By Jane Bennett Clark in Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine:
Run your fingers over the tie. A luxurious feel indicates high-quality silk; some makers try to disguise silk that's too thin by bulking up the liner. Heavy silk boasts rich colors and more depth of design than the flimsy stuff, says Michael Ostrove, of Paul Stuart, a high-end clothier. "With thin, cheap silk, the pattern sits on top," he says.
The tie and shirt should share at least one color. If you mix patterns, also mix scale. Example: a wide-stripe tie with a pin-stripe shirt.
Nice ties in a store's private-label line start at about $35. Top labels, including Robert Talbott, Drake's London and Ike Behar, usually run $100 to $200.
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