Despite various iterations, the tie has endured. And rightly so: it works. From the knit ties of the sixties from Sean Connery et al, to the pleather ties of the seventies' Soul Train to the size zero skinny ties from your prom photo nightmares. But now, Riz Ahmed has cut the ribbon on a new dawn for neckwear.
Enter the decorative tie. At a London screening of Cambridge Analytica documentary The Great Hack, the 36-year-old presented a tie on the ascendance, one that anyone can wear without looking like a former TV host that's on the wrong end of a police investigation. Instead, Ahmed went for a minor detail - in this instance, an embroidered floral motif from Prada - to lift classic tailoring to new heights.
Better yet, you're in control of the volume: settle for a quiet ditty like the Venom star, or go louder still, as high graphic, high impact designs sit firmly on trend (thank Prada, Casablanca and Gucci). Like all good tailored looks, ensure it chimes with the rest of your palette, or acts as a standalone pop. One piece of Tom Ford-approved snakeskin print is more than ample.
He's not alone either. In late 2018, Brioni's former creative director Justin O'Shea wore a punchy, brightly coloured print. Miles Teller, too, went decorative, though opted to play the illusionist with a matching shirt-tie combo from Burberry. Whatever the route, it's an easy path to take.
The increased propensity for vibrant neckwear hasn't vetoed the rules, though. The tip of your tie should always touch the belt line, and a dimple is whole-heartedly encouraged - impossible if you've settled for the slim monstrosities of your youth. Which you really shouldn't be in 2019.
