Wearing Sports Jackets in Business

Nowadays most businessmen look for comfort in their work clothes. Even though comfort is wanted, it is equally important to keep an overall elegant and professional look. While in some industries the ensemble of Suit & Tie may be seen as overdressed and stuffy, the sport jacket may serve as a perfect alternative. Here are a few tips on how to wear and combine a sports jacket.

You can always dress down the classic suit by taking only the jacket and pairing it with a polo shirt, tie-less dress shirt, or turtleneck sweater. Even though this does create a more relaxed look, it does not provide the comfort and casual elegance a sports jacket would.

When shopping for a sports jacket there are a few things to keep in mind. Both, two and three-button jackets are popular styles while the latter is more popular among a younger and more youthful audience. Next, the sleeve length is a touch longer than it is on the traditional 2-piece suit. Having slightly longer sleeves not only compliments the longer cut of the sports coat, but covering the shirt cuffs also creates a more relaxed body language. Finally, you want to consider the fabric. More casual are rougher weaves such as tweed or worsted wool. The more delicate the fabric and finer the pattern the dressier it will look.

Further Suggested Reading:
Dress Shirt Fabrics
Stype Tips for Casual Fridays

Your Cheap Neck Ties Team

$5 Necktie Sale until January 27th, 2010

Dear valued customer, we are currently offering some of our popular spring and summer ties on sale for just $5. Usually most of these ties will sell in our $10 category. Shipping will still be free for all orders over $100. No additional discounts are available for ties sold at $5. Please note that this promotion will end on Wednesday, January 27th. To see the entire selection please visit our Ties for $5 category page.

Your Cheap-Neckties.com Team

Our Selection of Solid Ties in Yellow, Orange, Red, and Burgundy

Dear valued customer and visitor, we at Cheap-Neckties have recently expanded our selection of solid color ties that are handmade from 100% silk. Each and every tie from this collection is made with much attention to detail. The fine silk has brilliant shine and a soft feel. A slightly thicker inlay is used for these ties which adds nice texture to the fabric and gives the tie perfect drape. In addition it ensures that the tie will go back into its original, wrinkle-free shape after each wearing. The ties pictured above are the actual ties that we carry in the colors yellow, amber, orange, red, and burgundy. For a larger view of each tie please click on your favorite tie from below. Should you be looking for larger/bulk orders then please also inquire about our wholesale and re-seller pricing.



We at Cheap neckties hope you find the perfect matching tie. Still not finding the perfect color? Then tell us what you are looking for and one of our designers will create some swatches for you. We even match pantone and PMS colors. For custom orders we usually need a 4-5 week lead time.

Your Cheap-Neckties.com Team

Common Fabrics for Mens Dress Shirts

The most common textile used for mens dress shirts is cotton. It is a fabric that is comfortable, breathable, and for the most part Hypoallergenic. Cotton is not just cotton however. Different weaving techniques, using different cotton yarns, and the finishing creates a wide range of different cotton fabrics. Below are the four most common fabric styles used on mens dress shirts.

Cotton Twill
Cotton twill is recognizable by its diagonal ribbed texture. It is a fabric that has a nice texture and slightly thicker feel. It is perfect for those looking for added warms and comfort without sacrificing formality. If an occasion requires you to wear a solid colored shirt, such as a job interview or a first day at a new office, then the cotton twill shirt will do it with flair and style.

Broadcloth
When compared to cotton twill, broadcloth fabric is much finer. Broadcloth is made from very fine cotton yarn - meaning cotton yarn that has a very small diameter. The fabric is woven so tightly that it has great shine. For that reason shirts made from broadcloth as usually word for more formal events. It is a popular shirt choice for tuxedo shirts worn for black tie events. Another type of broadcloth worth mentioning is the so called "End-on-end Broadcloth". It is a particular broadcloth fabric that alternates yarns in two different colors. Because the fabric is woven so tightly most end-on-end fabrics look like solod color from just a few feet away, but a closer look reveals this very intricate fabric weave and color combination.

Oxford Cloth
Oxford cloth is very easy to distinguish from other fabric weaves. Traditionally oxford cloth has a coarse look and feel, and a pattern that reminds of a very fine check pattern. Because of the coarse look oxford cloth is usually associated with a more casual dress shirt style. Most common is the button down collar in combination with oxford cloth. Two other types of oxford cloth worth mentioning are "pin-point oxford cloth, and "royal oxford" cloth. The first is finer than standard oxford and the second is even finer again. Oxford cloth dress shirt, particula ones made with button down collar, set a perfect base for traditional striped tie and so-called British regimental ties.

Poplin
Poplin usually has a heavier weight and is a perfect fabric for men's dress shirts worn during the colder months of the year. Unlike oxford cloth, poplin has a much smoother and softer feel. This soft feel and thick texture is created by using a fine yearn for the warp and a thicker yarn for the weft when weaving. Poplin dress shirts are usually associated with slightly more casual dress. It is a fabric that is perfect for patterned dress shirts - be it stripes, birds-eye, or intricate check patterns.

Other Suggested Reading:
Shopping Guide for Pin Striped Suits
Matching Neckties with Plaid Suit

Your Cheap-Neckties Team - Cheap Mens Ties on the Internet

Popular Polka Dot Ties for this Year's Winter Fashion

Neckties with intricate polka dot patterns have become quite popular in the past few years. Especially popular are smaller polka dot patterns in classic colors such as burgundy, navy, gray, and black. Below are four of our most popular polka dot ties which are out of our recently released winter 2009/2010 collection. Each tie is handmade from finest Jacquard woven Italian silk. The ties have a thick and heavy feel, and gives off a lustrous shine. For more information on each tie, such as suggestions on how to match the tie to shirt and suit, please click on your favorite necktie below.



