No products were found in this collection
So you've got your bolo tie. How do you wear it to make it look really good?
Here are a few tips:
Own it. Bolo ties are controversial. It's like bow ties or burlap suits: people either love them or they hate them.
So if you're going to wear a bolo tie, you have to own it, regardless of what others think. If you look embarrassed or sheepish wearing a bolo tie, it's going to look ridiculous on you. Wear it boldly!
Consider your geography. Bolo ties are a staple of Southwestern style and are associated with cowboys, Native Americans, industries like ranching, oil and gas, and rural and frontier areas. If you have a connection to one or more of these things, the bolo tie will look more natural around your neck.
If you live east of the Mississippi and lack these connections, a bolo tie will seem out of place.
Westerners have much more freedom to wear bolo ties regularly, even at formal occasions like weddings and funerals. If you want to wear a bolo tie regularly, take advantage of this freedom.
Easterners are likely limited to wearing a bolo tie at a club or a night out where it's acceptable to be a bit avant-garde and break style rules. Even then, unless you have some connection to the American West, the tie will likely come across as ironic rather than sincere.
Wear it with western or button-down shirts. Because of their rugged yet casual look, bolo ties pair best with a more relaxed dress shirt, such as a western, or with a button-down shirt, such as an Oxford or denim shirt. Add a sports coat with a bit of texture and you have a very smart look.
Some people have taken to wearing bolo ties as necklaces, pairing them with T-shirts. In my opinion, this strays too far from the classic Western roots of the bolo tie and just looks odd. Stick to shirts that have a collar.
Wear it like a regular tie for a more formal look. The bolo tie was originally designed to be worn exactly like a tie. Button all the front buttons of your shirt, including the top collar button, then slide the clasp up to the top of your neck. Button your shirt collar.
Keep it loose.
Wear it looser for a more relaxed look. If you're pairing the bolo with a more casual outfit, unbutton the top button of your shirt and wear the bolo a little more loosely around your neck.
Wear it with a suit, if you like. Can you wear a bolo tie with a suit? Absolutely. It does take a bit of courage to pull it off, though, due to the bolo tie's casual nature. You don't need to wear a special Western suit with a bolo. You can wear one with a traditional suit you already own. Just wear a button-down Oxford, and you're good to go. A bolo would look really odd with an open collar.
Our favorite look for a bolo tie: Dark denim jeans, a white button-down Oxford, a brown sports jacket, and a pair of cowboy boots. Simple. Classic. And the perfect combination of ruggedness and refinement.
Experiment to find what works for you. And never underestimate the bolo tie!
