FashBlog.com

I often hear men complaining about having to wear neckties to work. They call them stifling, say that they are uncomfortable, and generally wish the darn things would just go away. I happen to think that most of these men are missing out on a great way to reveal a little bit of their personalities through their ties. Whenever I see a man dressed in business attire, I usually look right past the suit and instead direct my attention to the tie. I think you can tell a lot about a man from the kind of ties he wears. Unfortunately, most men don't give their ties much thought. They just go with standard pinstripe or solid patterns that are really boring. Here are some ideas to consider if you want to spruce up your look in a simple way.

If you work for a progressive organization that embraces a laid back corporate culture, then you can probably get away with wearing novelty ties. These are ties with whimsical patterns or sayings on them and usually have to do with hobbies. For example, you can get ties with golf clubs, baseball bats, or footballs on them. Or you might want to go with a necktie that says "I [heart] racing" on it. Whatever your hobby, you can be sure to find a tie that expresses your interest.

You can also find ties that reflect your occupation. I've seen doctors wearing neckties with stethoscopes and surgical tools on them. I've also seen ties featuring the scales of justice, which would be suitable for a judge or lawyer; fire engines and Dalmatians for firefighters; a chalkboard and ruler for teachers; and Bunsen burners and test tubes for scientists. As with the hobby neckties, you can probably find a tie for almost any kind of occupation.

Maybe you can't wear wacky ties during most of the year, but the powers that be loosen up a bit during the holidays. If so, you are in luck because there are plenty of holiday-themed ties that you can sport on those days. I've seen Christmas ties with trees that light up, Valentine's Day ties with neon hearts, and Halloween ties with ghosts and goblins that glow in the dark. People will be able to tell a lot about your personality when they see which holidays you choose to celebrate.

Even if your company is stuffy and conservative, you can still find ties that will let your personality shine through without causing much stir among the senior partners. For example, if you are a dyed in the wool capitalist, then why not show your love of the free market system by wearing a distinctive Adam Smith necktie? Or maybe you would prefer to remind your colleagues that you are an Ivy Leaguer by wearing a crimson necktie or bow tie bearing the Harvard logo? Either of these options would be acceptable even in the most old-fashioned companies.

Don't let the fact that you have to wear a tie to work get you down. Instead, have a little fun and let your personality shine through!