<p>Son has landed some early interviews with law firms in NYC. He has dark navy suit and plans on wearing white shirt…
I would love to send him a new tie to wear, but have little experience/knowledge on what color or pattern would be best to buy. </p>
<p>Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>I would choose a pattern tie in a “neat” (small repititive pattern) or pencil stripe (thin stripe) but nothing too flashy such as bolder “splashy” patterns or large garish paisleys. Adding some color is nice such as light or medium blue, red, or burgundy, but I would not do pinks or yellows or oranges for an interview. Make sure the shirt is nicely ironed and crisp and clean looking in the collar and cuffs. Also, make sure his shoes are conservative looking dress shoes and polished. A shoe that is too casual looking or in need of polish, can ruin an otherwise great look. A matching dress belt in color to the shoes, in good condition, is also a must.</p>
<p>I would stop by Jos. Banks and trust their employee to make the selection! You want it to look both current and professional. Congratulations to him on landing those interviews! You must be very proud. Good luck!!</p>
<p>If you can spend a few extra $$ on a tie, get him a real, handmade silk one. Small pattern, no flashy colors, no paisleys, no Burberry checks, no Gucci G’s - that’s what our company’s lawyers wear when they dress up for formal meetings.
Something like this:
[Salvatore</a> Ferragamo Print Silk Tie | Nordstrom](<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/salvatore-ferragamo-print-silk-tie/3208252?origin=keywordsearch&resultback=231]Salvatore”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/salvatore-ferragamo-print-silk-tie/3208252?origin=keywordsearch&resultback=231)</p>
<p>[Salvatore</a> Ferragamo Woven Silk Tie | Nordstrom](<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/salvatore-ferragamo-woven-silk-tie/3155986?origin=keywordsearch&resultback=939]Salvatore”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/salvatore-ferragamo-woven-silk-tie/3155986?origin=keywordsearch&resultback=939)</p>
<p>[Armani</a> Collezioni Woven Silk Tie | Nordstrom](<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/armani-collezioni-woven-silk-tie/3190848?origin=keywordsearch&resultback=890]Armani”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/armani-collezioni-woven-silk-tie/3190848?origin=keywordsearch&resultback=890)</p>
<p>Nordstrom’s Anniversary sale is on now, and there are some nice Ferragamo, Boss and Armani ties on sale.</p>
<p>Foulard. (10)</p>
<p>^^^SAT word? I had to look it up.</p>
<p>I remember how exciting it was to shop for the first good suit with kids at Nordstrom. They picked out their own ties, etc., and multi-color stripes with a predominant color scheme was popular. I also remember small patterned and solid color with the detail in the weave. Only silk. Not into " brand names".</p>
<p>Recommendations by salesperson were awful.</p>
<p>If this is a summer interview, I think pastels are appropriate and would look sharp and crisp with a navy suit and white shirt. I agree with the no logo and silk only. Tommy Hilfiger and Vineyard Vines always have nice summer ties. Ralphlauren dot com has summer ties on sale now.</p>
<p>Check out Brooks Brothers…you can’t go wrong there.</p>
<p>I’d go with something like the Armani suggested by BunsenBurner. It is conservative, but more stylish than many rep ties. Silk only, no matter what. Red is great with a navy suit. </p>
<p>I also second jshain’s advice.</p>
<p>I was thinking of BB also, but they do have some ties that would be a mistake for a young person in this situation, such as bright yellows and greens. (I still can’t deal with yellow ties. 
