Unique Necktie
Definition of Necktie
Most everyone knows what a men's necktie is, although it never hurts to revisit its meaning: According to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, it is is defined as "a long, narrow band of fabric worn around the neck and tied in a knot or bow close to the throat, usually with the ends left hanging down the shirt front". In the same dictionary, as a noun, the tertiary definition of the word "tie" is a necktie. You see brand new neckwear sold everywhere: the brick and mortars are located at strip malls, department stores, even at airports. Online stores carry a variety to choose from. But what about vintage ties? How are they different?
Definition of Vintage
Turning the pages forward, the fifth and informal definition of "vintage" is "any group or collection of persons or things sharing certain characteristics" and "a year or period of origin: a car of 1942 vintage". As an adjective it is "characterized by excellence, maturity, and enduring appeal; venerable; classic".
It is fair to say that vintage clothing, and this including accessories such as neckties, originated from a previous era and shares characteristics of a particular time period, which to an experienced eye make it fairly easy to date. Neckwear from the 1940's looks markedly different from that which was later produced in the 1950's. The length, width, fabric and designs contribute to creating a 1940's classic, which has enduring appeal to collectors and can be easily differentiated from anything made in the next decade.
Most vintage ties are used or pre-owned. They were purchased new by someone else, so the current owner of a vintage article of clothing or accessory is at the very least the second owner, hence the phrase "second hand".
Antique Versus Vintage
It is generally accepted that articles of clothing produced prior to the 1920's are considered antiques. Those from the 1920's through the 1980's are considered vintage. Anything produced since the 80's and today is usually referred to as contemporary or modern.
Just keep in mind that opinions vary. Some people believe that clothes must be at least 20 years old. Others hold to the 25 year rule. Personally I think that when a person can look at a collection of neckties from a particular time period and point to certain characteristics most of them share which differentiate them from the previous or subsequent period that they can be considered vintage. This is certainly true for ties from the 1920's and 30's, 1940's, 1950's and 60's, and 1970's. To the trained eye neckwear from each of these eras has very distinguishing markings.
Both to the look and touch, neckties from the 1980's are not the same as today's modern counterparts, so it would be safe to refer to them as 80's vintage. It is much harder to tell a 1990's tie from today's, so I would say that at least for now, the 1980's are the cutoff period.
Conclusion
So it is a good idea to seek out broad definitions when it comes to understanding what constitutes a men's vintage tie as well as how they are further defined by buyers, sellers and avid collectors. There are no hard and fast rules, but as time passes, periods will become better defined and expanded to include today's neckties.
Jackie D. is the owner of Ties2Pillows, an online resource for Men's Vintage Ties with the largest selection of Vintage Narrow Ties for sale on the web.
Ties are separated by era (1920's through today's), by style (wide, extra long, square end, knit, silk) and by pattern.
The site carries every novelty theme imaginable, including hard to find vintage unique novelty ties.
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