General Matching Tips for Polka Dot Ties
Modern polka dot ties have a small and intricate pattern - much different from the original polka dot design first used by Walt Disney to dress Mickey Mouse. Matching these modern polka dot designs is quite simple. As a general rule: Match patterns on different clothing items that are different in size. A great outfit for any of the ties above is a dress shirt with a larger check pattern as well as a suit that is either solid or has delicate pin stripes. For more matching tips we also suggest you read our guide on: Matching Ties

Your Cheap Neckties team

Sample Outfit for a Job Interview

If part of your New Year's resolution is to find a new job, then knowing how to properly dress for a job interview will have a big impact on your success. Like it or not, impressions are formed withing the first few seconds of meeting someone. The type of clothes you wear, eye contact, handshake, and personal hygiene are the four main things that you can use to create a favorable first impression.

Good eye contact - meaning one that is friendly and confident rather than a creepy stare - as well as a firm handshake is a must. When it comes to your clothing, you want to create a professional impression that is elegant, somewhat conservative, and not too stylish and/or flashy. Suit and tie is almost always the ideal choice - even if the job doesn't requite you to wear this type of business uniform. The best suits are patternless and either dark blue or charcoal gray in color. The dress shirt should be solid white and freshly pressed, and the necktie should add color and contrast but without being too overpowering. The best necktie colors for a job interview are navy blue and burgundy. As far as patterns are concerned, choose simple diagonal stripes or fine foulard patterns. Stay away from big-picture ties (also known as novelty ties), ties in very bright and flashy colors, as well ties made from materials other than silk or silk imitations such as leather or wool.

We at Cheap-Neckties put a timelessly classic outfit together for you (see picture at the top). The charcoal gray suit and solid white dress shirt are classic, conservative, and instantly will create a professional and mature impression. The burgundy tie adds just enough color to add some contrast to the outfit and the narrow stripes in amber and navy add a lively, not too flashy touch.

Good luck on your job search!

For More Related Readings we Suggest:
Job Interview Dress Code
Basic Job Interview Attire for Men

Popular Ties Back in Stock by the End of Next Week

Dear valued customer, if you have purchased a tie from us in the past, but can no longer find it on our website, then this means that the tie is currently sold out. Most of the time this is only temporary, and the tie will re-appear as soon as it is back in stock. We at Cheap-Neckties are expecting several shipments from our suppliers and designers this coming week. Over the Holidays many of our most popular designs and colors have sold out. Our slightly depleted inventory will be fully restocked by the end of next week. In the meantime, this link will direct you to all our currently Sold Out Ties.

Your Cheap Neckties Team

Men's Fashion 2010: New Colors

The start of a new year usually signals the entry of new movements and trends in men's fashion. That, however, rarely means a complete wardrobe overhaul. Most of the time, getting on board the newest bandwagon of male style simply requires the purchase of a few items that will update your existing repertoire of clothes. With 2010 now upon you, it's high time to give some thought about the new entries to your wardrobe.

Bright Shirts
It's a widely held notion that men's fashion tends to lean on the drab side as a means of adhering to 'classic' styles. That's part of the reason why plain white shirts and plain black shoes hold their place of honor in every man's wardrobe. Some novelty is on the horizon, however, as brightly colored shirts will be an emerging trend in the next few seasons.

Men shy away from color for a number of reasons. Some see it as an effeminate aspect of clothing, while others simply don't know how to wear any color other than black, white or gray. This emergence of strong, bright colors is not without purpose. When done right, it adds life and energy to any old outfit that would otherwise have been humdrum.

The trick to pulling off a bright shirted style is to allow your shirt to be the star of your outfit. Keep the rest of your look to simple, nondescript pieces, and that goes for every item from your eyeglasses to your shoe laces. Giving the spotlight to the eye-catching hue means giving it the attention that it's meant to get, while at the same time avoiding any clashing or possible eyesore that it could create with other pieces you're wearing.

Lively Pocket Squares
If men's fashion as a whole already leans in a not-so-interesting direction, then the office attire segment is even more drab than the usual. Considering the kinds of dress codes that are usually imposed in offices, you're not left with a lot of space to dress up creatively.

One way that you could add some life into an office ensemble that's dull as dishwater is to tuck a patterned pocket square into your front jacket pocket instead of the usual solid white fabric. Plaids and checks are becoming increasingly common in men's boutiques, and fashion observers are taking notice. Buy yourself a set of five, wear one a day to the office and watch as your colleagues try to spot the imperceptible difference in your look.

Remember, however, that pocket squares have very little visual real estate, so keep its competition to a minimum. Like what you would do with the brightly colored shirt, the lively pocket square must be paired with simple style pieces to achieve maximum effect.

Brown Accessories
For decades, black leather has maintained its dominance in the accessories segment of men's fashion. Whether it's a pair of lace-ups or a tote bag for the office, odds are good that you own it in black leather. You may, however, want to change that position for 2010, as brown is beginning to steal the thunder that once belonged to black.

It's been an ongoing trend for the last few months, and it's highly likely that brown leather accessories will enter the year 2010 in the spotlight. More and more men are switching allegiance over to brown (for now, at least) as a pleasant break from all the black. And why not? It's as traditional and classic as black, and has a similarly rich heritage rooted in centuries of menswear. In short, it's just as good as any other color, if not better.

A big part of the trend began when men began wearing brown shoes and belts instead of black ones with gray suits as a more traditional and sartorial choice. Now that the range of the selection has expanded, though, don't be surprised if you see magazines and store displays putting brown belts and shoes on everything from gray suits to denim jeans. It takes some getting used to, but it strikes a particularly dapper cord in any outfit.

You May Also Like to Read:
Matching a Pink Dress Shirt
Floral Ties in Lavender and Purple

Your Cheap Neck Ties Team