Saturday, May 27, 2017

My Quest For A Tie Pin

Back in the old days when dinosaurs roamed the Earth and I was a child, men wore tie pins with their neckties. The purpose of tie pins was both functional and decorative. The pin held your tie in place and kept the back-end from sliding sideways, looking unkempt. Tie pins date back to 1860 and didn't disappear until the 1960's when ties became an unpopular symbol of the Establishment.

For most of my life, men wore so little jewelry that I eagerly adopted whatever was allowed. As a child and teen, I had a large collection of tie pins and tie bars. Sadly they were casually discarded over the decades since then.

Recently I purchased some cool neckties at a neat thrift-shop in Hudson, NY. One tie is very attractive but its back-piece keeps sliding around. It occurred to me to get a pin to secure the tie. And that has been my quest for the past month.

Every thrift- and retail-store I've entered recently has been searched like a gold mine for the treasured nugget. To no avail. Not only don't men wear them any more, stores don't carry them, not even vintage shops. So imagine my elation today when, during a motorcycle ride to Northport, I stumbled on a vintage store with three trays of tie pins. Most were crap but I found a few nice ones. Here they are, photographed on a picnic table in Northport's seaside park.

Do any of these appeal to you?











21 comments:

  1. I love the hot air balloon pin!!

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    1. Thanks! I went up in a hot-air balloon a few years ago. Very exciting adventure.

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  2. So cute with the dangly bits. I hope they go with your recalcitrant tie! A great way to dress up the boring male attire. Xo Jazzy Jack

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    1. Thanks, JJ. Most male attire is boring and needs to be perked up.

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  3. Lovely pins, I have a box full of pins you know...I love to wear them! Kisses

    Fashion and Cookies - fashion & beauty blog

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  4. I absolutely love the moon pin with the dangly stars!Sometimes it's frustrating when you think back to all of the cool things you've owned but casually discarded that would be so useful to have now...
    Debbie
    www.fashionfairydust.com

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    1. It took me a while and several attempts to find the phrase "casually discarded;" it captures what happened so well.

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  5. Those are lovely - I especially like the hot air balloon. I have picked a few of these up for L over the years, but he doesn't wear them.

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  6. They are so cute!! I love them!
    xx
    Mónica Sors
    MES VOYAGES À PARIS
    NEW POST: BEAUTY TIPS: OLIVE OIL FOR OUR SKIN!

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  7. I love all of them! I lived in north Georgia when I attended high school. I was probably the only girl in the county that wore a men's tie and pin. I just loved the look!

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  8. Oooooh! The Montauk lighthouse!
    I remember tie tacks and bars being very prevalent in the thrift shops in Providence... in the 80s!!!! Severo has some good ones in his collection, which he has scored here and there. Dare I suggest Etsy? Or is the thrill in the non-virtual hunt?

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    1. By coincidence, I visited Montauk yesterday and saw the Lighthouse. On shopping for things like this, I enjoy going to stores in the real world. More fun.

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  9. So cute :) love the lighthouse but they're all unique and happy. Xoxo

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  10. I have not worn a tie tack in years but I like the one with the Montauk light house.

    I would imagine that almost any pin with a backing would do the job. I have been known to wear an American Flap pin as a tie tack.

    As I read your post I began to wonder if an earring would also serve the purpose. I would think that any post earring with a back could pierce the tie and keep things secure. It would also be a bit of an interesting accessory for a CD. I wonder if any of your lady readers may have an 'orphan' stud sitting in an old jewelry box that may qualify for repurposing.
    Pat

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    1. Yes and no. A pin or earring can sort of suffice but they lack two features of a true tie pin: first, the pin is shorter than a real one and thus doesn't work for a thick tie; second, most tie pins have little chains attached to them which you stick into your shirt button-hole; that anchors the pin and tie and keeps it from moving away or sideways.

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  11. Now that you mention it, I have not seen a tie holder in years... I really like the one with the hot air balloon but think you could probably find some more via etsy.

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    1. I probably could but I prefer shopping in real stores.

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  12. They are really cute! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAand, you can double them up as brooches!!!x

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  13. I love the moon one! Sounds like a good excuse to dip your toes into brooches. Some could easily play double duty as a tie pin.

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  14. These are all so unique.

    My husband has quite a collection of tie pins that are vintage as well. None of them are as fancy as these though.

    bisous
    Suzanne

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