2018 Ties

Art Deco Ties

By Aleks Cvetkovic

Jul 13, 2022

Art Deco Ties

The Jackal’s Aleks Cvetkovic on a subject close to his heart.

I’m serious folks. The new Drake’s art deco prints are a joy to behold; three hand-rolled ties in bright, warm complementary colours, each with a soft concentric square pattern inspired by 1930s archive patterns.

They’re not for the faint-hearted, but that’s precisely why you should consider one. The danger with the humble tie is that even if you’re an enthusiastic tie wearer, they can easily become part of a conservative uniform. We all have our favourites that we return to time and again – the navy repp, the forest green shantung, the burgundy grenadine. So, every now and then it pays to mix things up, and to remind yourself why you enjoy wearing a tie in the first place: so you can express yourself.

Art Deco prints do this like nothing else, and in teal, tan and crimson; navy, emerald green and burnt orange; and powder blue, scarlet and buttery yellow, there’s a combination in there to suit everyone. Note the lovely texture of these too – they’re not a pure satin foulard – rather, they’re printed on a crispy blend of silk and cotton with some surface interest, which makes them that little bit more tactile and helps them hold a dimple. In short, these are ties that say you’re confident, put-together and a seasoned dresser – capable of pulling off even the fruitiest of patterns.

You’ll be surprised how easy these are to wear, too. The key is to keep the rest of your look discreet – let two or three colours in the print do the talking. Pair with classic Bengal stripe oxford shirts in pale, summery colours, or chambray. Drake’s is also offering a chic cream Easyday button-down shirt this season that’s the ideal foundation for these ties; it grounds their rich colours perfectly. All you need over the top is a classic navy blazer (nothing fussy) or a chocolate linen suit. Don’t overcomplicate things.

One last tip: when you’re working these into your wardrobe, think about the secondary colours in each tie. For example, I’d pair the teal tie with a red Bengal stripe shirt, under a navy suit – because the tie’s secondary colour in the tie’s print is crimson.

Most importantly, when you’re in the mood to break out a colourful tie, enjoy it. It’s a pleasure to wear something that isn’t part of your usual uniform, but that’s characterful, glamorous and rooted in a particularly colourful period of menswear history. Embrace your inner sharpie and cut a dash with one of these at your next cocktail soirée – you’ll be the talk of the room.

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