To tie or not to tie?

According to 'Daysoftheyear' it’s Tie Month this month? That’s right, we’ve had Stoptober, Movember and now it’s Tiecember. A whole month dedicated to wearing a tie.

In a modern day culture, where some consider ties irrelevant, I wonder if the tie has much life left in it?

Richard Branson is famous for taking a pair of scissors to snip ties that sneak into his offices and he’s clear about his feelings on his blog - that it stifles creativity! Yet some still swear by the tie. I spent a little time digging into their history to see if their purpose is still relevant today.

Ties are thought to be related to scarfs, once used as a practical measure for warmth, popularised by the French ‘La Cravate’ to be used as a decorative accessory. The modern day tie is knotted with a four-in-hand necktie knot, which apparently was used by British horseman to tie a tie with one hand while holding the reigns of four horses in the other. Although I can see the benefit to a one handed approach, I’m not sure I know anyone that was taught to tie a tie with one hand and I would hazard a guess that the situation it obtained it's name from isn't too common nowadays.

There may be some relevance for wearing a Tie as an accessory, to keep us warm, or even to help us mutli-task if we've managed to pull off tying one-handed, but should ties be expected as formal business wear? Culturally we’re evolving and just because ‘things are’ doesn’t necessarily mean they ‘should be’. 

To tie or not to tie? What do you think?’