)</p>
<p>I’d wear the “Ties suck” tie: [ThinkGeek</a> :: The ThinkGeek ‘Ties Suck’ Tie](<a href=“http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/hats-ties/57ff/]ThinkGeek”>http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/hats-ties/57ff/) Blue, small pattern, perfect! ;)</p>
<p>Here’s what the well dressed UCSC grad wears:</p>
<p>[The</a> Bay Tree Bookstore - Silk Tie with All Over Slugs](<a href=“http://slugstore.ucsc.edu/ePOS?this_category=18&store=721&item_number=a130&form=shared3%2Fgm%2Fdetail.html&design=721]The”>http://slugstore.ucsc.edu/ePOS?this_category=18&store=721&item_number=a130&form=shared3%2Fgm%2Fdetail.html&design=721)</p>
<p>Take a look at J. Press - with stores in NYC, DC, Boston and New Haven, CT, you know it’s conservative and lawyerly.</p>
<p>Red with nice stripes or small geometric pattern. No little horses, cars, lighthouses, etc. No pastels or solids.</p>
<p>I hire at a law firm in NYC and with a conservative, traditional suit, I always give applicants mental brownie points for a tie that has a bit of personality, but it shouldn’t be silly. Absolutely silk, but in the summer a little color, even pastel, would be just fine.</p>
<p>Thank you, thank you to all for your suggestions.<br>
The more I look, the harder it’s getting…</p>
<p>I’m hope to decide on a few possibilities tonight and will link them, in the hope that you will all chime in with a thumbs up/thumbs down!</p>
<p>I love the first Ferragamo tie that was linked for me… but upon closer viewing, its actually little giraffes??? And is the price of that tie truly refelected in the quality/look/feel of the tie?</p>
<p>Zoosermom, would that be the kind of fun tie you would give brownie points for?
I think from a distance it just looks like an interesting pattern, and I really like the colors…</p>
<p>I like the colors of that tie, as well. All of the three Ferragamo ties were perfectly appropriate and pleasantly stylish. I don’t think a young man has to or even should dress like a fuddy-duddy. Remember that in the interview process, he will likely meet with about a half-dozen different people and he doesn’t want to come off as a stiff because most of the people interviewing him will eventually be his peers if he gets hired and they are very aware of that. One of the people I am closest to interviews always with an eye to the firm’s softball team. So a little personality is a good thing.</p>
<p>S1 has two go-to ties for interviews –</p>
<p>1) french blue oxford with the “Ties Suck” in binary that mathmom mentioned (the original is a very nice silk in light blue w/french blue numbers)</p>
<p>2) an orange/purple/red silk tie with binary code that is abstract and wild and gorgeous, paired with a light purple oxford. Looks fabulous with his charcoal gray suit and has gotten many, many compliments on it. <a href=“http://whatdidyoubringme.homestead.com/files/neckties/ComputerNeckties.htm[/url]”>http://whatdidyoubringme.homestead.com/files/neckties/ComputerNeckties.htm</a> (scroll down seven rows) He doesn’t wear kitchy ties, though.</p>
<p>I’m not sure he owns a white dress shirt!!! However, he’s a math/CS guy and can get away with this stuff.</p>
<p>Let me just say that in my opinion there is never any reason to pay $100 for a tie. Go look at those ties, and then go to Syms or someplace like that and buy a nice silk tie of a similar style for much less.</p>
<p>I agree that you shouldn’t pick a wild pattern or a bright color. Maroon is good. Choose a width that’s similar to what is being shown in nice stores.</p>
<p>You could also Google images of, say, Mitt Romney, and buy some ties that look like the ones he is wearing.</p>
<p>A few ties that might fit the bill.
As always, your input/suggestions/advice is welcomed and appreciated!</p>
<p>[Canali</a> Woven Silk Tie | Nordstrom](<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/canali-woven-silk-tie/3216372?origin=category&resultback=1063]Canali”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/canali-woven-silk-tie/3216372?origin=category&resultback=1063)</p>
<p>[Canali</a> Woven Silk Tie | Nordstrom](<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/canali-woven-silk-tie/3182006?origin=category&resultback=4898]Canali”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/canali-woven-silk-tie/3182006?origin=category&resultback=4898)</p>
<p>[John</a> W. Nordstrom® Woven Silk Tie | Nordstrom](<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/john-w-nordstrom-woven-silk-tie/3173594?origin=category&resultback=2243]John”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/john-w-nordstrom-woven-silk-tie/3173594?origin=category&resultback=2243)</p>
<p>[David</a> Donahue Woven Silk Tie | Nordstrom](<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/david-donahue-woven-silk-tie/3176480?origin=category&resultback=518]David”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/david-donahue-woven-silk-tie/3176480?origin=category&resultback=518)</p>
<p>The Donahue one is nice. The others seem a littly shiny (in my opinion). But there’s still no reason to pay 60 bucks for a tie that looks like that.</p>