Why do so many men wear a tie?
Why do men (mostly) wear strips of silk around their necks? What does this mundane item say about those who wear it? Mike Williams on the history and enduring appeal of the tie.
It's mundane. About 150 centimetres long, often made of satin or silk and worn by millions, mostly by men, every day. Mike Williams explores the enduring appeal of the tie.
It's a paradoxical item of clothing: One the one hand, it expresses a desire to fit in and conform - to belong - yet it also says something about our need to demonstrate our individuality. Historically, wearing a tie has meant many different things: from being seen as being anti-Islamic in the wake of the Iranian Revolution in 1979, to representing subversion and being a symbol of sub-cultural cool.
Producer: Jim Frank
Last on
More episodes
![]()
'Suddenly there was a Need for Tidiness and Respectabilityβ
Why the Tie became so Popular
![]()
βItβs Tie Day Fridayβ
What do New York women think of men wearing ties?
Broadcasts
- Fri 4 Sep 2015 12:04ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
- Sat 27 Mar 2021 21:45ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
- Mon 28 Jun 2021 14:45ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4