@skieurope - Can I say the word crap for @Korab1 ?
@PhotographerMom Yes. If the word is banned, it will show up as asterisks.
@skieurope the only time a tie goes over a doorknob is when it is on the outside of the door, and when it is there, it is perfectly acceptable.
@SevenDad Different strokes…what happened to your hermes tie?
@sadieshadow you may want to let your son have some say in this - ties are the one place kids can express some individualism and whimsy in a uniform/ formal dress school.
@Korab1: I had/still have several…but NEVER until college. I would not trust a 14-year old with one…would you? If so, you either have the most mature 14-year old boy I’ve ever heard of/have a lot more disposable $ than I do. If the term polyester offends you, then at least you agree with my “cap” of $25 for BS-grade ties?
In other words… if I still smoked cigarettes , I wouldn’t lite up anywhere near some of the Christmas ties I’ve seen…
In non-tie related sartorial advice…J. Crew Outlet stores have some good 50% off sales from time to time. I happen to like their shirts…they come out of the dryer pretty close to being ready to wear (only a little touch-up ironing needed…but not even) and on sale, are under $30/each.
Hermes isn’t my style - I’m not much of a francophone or a fan of letters that require a trip to to the symbol menu. While some fine ties can be had for $25 or less at TJ Maxx and other discount stores and by watching the clearance racks for extra sales, I wouldn’t view $25 as a hard ceiling at all. Although the responsibility of the individual child may dictate otherwise.
My husband has a bin of ties he no longer wears. . .many were nice gifts. . I will let my son do some bin shopping. (Some are a bit wide but others are o.k.).
I don’t like cheap-looking ties, but I have neither the money nor the desire to buy expensive ones. I’ve found some very nice ties on eBay, in consignment shops, and in rummage sales (including a new Vineyard Vines Mercersburg tie, my most expensive purchase, but less than half retail price). Ties that are not to the owner’s taste often go unloved and unworn…and then donated/sold in perfect condition.
Guskid’s tie stash came from gusdad’s and guspappaw’s collection. He has a totally groovy solid brown YSL on, ones for about any holiday, wide ones, super skinny ones, long ones, short ones…if a girl runs away because she doesn’t like the material or the brand of his tie, she has issues she needs to deal with. The official Hill tie is 39.99, and the un-official V V one is 68. Not something I want to pay for a tie at this point, but not 85+, either.
Ties can cost more than $10?
Anyone who flips a tie over to read the label has serious issues in my book.
Vineyard Vines – what a racket, if they are doing even a fraction of the prep school ties! And belts! DS has a couple of nice J Crew ties (bought on sale) that are nice looking and a good size, and I bought a nice one on sale at Banana Republic and stashed it till post-M10.
I remember watching my mother in law fix K2’s tie once when he was just a young boy at day school. She said, A tie to a man is like a strand of pearls to a woman…
K2 just looked at her and said, That’s ridiculous, Gran.
I hadn’t thought about that day in years but this thread brought me back! 
ahh - the mutual admiration society!
I’m still laughing because he looked like he wanted to punch her in the face, but he likes ties now!
FWIW- the formal dress BS kids that go off the rails ( temporarily ) with the way they dress in college, do revert back to what they know and dress nicely again. I’m pleased to say that K2 doesn’t look like Ted Kaczynski anymore… in fact he’s looking pretty spif lately.
And that phase nearly killed me…
I’ve got a kid who’d wear a tie from the dollar store (hey, why didn’t I think of that?), but wears a uniform everyday now. He likes not having to think about what to wear. He looks killer in cadet formal dress, though, which is basically a Civil War costume. It features a rifle instead of a tie.
B-)
I must admit, swim kid has a few VV ties. They are the only ones he likes. 2 bow ties and a nice blue whale logo tie. Get them at the whale house sale if you have one near you or the outlets. NEVER pay full price. They often have the blazers there and we almost nabbed a gorgeous one for $99 but it was a long. I’m in the nice tie camp if it is what they like. My hubby wears BB ones as well only from the outlet, with an additional % off and usually a coupon lol! There shirts are the best shirts ever created. Non iron!! Although, van Husan ones are the best non iron shirts out there! Tj maxx or the outlet.
@PhotographerMom my mom went to college with Ted!
@momof3swimmers good to know! There aren’t any near me and I haven’t been confident that a two hour drive is really worth it. I’ll check one out.
I’ve also found Poshmark. They have new or slightly used resale clothing. I’ve ordered a few things new with or without tags for a fraction of retail.
Then when they outgrow things (in six weeks usually