J. Crew Fail: It’s not always time to loosen the tie

Suggestions for When to Loosen Your Tie

J. Crew doesn’t do a lot wrong.  Especially when it comes to suiting.  Their Ludlow Suit is a perfect trim fit, and their Aldridge line allows guys who like (or need) a little more space a modern option.

Their Worsted Wool two button looks like something from the next blockbuster spy movie, their back by popular demand wool herringbone is one of the best looking subtle pattern suits on the market, and their attainable Fine Stripe Cotton Ludlow is the Dappered.com pick for warm weather suit of the year.

But would it kill them to button the collar and cinch up the tie?  Almost all the pictures of their suits feature a model wearing an unbuttoned collar and loosened tie.  Even the pics of just the ties show the neck-wear hanging loose from the shirts.

We get it.  You’re cool.  You’re relaxed.  Maybe the rest of us would be too if we could afford to drop $600 on a suit.

Here’s some suggestions on when you can loosen the tie if you’re wearing a suit:

• At lunch
• At the end of the day
• If the office air conditioning is broken
• If you’re breaking out in hives
• If you’re in The Hives
• If you’re about to get into a fist fight (post jacket removal)

Now if you’re wearing jeans and a blazer?  And the tie is knit?  It’s encouraged.  Highly.  But if you’re in a full suit, the one piece of advice you don’t want to take from J. Crew is when to loosen your tie.  Because I guarantee you it’s not 90% of the time.

One could argue that I’m being hypocritical, being that I have stubble 100% of the time.  Thoughts?