Flashback: The Continental Tie

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In America in the late 1950s the traditional boxy and bulky cuts of English suits gave way to the slimmer and more youthful Italian cut which became known as the Continental Look. To complement this new streamlined style of tuxedo, formalwear manufacturers introduced the continental tie, a wide strip of black silk or satin that crossed over at the throat where it was held together by a snap or decorative pin.

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1960s French Continental Tie bow tie tucked under the shirt collar and dinner jacket with black satin faced shawl collar
1960s French Continental Tie bow tie tucked under the shirt collar and dinner jacket with black satin faced shawl collar

These ties are actually still available from some western-themed retailers today. I wouldn’t wear one to a black-tie gala but I think it would look sharp on a young groom or prom date with a Mad Man-esque skinny suit.

1960 Continental Ties were popular then
1960 Continental Ties were popular then

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Ironically, the ’60s retro slogan “Damn right your dad wore it” I referenced in my Mad Men post is bang on in this case. This is my dad (and mom) in 1960:

Late 1960s Chartreuse Dinner Jacket with Continental Tie, Cummerbund and Studs
Late 1960s Chartreuse Dinner Jacket with Continental Tie, Cummerbund and Studs
Alex Gibney with continental bow tie but without cummerbund in 2008
Alex Gibney with continental bow tie but without cummerbund in 2008

Reader Comments

  1. I’m sure I have an early grade school picture from the 50’s of myself in one. When you got older you were expected to have learned how to tie a conventional tie and required to wear one.

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