From pop punk to preppy, here’s how Australian creatives are wearing ties
Image via @yung_parched/instagram
As told to Lara Daly
“Avril Lavigne and Janis from Mean Girls have always been my style muses.”
If there was one accessory that dominated the forecourt outside PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival, it was undoubtedly the tie.
From oversized striped ties, to ties worn as hair bows, to self-made cowhide ties, there’s no shortage of creative ways to put your own spin on the menswear staple.
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So inspired we were to raid our dad’s wardrobe and the mens section of our local Vinnies, we asked some fashion industry friends to show us how they’re making the tie trend their own.
Vivienne, stylist
Photo by Lekhena Porter
When styling a tie, I often balance the masculine attitude of the outfit with a note of femininity. For Melbourne Fashion Festival, I wore this cool matching shirt and tie which I purchased online last year, and styled it back with a long satin skirt, ballet-inspired heels and a heart shaped bag. I love the juxtaposition of structure and fluidity, and the unexpected softening of this shirt and tie look.
Maggie, writer and host of Culture Club podcast
Ties are such a fun accessory – they’re a simple way to inject some masculinity into an outfit. I wore this ensemble to Melbourne Fashion Week, pairing my $1 op-shopped silky tie with my E Nolan shirt, Project Bowman skirt and Radical Yes loafers. I styled the tie with similar colours to keep the outfit a bit more toned down. Ties are often (literally) the centre of attention, but they can be more subtle if you want them to be.
Parth, writer
Photo by Laura Roscioli
Ties pull a formal outfit together or give a messy, chic vibe to a casual look. My recent styling was an ode to Gossip Girl’s Michelle Trachtenberg on her passing. I added Jeff Koons earrings for the New York reference and stole the tie from my housemate (sorry, Morgan).
If you’re looking to experiment, have fun with prints and pops of colour. Pick chunky ties if you need a statement or skinny ties if you want subtlety. If you sew, look up what Jean Paul Gaultier did with ties in 2002 and 2020 for inspiration.
Delta, photographer
Photo by Lekhena Porter
I’m a big fan of androgynous style and a tie is an affordable, effortless way to elevate any outfit. I’m passionate about sustainability, so all of my ties and the majority of my wardrobe is thrifted, from Vinnies, Salvos and Savers. Each day at Melbourne Fashion Festival I wore a tie. One day in the traditional way, one day worn casually undone around my neck, one day as a bow in my hair, and one day as a devil tail. The versatility is endless when you start to get creative with it!
Photo by Liana Hardy
Alexcea, writer
Ever since I was little, I’ve been obsessed with that early 2000s punk aesthetic – Avril Lavigne and Janis Ian from Mean Girls have always been my style muses. I got this stunning electric blue tie from an op shop in Taupo, New Zealand. If you’re looking for ties, the best place to find one is either the op shop or your dad’s closest! I like to style mine fairly traditional, with a crisp white shirt, but I love to create interesting contrast by pairing it with something hyper-femme like a skirt or evening dress.
Jade, stylist
Photo by Lekhena Porter
I’ve been styling ties with a range of my favourite oversized shirts. For this look, my twin, Phoenix (right) and I wanted to wear our matching Trompe-l’oeil jeans but still show our individual styles. I stole this tie from my husband’s big tie collection. This one is actually his old high school tie.
Luke, designer
I like to wear ties not only with shirts but with short sleeve polos also. They’re good for spicing up boring, plain Jane outfits with pops of colour. I have even started making ties out of cow hide, as that’s something I haven’t been able to find on the market.
For more on styling ties, try this.
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