The first tie

This thread was gonig to be about the first time you did something, but then I misspelled "time."

So instead we're going to talk about your first tie.

Mine was a clip-on. It had squares. I wore it everywhere that a tie would be required.

My second tie was real. I did the four-in-hand knot. Still do. That's the easiest.

Then my third came with like 4,000 other ones because I was wearing real-person ties and my dad had so many and I once got pudding on one and he freaked out because it was one of his favorites.

 

Not sure I can recall anything about ties I had when I was a kid, although the first one was surely a clip-on.

I still have the first tie I bought for myself, a dark blue number with a few subtle pastel dots. Hell, I still wear it from time to time.

And I still have one of those skinny black knit ties. They'll come back, I'm sure.

 

A skinny black clip-on that I had to wear for my job selling concessions at my hometown theater, circa 1971-73.

Haven't had many others. Never had to wear a tie for work since then, and except for yearbook pictures or an occasional wedding or funeral I never, ever wear them.

In fact I've worked for nearly 40 years and never had to wear anything more formal than khakis and a polo; wore jeans to work for my final 20 years in newspapers and I can wear shorts at my current job. Praise the lord for the casual lifestyle in Microville!

 

I went to a wedding this summer in Alabama and wore my searsucker suit. I bought my first real bow-tie and tied it myself, with the help of a youtube video teaching me how to tie it.

 

I hope to never wear searsucker or bowties.

I'm not that into myself.

 

I used to have a thing for bolo ties. Then again, I was 12.

 

You're not fooling anyone, hipster.

 

I feel like I can't wear either until I own a plantation.

 

Never wear a bowtie, unless you're selling popcorn or fried chicken.

 

My mom has a picture of me from Easter when I was about a year and a half old. I'm wearing a red bow time. I'm sure it's a clip-on, and I'm sure that was my first tie.
I wore various clip-ons to church growing up. My first real "tie" I got when I was 16 and started working at the grocery story. (Anyone else remember when the bag boys wore ties and vests?) Anyway, I just had kind of a wrap around knot of my own design going. One of the managers said, "Your tie looks like shit. Come here." He took me to a mirror, taught me how to tie a Full Windsor, and I have never tied a tie any way but that since. In fact, I never will. Anything but a Full Windsor looks like a job half complete. Actually, when I went to boot camp, I was kind of a rock star because I could tie the required military Full Windsor knot and taught others how to do it.

 

That's funny because about a year ago I was drunk one night, was doing a Youtube surf and came across some bow tie videos. I got enthralled, learned how to tie it and ordered one off ebay. I've worn in a few times. Mainly, I wear it as a FU you anyone who has something to say about it. I far prefer a normal tie, but I'll wear my bow just because that's my personality. I have a friend who wears nothing but bow ties.

 

Ridgeway's first tie was the one he came out of the womb wearing.