one of the four navy knits in Sid's closet
Considering we've had these in the shop since day one... this one is right up our alley, Jared; thank you for writing in. The short answer is yes and yes. There is not a more versatile tie in the world than a dark navy knit tie. The Italians call it blu scuro, which is basically the color of the midnight sky. I love it for a lot of reasons.
First, it's timeless, and goes with anything. If you're only gonna have one tie in your closet, this is the tie. Because it's solid, it can appear elegant and dressed up when paired with a dark suit, but on the flip side you can wear it with a pair of jeans and an oxford shirt with the sleeves rolled up for a look that is more artist than office. This is actually the de facto dress code for a lot of the guys in our warehouse. (So yes, we really DO endorse wearing them without a jacket.)
For me, there’s something about the look that feels like a modern-day version of late-60s NASA mission control... without the smoking indoors. On the other hand, paired with a suit it can feel more Connery-era Bond. The knit is the chameleon of ties... it sort of takes on the personality of the rest of your outfit. And I mean, what other piece of clothing can look just as appropriate at a wedding — or a funeral — as it does at a concert?
we're not joking about navy (and Bond digs it too)
Second, it's affordable. At $75, you don't have to have too many shekels in your pockets to snag one. It's a low barrier to entry for a high-quality tie - ours are made outside Milan in Como, by some of the finest silk purveyors in the world. We like the scroop, and we like the size a bit over 2 inches wide. And since it doesn't really go out of style, the cost per wear is off-the-charts good.
Third. The styling options are endless. Besides dark navy, we make them in a ton of colors... our knit tie selection looks like bag of Skittles. Well, like jelly beans, actually. Skittles max out at 5.
more use cases
We talk a lot about having one lead singer in an outfit, and a knit tie is the ultimate utility player - it can go from the back of the stage to the front of the stage with ease. Case in point...
For an outfit that already has its lead singer, a knit tie is your friend. It’ll look great with a jacket that's got some pattern to it, like a checked or plaid hopsack, but will bridge the gap with more knockaround blazers and outerwear... think a butcher jacket or military jacket. Shirting-wise, it pairs easily with a solid shirt for a clean look, but you could also pair it with a quiet patterned dress shirt (a graph check or bengal stripe), or something casual like a sport shirt in gingham or multi-stripe. When I was in college I used to wear a knit tie with a pique polo shirt! Not sure I’d endorse this look today; maybe I saw it in GQ. It just shows how much you can... uh... make it your own.
It’s great to pull the trigger on a brighter color, too, as a way to show some personality — but not too much. We make them in pink and orange and red and lavender and coral and so on. These can come in handy for seasonal dressing, holiday parties, or when you want to show some school spirit at an alma mater function without going all the way to a team logo. If a bright color feels like too much of a statement, a knit tie with dots is a good way to test the waters.
"Taste the Rainbow"
So yeah, I have a certain passion for the knit tie. Ann can attest that I have waaaaaaay too many (I own four navy) but honestly, you could have one for every day of the week. I might have one for every day of the month! Go for it, Jared. Start with navy, keep in mind complementary colors, and have fun.
