Festive Neckwear

To start, a little background:

I used to profess a disdain for the holiday season. This was, I think, the result of a combination of relative poverty and a lifetime of retail work...then I had children, and I began to see the fun in Christmas again. Sure, it's still an extravaganza of consumerism and capitalism, and sure, the religion of it has been lost a long time ago. But, it is fun to make your loved ones happy with special gifts, especially if some of your loved ones happen to be small children.

Then last year, I bought the infamous red cords, in the end of season sale from Lands End...and so began my love affair with festive attire (or 'gay apparel', as the song says). Now, I realize that excessive plaid and bright red sweaters may not be for everyone (or possibly even for me), but there are ways to be subtle(ish) in your display of holiday cheer. Enter the tasteful festive necktie:

Maybe you work in an office, or a bank, or some such place. A navy tie with green, red, and white repp stripes is a good way to add a dash of the season to a grey suit in a conservative way. If you're feeling especially bold, try a navy square with red pin dots, or a white one in silk with green at the edges.

Or maybe your workplace is more laid back, or even downright casual. A tartan necktie, with a hefty dose of red in the plaid, works well with tweed jackets, navy blazers, or even jeans.

Stick to rougher fabrics, such as wool or viyella for these.

Or maybe, like me, your job requires no dress code, and you stopped caring long ago what others might say about you, sure in your own bad-ass-ery. In which case you could try an irreverent dark green silk tie, embroidered with lobsters in bright red,

from some long gone place like "The Country Store of Concord".

Whatever you do, avoid candy canes, reindeer, Christmas tree or Santa motifs, as if they were the plague...

...and if you even own a musical necktie, don't talk to me.