Charvet Knit Silk Tie

THE ASKMEN TAKE

Many believe that if you’re in need of a well-made shirt or tie you should head to Charvet, a globally recognized French super shirtmaker. Apparently, both Napoleon Bonaparte and Manet believed so, and so does Bruce Willis. The Charvet Knit Silk Tie is no exception to this company's keen attention to detail. While the label normally offers each of its ties in at least two dozen colors (not to mention that there are around 5,000 variations in all), this silky bad boy comes in just three -- lilac, blue and black -- all with a slightly metallic feel to them, which is the effect that the pure silk gives off. Since 1838, (when The House of Charvet shirt shop opened in Paris), it has used only the best quality and carefully selected fabrics.

UNIQUENESS

Frankly, at first glance, the Charvet Knit Silk Tie looks like a sock, not a tie -- a warm sock you’d wear in front of the TV   with a remote control in one hand and a packet of Pringles in another no less. So, an accessory normally associated with formal wear, here somehow manages to look casual. Ties that can serve double-duty (i.e., that can complete your formal wear and up your style quotient on a daily basis) are the ties that you should invest in.  

The thick texture and chunky knit asks for balance: It is not to be worn with heavier fabrics as a background piece. Don’t be misled by its uniqueness -- unusual form, straight ending and thick texture --  as it can quickly work against you and you can simply go wrong on so many levels. Keep the shirt lightweight  and do avoid a short sleeve.

DURABILITY

If well looked after, the Charvet Knit Silk Tie is a pretty clever investment in terms of its quality. It’s handmade of pure silk and its solid knit will last for years. Its wearability and functionality are a totally different story. It won’t go well with everything, and it looks pretty tricky to tie. Is it flexible enough to be tied in a standard, classic way? Is it meant to be worn more like a flannel scarf, loosely? If your style is not eclectic enough, you won’t know the answers. That’s why it is not the best idea to spend $145 on it if your wardrobe has a more classic and usual feel.

On the bright side, if you decide to give it a go and spice up your look, this tie stands in the place where tradition meets the future. Overall, this very precise, handmade knit tie comes in a slightly upgraded and new shape that gives you quite a few options to experiment with.

Oliver Peoples Alter-Ego

HE ASKMEN TAKE

This item appears in our Fall Fashion Preview 2009.

Choosing good eyewear is as important as choosing anything in your wardrobe. After all, your eyeglasses sit right on your most visible asset -- your face. These classic frames from Oliver Peoples can do no wrong: they are sharp enough to be worn with a tuxedo and durable enough to be worn to the gym. This is a perfect all-around frame for the perfect all-around man.

UNIQUENESS

While the style of the Oliver Peoples Alter Ego won’t set the fashion world aflame, they are distinguished and subtly unique. They feature interesting tapered arms that fit snugly into a laminated temple-end. They are also designed with a smaller fit in mind and give off an understated look on the face, which is contrary to the current trend of oversize plastic frames.

DURABILITY

All Oliver Peoples eyeglasses are designed and handmade in Japan. It is the legendary style and durability of its glasses that have elevated Oliver Peoples to the highest level of acceptance for any fashion item: popularity in Hollywood. Oliver Peoples’ frames can be found on everyone from Brad Pitt to Angelina Jolie, and the Alter Ego model has a great look, so, you're sure to be seeing them on the red carpet soon. They feature reinforced hypoallergenic titanium temples, so even if Oliver Peoples becomes passe, the Alter Ego will still be standing strong on your face.

Michael Drake Tartan Plaid Tie

THE ASKMEN TAKE

London’s East Side is known for the remnants of its industrial past. And while it wouldn’t be uncommon to find a dingy factory (the kind that has somehow managed to avoid conversion into overpriced loft space), a functioning one would almost certainly be unheard of. However, Michael Drake is the proud owner of a cottage industry set in the heart of the city’s urban landscape.

Indeed, in monarchical British-speak, Michael Drake is the King of Ties. His 33-year-old label, Drakes London, made scarves exclusively in its early days and has since grown to include everything from a line of knitwear and dress shirts to socks,cufflinks and umbrellas. Today, he claims the title as the largest independent producer of neckties in Great Britain. And this tartan plaid is a classic example of his kingdom’s creations.  

 UNIQUENESS

Drake’s distinctiveness goes far beyond the confines of itsLondon operations. Everything stems from the company’s atypical aesthetic vision: an archetypal British style as perceived by the most discerning markets on earth -- namely, France and Italy. Surprisingly, the result isn’t flavor as artificial or out of place as a burger joint in Japan. Instead, ties like the Tartan Plaid simply nod to the impeccable taste of Drake’s Continental brethren while incorporating the refined traditions of his offshore home. Its plaid pattern (despite being Scottish in origin) is indisputably England, but the shrunken 2 ¾-inch width echoes the suave sound of a sleeker sensibility.

 DURABILITY

This is one of the few labels left that stays true to its geographically based name. Ties are handmade in the company’s London headquarters -- not some overseas sweatshop. And they go through 18 quality control checks before being shipped off in a protective cover. But since this isn’t your everyday $10 bargain-basement tie, it requires a little extra consideration on your end. The cravat crown royal himself recommends rolling rather than hanging ties after wearing them to allow rest and rejuvenation -- a small care cost for one of the pricier ties you’ll ever buy.