Guys 'N' ties

Time to put on the Ritz? You may think bow ties are for fashion daredevils only-but think again, gentlemen, and don't get your brain in a knot. A bow tie expert helps show you the ropes

Historically, bow ties were worn by surgeons and architects because, unlike neckties, they didn't drop into their work. Long cherished by all sorts of dandies such as Oscar Wilde, Fred Astaire and the Duke of Windsor, bow ties have suffered from unfair stereotypes for many decades. "It's often considered to be a daunting fashion accessory, but it's not," says Mickael-Francois Loir, the Frenchman who created acclaimed handmade bow tie brand Le Loir en Papillon five years ago. "If it's mandatory for a dinner at the White House, a bow tie is also appropriate for casual wear. I never go out without one, even to fetch croissants."

Tie it yourself