Walking in the Valley A bi-weekly column, featuring one Christian's (a)musings on life's journey by Barbara Dahlgren

The Ties That Bind Column for the weeks of June 16-30, 2006

archives |

printer-friendly version

Dads anxiously await their time-honored celebration, Father’s Day, with wild anticipation of the gifts they will receive. After all, according to the 2004 U.S. Department of Agriculture research, it takes over $250,000 to raise one child to age 17 today. Maybe that’s why they call kids priceless. With all this money wrapped up in offspring, Dad should receive some return on his investment. What will Dad get?

National Retail Federation (NRF) President Tracy Mullin says, “Dad tends to be more low-maintenance than mom.” Dad more than likely will get a card, gift card, book, CD, computer accessories, tools, or a big meal. These are a lot better than soap on a rope which was so popular a few years back. Then there are clothes. Many dads receive underwear, socks, sweaters, shirts, and the ever popular – tie! Yes, the necktie remains one of the most popular Father’s Day gifts ever!

Personally, I have never understood the custom of men wearing neckties. Other than being able to get you into some ultra expensive restaurants, what real purpose do they serve? Whether fat or thin, it’s just a long piece of material, tied around the neck with a knot in front. It’s not like they keep your neck warm, protect you from vampires, or can be used as a defense weapon. By the time you got it off your neck to try to strangle someone, you would more than likely choke yourself. (Did you know some religious zealots consider the neck tie a phallic symbol? But I won’t go there.)

Admittedly, the forerunner of the tie started functional. Roman soldiers wore a neck band to catch the sweat or block the cold, depending on the season. Next came the “stock,” designed for foot soldiers in Germany and France to look more militaristic. It increased blood flow to the face giving soldiers that ruddy, healthful appearance. This worked fine until the men were told to keep tightening their stocks, which produced vertigo, fainting, and nosebleeds.

Then in the 17th century, Louis XIV's Croatian regiment introduced neck cloths called “cravats,” which wound around the neck and tied at the ends. Cravats became quite fashionable throughout the world. Politicians, aristocrats, and even generals wore lace cravats.

Other tie variations included: Sailors’ uniforms required a blue scarf to look spiffy; cowboys wore bandanas to keep the dust off their faces; British schools wore different colored ties to indicate being in different grades. In 1920 French designer Jean Patou invented the designer tie and yada, yada, yada….fast forward to the present – most men wear ties today!

Today, men are considered dignified and more professional when wearing a tie because it hides the shirt buttons. We don’t know who said shirt buttons look unprofessional, but somebody said it, so it must be so.

A few years ago I read about an Ian Jarman rebelling against such thinking. He sued his company for making him wear a tie. It seems after 26 years, they changed their dress code. But I never heard how it turned out. Maybe they settled out of court. As far as professionalism goes, I can see the job interview now. A young man with three pierced earrings and orange hair is told, “I’m sorry Mr. Johnson. We couldn’t possibly hire you. You are not wearing a tie!”

Of course, today ties are more of a fashion statement. “Clothes make the man” as they say – and the woman, too, for that matter. (They never tell the rest of that quote by Mark Twain. “ Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” But I digress.) Men and women love to have style. Women wear scarves loosely draped around the shoulder area to add a splash of color and men wear neckties that cut off the flow of oxygen to the head and slowly asphyxiate them. I guess, the truth is, when it comes to fashion, we don’t need a reason for what we do.

With that said, I’ll join the millions of others who will purchase the ever stylish necktie for Dad for Father’s Day. Poor Dad! What we buy him, he feels obligated to wear. But then I’d hate to deny my father the great joy of seeing eyes roll and people saying, “Did your kid get that for you for Father’s Day?” Bless be the ties that bind!

Be sure to visit this page often to read the next edition of Walking in the Valley. You can write to the author at bdahlgren@wcgsouthbay.org.