Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway Series Finale

Double act Ant and Dec have decided to wrap up the current series of their hit TV show Saturday Night Takeaway in style... by wearing ties of course.

The Geordie duo famed for wearing open-neck shirts with their tailored suits have clearly realised the error of their ways and chosen to sign off the series by smartening up. Both have decided to wear narrow black ties.

Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have come a long way since their days together as PJ and Duncan in BBC kids' series Byker Grove. We're sure it won't be long before they are back on our TV screens again... let's just hope they keep those ties on!

Ross and Moyles face pay cuts in new £400m BBC squeeze

With BBC director general Mark Thompson yesterday announcing the broadcaster must make make further painful budgets cuts of £400m over three years, Jonathan Ross might be wise to check out our Budget Tie Zone.

Ross, along with other top talent such as Chris Moyles, is expected to be asked to take a 10% pay cut. The chatshow host is reported to be earning £6m a year. A wage drop of £600,000 a year will see Ross needing to cut down his spending somewhere along the line... and what with his love for ties, we think we can help!

Our Budget Tie Zone features quality ties priced at just £4.99. Patterned and plain ties available at less than a fiver! Some of the patterned ties will probably cater best for the extravagant tastes of Ross though, we feel.

Read full story of BBC budget cuts here.

Ties get thinner, as economy shrinks

From: 06 March 2009 - Daily Telegraph

By Harry Wallop, Consumer Affairs Editor

While fashion experts have long noted women's hemlines rising, as gross domestic product falls, now they reckon the country's slimming finances are responsible for ties getting thinner.

According to John Lewis, in the last six months 15 per cent of the ties they sold were thin versions, at 2.5 inch wide, with the remainder 3.5 inch or thicker.

This compares to same period a year before when just 5 per cent of the ties were thin.

Menswear has been getting noticeably more streamlined in recent seasons, with celebrities such as the singer Pete Doherty and the actor Jude Law sporting the look, pioneered by the fashion designer Hedi Slimane.

One of the best-selling ties at the clothes chain Topman is now the ultra-skinny tie, at just 1 inch wide.

However, some believe that it is not just fashion trends and celebrities that are encouraging the slim-line look.

Charlie Allen, a tailor based in North London, said: "The impact of economic turmoil on tie design can be traced back through the previous recessions of the 20th century. While post-war Britain and the swinging sixties embraced exaggerated prints and widths of up to 5 inches, the downturns of the 1930s and 1980s saw sizes reduce to as little as an inch."

Many retailers have noted that hemlines rise during economic downturns, while sales of lipstick increase strongly. The trend was first noted in the 1930s depression, when women said they wanted to cheer themselves up by looking smart in the downturn.

Join the Skinny Tie Revolution... Visit Ties Planet today!

Esquire Magazine Crowns Prince Charles Best Dressed Man

Who do you think of when it comes to male style icons? David Beckham? Brad Pitt? Perhaps even US President Barack Obama?

Well, think again because esteemed fashion magazine Esquire has awarded Prince Charles the title of 'Most Fashionable Man in the World'. Ignoring those who follow trends, the style bible has opted to crown the Prince of Wales thanks to his polished looks. Rarely his Charles seen without double-breasted suit, shirt, tie and polished shoes.

Prince Charles is noted for his love of British tailor Gieves & Hawkes. Take a look at our Gieves & Hawkes ties in our Designer Ties section.