A bolo tie is a tie that has three components: a cord, the ends of the cord, and a decorative clasp. Sometimes called cowboy ties or lace ties, they are the official ties of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Cord
Bolo tie cords are usually made of braided leather and most often come in black or various shades of brown, although cords can be found in a variety of colors and materials. You can even find products made from braided horsehair.
Cord ends
Most bolo cords are decorated with decorative ends, which are most often made of metal and silver.
Clasp, latch or pendant
The clasp is the decorative part of a bolo tie. Fasteners come in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials.Less expensive bolos have clasps made of wood, plastic or metal, while more expensive bolos have clasps set with precious stones such as turquoise and onyx.
How the bolo tie came back from obscurity
A decade ago, you wouldn't have dreamed of draping a braided leather cord over your head and tightening a turquoise-jeweled collar clasp unless you lived in the American Southwest. For most of us, wearing a bolo tie in 2010 would inevitably involve ridicule.
Bolo ties as we know them first appeared in the late 1940s and early 1950s. However, they can be dated back to the early 1900s, where they were common among Zuni, Hopi and Navajo men, who often wore bandanas held together by ropes or shell-like structures.
By the mid-1950s, bolo ties were marketed as a casual alternative to formal East Coast business suits. At a time when Hollywood was producing over 100 Western-themed films a year, it was no surprise that bolo ties became popular. By the late 1980s, the bolo had reached critical mass, with bolos worn by everyone from Midwestern businessmen to rocker dads like Bruce Springsteen. Even science fiction writer Isaac Asimov wore a bolo paired with cool mutton chops.
In the 90s, Western clothing began to disappear. It became comical, and the bolo became something only worn by John Travolta in Pulp Fiction or your middle-aged uncle who played in the local country cover band. The bolo has returned to its roots - a simple, regional symbol of the American Southwest.
But like most things in fashion, if you leave them dormant long enough, they will come back.Bolos are no exception, and over the past eight years they have appeared on the necks of famous people including Macklemore, Bruno Mars and Johnny Depp. In 2020, Nick Jonas, Quavo and Dylan Sprouse led the younger generation of bolo wearers—though they swapped turquoise pearls for Prada.
Prada isn't the only major fashion house to follow the bolo tie revival, with Yves Saint Laurent and Versace also adding them to their catalogues.
We prefer the more traditional Western bolo ties over the modern versions. But either way, it's safe to say that the bolo tie is back, and adding it to your style is as easy as swapping your tie for a drawstring tie.
How to Wear a Bolo Tie in 2022
We love the bolo tie because it's more versatile than a traditional men's tie. It can be dressed up, down, and everything in between.
The traditional way to wear a bolo tie is to dress it up with a suit and a collared shirt. In this case, you simply change the tie to a bolo. You can wear a shirt with a narrow or wide collar if your bolo has a large clasp, but for smaller bolos it is better to choose a narrow collar.
As for the tie itself, you have two options: button your shirt and pull the clasp all the way to the top, or unbutton the top button of your shirt and wear the clasp just below the hole (around the 2nd or 3rd button). The higher the clasp, the more elegant the look.
As for color, any color suit with a white shirt works well. Mike from Beardbrand wears them with a navy suit, and we love how Brett McKay from Art of Manliness paired them with a charcoal suit.
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