A necktie is an essential accessory for suits. Whether you're planning to wear a two-piece suit or a 3 piece suit, you'll probably want to accessorize it with a necktie. It will add new colors and patterns to your outfit while creating a higher level of formality in the process. Rather than choosing just any necktie, though, you may want to choose a linen necktie. Linen neckties offer several benefits that make them a popular choice.
#1) Lightweight
Linen neckties are lightweight. Linen, of course, is a soft and all-natural fabric that's derived from the flax plant. Flax plants are harvested specifically for their fibrous material, which is used to make linen. If you've ever felt a linen garment before, you may recall just how light it was. Linen is naturally lightweight. You can take advantage of the fabric's lightweight properties by choosing a linen necktie. Linen neckties weigh less than other types of neckties -- specifically those made of other fabrics -- so they are comfortable to wear.
#2) Protection From Damage
While no type of necktie is immune to damage, linen neckties offer a higher level of protection from damage than those made of other fabrics. Linen isn't just lightweight; it's strong. Linen is about 25% to 35% stronger than cotton, in fact. With a linen necktie, you won't have to worry about it ripping, tearing or otherwise sustaining damage. Linen neckties are incredibly strong and can withstand heavy use without damaging.
It's still a good idea to use caution when storing your linen necktie so that it doesn't sustain damage. Don't store your linen necktie in a drawer. Instead, drape it over a clothes hanger. With a clothes hanger, your linen necktie will retain its original shape.
#3) Easy to Maintain
Another benefit of choosing a linen necktie involves maintenance. Linen neckties are easier to maintain than most other types of neckties. Most of them are machine-washable. If your linen necktie is dirty, you can clean it in the washing machine. Running it through the washing machine with cold water and some liquid detergent will restore it.
Aside from washing and drying them, the only form of maintenance linen neckties require is ironing. Like all types of neckties, they can develop wrinkles. Fortunately, running an iron over your linen necktie will eliminate any wrinkles. Just turn your iron to the low-heat setting, after which you can quickly run it over your linen necktie. Ironing should make quick work of most wrinkles.
You can also get linen neckties dry cleaned. Dry cleaning is a service that involves the use of non-water cleaning chemicals to remove stains. If there's a stubborn stain on your linen necktie that doesn't seem to go away, dry cleaning may be the answer
#4) Complements Linen Suits
Of course, linen neckties will complement linen suits. If you're planning to wear a linen suit, there's no better choice than a linen necktie. It will offer a seamless design that flows cohesively with your suit jacket and trousers.
You can find neckties made of other fabrics. Generally speaking, you should wear a necktie in the same fabric as that of your suit. For a wool suit, you should consider wearing a wool necktie. For a cotton suit, you should consider wearing a cotton necktie. Linen suits, of course, work best with a linen necktie. A linen necktie will flow cohesively with a linen suit to create a more attractive and uniform appearance.
#5) Environmentally Friendly
You might be surprised to learn that linen neckties are environmentally friendly. The environmentally friendly properties of linen neckties stem from their use of linen farbic. Linen is an organic, all-natural fabric. As previously mentioned, it's derived from the flax plant. Flax plants can be grown, harvested and regrown without harming or otherwise negatively affecting the environment.
Neckties made of synthetic fabrics don't offer the same environmentally friendly properties as those made of linen. Fabrics are considered synthetic if they are constructed of a manmade material. An example of a synthetic fabric is polyester. While polyester neckties are attractive, they aren't environmentally friendly. They require more resources to produce since they aren't made of renewable plant-based material.
#6) Inexpensive
Linen neckties are inexpensive. You can buy them for as little as $20 to $30. And because they are so strong, linen neckties offer a great value. You won't have to replace them every few months. As long as you wash and care for your linen necktie, it can last for many years or even decades.
Other types of neckties can cost over twice as much linen neckties. Silk neckties, for example, are among the most expensive. While they have a soft and luxurious texture, they require more work to produce. And due to the rarity of silk, silk neckties almost always cost more than linen neckties. If you're on a budget, a linen necktie is the way to go.
#7) Available in a Variety of Styles
You can find linen neckties available in a variety of styles. Some of them are wide, for example, whereas others are thin. Wide-style linen neckties offer a more traditional style, whereas thin-style linen neckties have a more modern appearance.
There is an endless number of color options for linen neckties as well. You can find them in traditional colors like black and white. For a black suit, you may want to wear a white necktie. For a white suit, you may want to wear a black necktie. But there are plenty of other colors in which linen neckties are made. Other colors include navy, gray, green, red and even yellow.
As you can see, linen neckties offer many benefits. They are lightweight, protected from damage, easy to maintain, complement linen suits, environmentally friendly, inexpensive and available in a variety of styles. Perhaps the better question is to ask is why shouldn't you choose a linen necktie? With all of these benefits, you can't go wrong with a linen necktie.