Beau Brummel is the 3rd Most Famous Tie Wearer

For those who are not up to speed on their fashion history, the name Beau Brummel may elicit head-scratching more than anything else. The fact is, however, Brummel may have hard perhaps the largest impact on men’s fashion and style in history, being credited as having invented the modern men’s suit. Given his influence on the world of mens fashion, it should come to no suroprise, that Beau Brummel also finds himself on my Top 10 Most Famous Tie Wearer List.

A vastly important figure in the days of Regency England, Brummel’s approach to fashion changed everything during his lifetime, and dramatically influenced the way many people approach style and fashion to this day. Eschewing the more formal, ornate dress that was exceptionally popular during England at the time, Brummel made men the world over change their views of how one should put themselves together each day. The following are just a few important characteristics of Beau Brummel’s appearance to take into consideration, all of which can help you to better understand the modern men’s suit.

Changing The Ways of the Past
If Brummel is known for anything, it’s the fact that he took traditional men’s formal attire and turned it upside down. For example, stockings and knee breeches were quite popular at the time; Brummel’s take on fashion and style replaced them with full-length trousers. The rest of the look usually combined dark coats with extremely high-quality linen shirts, rounding things off with boots that Brummel was known for recommending they be polished with champagne. It should come as no surprise that Brummel was said to spend upwards of 5 hours each day putting himself together; while perhaps a bit extreme, it’s proof that real men take the time to make sure they look their best before heading out on the street.

Brummel’s Approach to Neckwear
Beau Brummel took a much different approach to neckwear than what had been worn in the past. More often than not, Brummel wore ruffled ascots, which quickly became the standard in England and many other parts of the world. This being said, he did not stop there when it came to influencing his appearance and that of those around him with neckwear. The cravat became a very big part of this look, having originated in Croatia but quickly finding its way into formal attire throughout other parts of the world as well. Brummel is even credited with having had a large hand in the invention of the modern cut tie, although it is debatable as to whether or not there is any truth to this.

Takeaways for the Modern Man
If the modern man can take away anything from how Beau Brummel tended to dress, it should be that Brummel truly cared about how he looked each day of his life. The myth that it took him 5 hours to prepare himself may be a bit overdone, but modern men should learn from this the fact that putting care into one’s appearance is of the utmost importance, and should never be overlooked. While the ruffled ascot itself may not be in fashion anymore, there’s no reason one can’t consider experimenting with wearing a modern ascot from time to time.

Other Famous Tie Wearers:
Most Famous Tie Wearer: Winston Churchill
Cary Grant: 6th Most Famous Tie Wearer

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4th Most Famous Tie Wearers of the Past Century: The Duke of Windsor

It should come as absolutely no surprise that the Duke of Windsor finds himself making the list of the top 10 tie wearers of all time. Formally Prince Edward, the title of Duke was given after Edward’s 1936 abdication, with the name coming from the area in which Windsor Castle is located. The Duke was not only known for being an exceptionally sharp dresser, but also for making an extremely important contribution to the world of men’s fashion; he invented the Windsor knot, which has gone on to become one of the most popular knots in the world of menswear today. Dressing in the vein of the Duke of Windsor doesn’t have to be difficult, so long as you can learn as much as possible about how he would typically put himself together. The following are just a few things to take into consideration about The Duke of Windsor’s approach to fashion and style, as well as how he wore his ties.

The Duke’s Approach to Style
There’s no getting around the fact that the Duke had an excellent sense of style. Known for wearing double-breasted suits that were perfectly tailored and fit his frame rather perfectly, the Duke certainly knew how to make an appearance when setting out in public. He also had a knack for white tie attire, something that isn’t nearly as popular now as it was back in the Duke’s heyday. The Duke almost always wore suits that featured notched lapels, which perfectly suited his appearance. The Duke’s approach to style is something that any modern man can benefit from taking into consideration, even if they tend to dress somewhat casually as a rule.

The Windsor Knot
While the Duke of Windsor is surely famous for a variety of different reasons, it’s difficult to argue with the fact that the Windsor knot was perhaps one of his greatest contributions to society. While the Four-in-Hand and Half-Windsor are both popular knot options, the Windsor remains one of the most important in men’s fashion, and can be seen all throughout the world at this point in time. Windsor knots are famous for their ability to create the perfect “dimple” in a tie, which can really add to one’s appearance. This being said, it’s one of the more difficult knots to learn to tie, and requires a fair amount of practice in order for one to get the hang of it. Once mastered, however, the Windsor knot is something that will stick with you for life.

Takeaways for the Modern Man
Aside from his overall dapperness, the most important thing that one can take away from the Duke of Windsor is the knot which bears his name. Learning how to tie a Windsor knot doesn’t have to take long, and there are plenty of instructional videos online that can help you to do so. The more time and effort you can put into learning how to properly tie a tie, the more dapper you’re likely to look on an everyday basis.

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Hendrik

The 8th Most Famous Tie Wearers: The Blues Brothers

Some characters in the history of television and film owe a great deal of their success to the way they dressed. Pee-Wee Herman, for example, simply wouldn’t have been the same character if he had dressed in a different manner, nor would James Bond. The Blues Brothers (Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi) certainly find themselves fitting into this category, as it was their appearances that truly made them stand out. Beginning as a sketch comedy piece on the ever popular Saturday Night Live, the concept of the Blues Brothers quickly rose in popularity, catapulting the duo towards stardom both on-stage as a musical act, and in the seminal 1980 film The Blues Brothers. A great deal of the Blues Brothers’ look came from the ties they wore as part of their outfits – something that convinced me to place them on #8 of the Most Famous Tie Wearer list. Learn more about how the duo dressed, and how it may even have a positive influence on your own sense of style.

The Blues Brothers Look
There were a great deal of different ensemble elements that gave the Blues Brothers their iconic look. Fedoras, sunglasses (Wayfarer 1s) and black 42-R suit jackets were all crucial pieces that contributed to the overall look, as well as crisp white dress shirts and golf Timex watches. While this was undoubtedly a play on the attire often worn by Chicago blues musicians that the Blues Brothers draw upon as source material, it actually worked quite well for them and turned out to be rather fashionable. Still, there’s no getting around the satirical nature of how the Blues Brothers chose to dress, as well as the fact that the wore the same outfits for every performance in order to fully drive home the iconic nature of their look.

Skinny Ties
Regardless of how many elements went into the appearance of the Blues Brothers, none were quite as important as the ties they wore. The Blues Brothers wore ties that were exceptionally skinny; it is estimated that they were about 5cm in width towards their end, and were just long enough to reach their belts. These skinny black ties were perhaps an answer to the wider, boxy ties that were often seen in the business world during the late 1970s, and made the Blues Brothers stand out as the rebels without a cause they claimed to be. A wider tie simply wouldn’t have worked as part of their ensembles, and would’ve changed everything about the appearance of the Blues Brothers.

Takeaways for the Modern Man
It’s safe to say that dressing like the Blues Brothers will certainly make you stand out, but perhaps not for the reasons that you’d prefer. Indeed, their appearance was “over the top” by design, and meant for the stage more than anything else. Still, skinny ties can be very effective when worn properly, and are quite popular among young men in the modern world. “Hipsters,” for example, tend to hold the skinny tie in high-regard, as it is a huge part of their overall look. While you don’t have to go as skinny as the Blues Brothers, steering clear of boxy ties can be a great way to streamline your look. For more fashion tips with skinny ties, please also check out my articles titled “How to Tie a Skinny Tie” as well as “Skinny Tie Style Tips“.

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Hendrik