Few clothing accessories denote style and luxury as silk ties can. Silk ties add a special sheen to a man's suit, offering both visual interest and personal expression. Other materials may be used in the manufacture of ties, but silk has a built-in cache of expense and glamor. Silk ties benefit from the richer dyes used by silk producers and the expertise of high-end designers. Fashion experts often coordinate tailored suits with appropriate silk ties for effect.
Those who need to invest in business suits for employment often find the cost of most accessories to be prohibitive. Few can afford gold cuff links with diamond accents or an expensive Rolex watch, but silk ties can be surprisingly affordable in the right clothing outlets. Any form of tie can hide shirt buttons or define a vertical line, but a silk tie pulls the entire suit together in an elegant way. A well-designed silk tie draws the eye towards the wearer's face, leading to a better interpersonal connection.
Business fashion experts say the choice of tie can reflect the wearer's personality or preferred image. Silk ties offer very bold color schemes and patterns which imply power or security. These ties can also be coordinated with dress shirts to give the impression of organization and personal neatness. Other ties may demonstrate a sense of humor or fashion-forward thinking, but silk ties alone offer a shorthand code for success. Potential employers and customers may subliminally assign more confidence to someone who knows quality when he sees it.
Silk ties are not without some drawbacks, however. Natural silk is a very delicate material and should normally be cleaned by professionals only. Storing an expensive tie means investing in a tie rack and keeping it protected from the elements. Because tie tacks puncture the material by design, silk ties should only kept in check by non-invasive tie clips. A wrinkled silk tie must be handled carefully- a hot iron can instantly ruin the material. Expensive ties stained by food should be treated with an approved spot remover quickly before the stain sets.