uniform size and can often look poorer as a result. However, for overall effect, it is perhaps the choice of material where the self-tied bowtie has the biggest advantage. Although various colors are available, a black tie do is just that, but with a choice of satin, faille or barathea fabrics offering very different textures and finishes, you can match or contrast the suit finishes very easily for a distinctive look.


A self-tied bowtie is always the way to go, you can have the perfect size and material to compliment you and your suit, and tying a bowtie really is not difficult at all, plus, you can undo it at the end of the night for the James Bond look, no pre-tied can do that!