August 28th, 2009 by Victor R. Santerino

The reason we wear a tie is not merely to afford a complementary link between the shirt and men’s jacket, but also to conceal the unattractive buttons on a shirt. The tie clip serves to maintain the tie in the right spot, always looking neat and tidy.

Men’s tie clips are a handy fashion accessory. Whereas the tie pin must be pressed all the way through the material of the shirt where it can ultimately cause damage, the tie clip slides onto the shirt and tie, securing it safely in position in the process.

You don’t want your tie dripping into your coffee cup or getting stuck in the office copier, do you? That’s why you need a clip. You’re not living some comedy routine.

Danger lurks with a loose tie. Accidentally dipping it into a candle flame over a restaurant table and going up in flames yourself was not what you envisioned when you thought of that romantic evening.

The tie clip, spring loaded, can be worn in one of two ways. It can be just a bit more than half way down the tie if you’re really looking to keep it secure. It can be somewhat higher if what you’re looking for is the visual effect of a particularly nice one.

You can choose a generic clip, one with a draped chain, or one that personalizes itself for you with your name or initials or the name or logo of your business, team, hobby, etc.

Wearing your clip with a tuxedo makes the suit that much more polished. Gold is pretty standard because it is so elegant.

A formal black tux is commonly paired with a white shirt and a dark, solid tie; the glint of a gold tie clip completes this classic pairing. Modern tuxedo choices, however, include a rainbow range of colors and pattern choices. Defining your personal style should always be guided by common sense and good taste.