Clip-on tie. Inset: Metal Clip used to fasten it onto the front of a shirt

The clip-on tie is a bow tie or four-in-hand tie which is permanently tied into its knot with a dimple just below the knot, which is fixed only to the front of the shirt collar by a metal clip. Alternately, the tie can be banded with a hook and eye. The wearer clips the hook and eye together, so that the tie fits around the neck.

The clip-on tie was reportedly invented on December 13, 1928 in Clinton, Iowa.^[1]

Reasons for use

Police officers and security guards often wear clip-ons as a precaution against the possibility of officers being strangled or pulled by a tied necktie. They are often worn with a tie clip to stop the tie 'flying' in the wind, resulting in a neat, uniform appearance. Some people either do not know how, or do not feel comfortable, tying a standard necktie—others with disabilities may not be capable of tying a standard necktie.

Criticisms of the clip-on tie

People in white collar occupations are often mocked for wearing a clip-on tie in lieu of a standard necktie, the implication being that refusal to learn how to tie a "proper" tie reflects a wider lack of sophistication. The clip-on bow tie is especially disliked in formal circles; according to one writer, "The quirky irregularities of a self-tied bow give it personality and flair... while the cookie-cutter precision of a pre-tied model diminishes it to an assembly-line commodity."^[2] Because child-sized ties are often clip-ons, some consider clip-ons juvenile. Finally, clip-on ties are generally available in limited styles, sizes, and prints relative to their conventional counterparts.

References

1. ^ Rightreading. December. Retrieved on May 20, 2007
2. ^ http://www.blacktieguide.com/Classic_Components/Neckwear.htm

See also

• Tie bar