The joy of wearing E.G. Cappelli ties

A few decades ago, when I was working as a barista in a small coffee shop in Winnipeg, a teenage hippie tried to convince me to stop wearing ties. “Don’t you know why there were invented, man?” He went on to tell me a completely fabricated tale of how factory owners had created ties for their workers so that if they were to fall asleep on the job, the ties would catch in the machinery, dragging the workers into the grinding gears and a gruesome death. What is ironic about that fanciful tale, however, is that we do have those 19th century workers to thank for the way we wear our ties today. They most likely developed the four-in-hand knot as they did not have the time nor the compunction for intricate and complicated knots and twists as worn by previous neckwear dandies like Beau Brummel. But those workers also wore waistcoats, so my hippie friend greatly overstated the danger of ties.

However, the one truth his tale does reveal is the contemporary association ties have with the drudgery of the working stiff. Long a staple of the office uniform, our new sartorial freedom means that ties are disappearing from the necks of men around the world at an alarming rate. Even prominent politicians are going tie-less more often, flirting with a look that usually ends up conveying not the intended casualness but unfortunate sloppiness.

Silk twill E.G. Cappelli tie

It is ironic, then, that this age of tie-lessness is also the greatest age of the neck tie. I say this because not only are men free to wear ties as they wish – any colour, shape or style – certain tie makers have emerged of such quality it is hard to imagine better neckwear. One such maker is E.G. Cappelli of Naples, Italy.

Cappelli ties are made in a small atelier by a handfull of people. Exquisite silks and wools are sourced from Britain and Italy featuring subtle yet elegant prints. (Click here for a more in-depth article on E.G. Cappelli I recently helped write for the LeatherFoot blog.) The ties are constructed by hand to produce exactly the right balance of weight and shape. They are not pressed flat yet are not bulky. They produce the perfect knot while remaining soft and supple. Cappelli silks are not shiny, their wools not dull. Everything about these ties inspires me to not only dress better but to enjoy wearing a tie. And so I stopped by the LeatherFoot shop and added two Cappelli ties to my collection.

I will admit, however, that even though I helped write a guide for choosing patterned ties,  it took me a remarkable amount of time to pick out these ties, as the staff at LeatherFoot will attest. I had to consider what would best complement my wardrobe without duplicating ties I already have. I had to fight the urge to buy a tie simply because it was a beautiful object – which most often leads to the tie hanging unused in the closet because it is not harmonious with the rest of your wardrobe. With the help of LeatherFoot’s manager John, I choose a wool challis and a silk twill tie. The wool is excellent for the winter and more casual outfits while the silk an elegant choice year-round with tailored clothes.

Wool challis E.G. Cappelli tie.

And because of the luxurious feel of the fabrics and the stunning prints, these ties inspire me to have fun. I can tie them perfectly but why not let the back blade stick out a little or hang lower than the front? That way, the ties start to feel and look a bit more like their true progenitors, the scarves and neckerchiefs of centuries ago.

However I will say this: I’m thankful, with these lovely bits of wool and silk dangling willy-nilly from my neck, that I don’t work in a factory full of heavy machinery.

E.G. Cappelli ties are available at LeatherFoot Emporium, 82 Avenue Road and on their website.

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