Military Careers, Second Careers - Marine Corps Times

The tie’s stranglehold is broken

For many years, Workbytes has cinched a colorful swath of useless material around our neck every morning before we come to the office, at which time we promptly spill coffee on it.

It’s a habit we just can’t shake, because we grew up in an era called “childhood,” when people understood that a necktie was a crucial part of the 9:15-ish-or-so-to-4:30-or-thereabouts uniform. We were always told that a nice tie with a proper knot commands respect, provides a polished look, and tells the business world: “Hey, my mom picked it out, OK?”

But according to media reports, our love affair with the tie puts us somewhere on the Cool-o-Meter between Cyndi Lauper and acid-washed jeans.

It seems the necktie’s popularity has waned as more men adopt the business-casual look. Six percent of men who responded to a recent Gallup Poll said they wear a tie to work daily. That’s probably why the American Dress Furnishings Association, the trade group that represents the tie industry, announced it will shut down after 60 years.

The earliest known tie was found in the mausoleum of China’s first emperor, Shih Huang Ti, who was buried in 210 B.C. (Before Cravats). It was a colorful piece of silk, with a nasty Kung Pao stain.

History has since given us the ascot, the bow, the bolo, the paisley, the skinny, the power red, even the fish. (Remember that one? If you do, you probably still have a pair of acid-washed jeans in the closet.)

At one point, Americans spent more than $1 billion each year on ties. Granted, half of them were exchanged for drill-bit sets the day after Father’s Day, but it’s hard to deny the necktie’s historical place in the business world.

Then along came “Casual Friday.” Soon, golf shirts and khakis were everywhere. Then the casual culture began to creep into other days of the week: Nonchalant Monday, Carefree Tuesday, Disheveled Wednesday, Homeless Thursday.

Well, Workbytes knows a trend when we see it.

So we decided to ditch the habit and join the rest of the less-uptight work world. We made up our mind to go O.C. (open collar) and do away with all this unnecessary stodginess.

Then we met out new friend, Jordan Moore.

Moore graduated last spring from Newton High School. Like a lot of people his age, he’s trying to decide what to do with his life. One thing is for certain: No matter what career he chooses, it will involve wearing a tie. Every day.

Moore has one tattooed on his chest.

He went to inkster Sean Wilcox at Slingin’ Ink and got a permanent “corporate noose” emblazoned on his sternum: a handsome blue and red number with tasteful diagonal stripes.

“I don’t mind the idea of wearing a tie to work,” he said. “But I wanted a symbol that says I’ll never have a job that will strangle me in the long run.”

As the old saying goes, if it’s good enough for Jordan Moore, it’s good enough for Workbytes.

Henceforth, we will continue to don our necktie.

We will stain it, we will accidentally get it caught in the car door and we will fly the colors with pride. Every day.

Of course, there will be no chest tattoo.

We don’t want to cover up our Cyndi Lauper.

(Karen Mracek and Larry Ballard of The Des Moines Register take turns writing this column each week.)