Fashion Tips from Ken Dodd!

Yes, veteran comedian Ken Dodd has recently aired his views on ties, claiming, “I’ve got hundreds of ties and even wear one going to bed. They’re the last stranglehold of men’s fashion sense."

Dodd just can't understand politicians over 40 years of age not wearing ties either. “It’s like they are trying to be 21 again.” A sentiment we share very much.

And Ken's final fashion tip... “Ties and training shoes don’t go either – you have to walk around with your shirt hanging out.” This we're not in total agreement with as we have seen many a cool dude sporting trainers and skinny tie, but it just great to see someone who cares about ties! Nice one Ken!

Know someone who is clinging onto their youth by not wearing a tie to work? Let him know it is time to see the light by buying him a tie for Christmas from Tiesplanet.com!

X-Factor - 'Piano Tie Tony' Is Back

X-Factor fanatics may remember 2005 auditionee, Anthony Little. Name doesn't ring a bell? Well, he was more famously known as 'Piano Tie Tony' due to his choice of neckwear for the ITV show audition.

'Piano Tie Tony' wore a rather distinctive white jacket and piano tie on the show in 2005. This didn't help him get through to the next round though, resulting in an argument between Anthony and judge Simon Cowell. Little told the music mogul, “(he) had made the wrong decision and that he should change his mind”, to no avail.

Imagine Cowell's shock when Anthony walked through the X-Factor audition doors again this year... again wearing the piano tie! Little did take the tie off before he performed this time round, but again did not make it past the first stage.

You can read the full story here.

Now that 'Piano Tie Tony' has become simply 'Tony', if you like his tie, then maybe you could offer to buy it from him.

Alternatively, we have ties very much like the one he wore... Ties Planet Tie like 'Piano Tie Tony's'

Brown and Mowbray are Best Dressed Premier League New Boys

We have taken a keen interest in the managers new to the English Premier League over the first couple of weeks of the new season.

Paul Ince, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Tony Pulis, Phil Brown and Tony Mowbray are all managing in England's top flight for the first time, and whilst their respective club's fans are all eager to find out how they fare in the big league, we have been monitoring how they have fared in the fashion stakes.

Here is how they have ranked over the first two games of the new campaign:

Luiz Felipe Scolari 1/10 - 'Big Phil' gets one point for a well honed moustache, but his attire has not really been up to scratch so far. Scolari has worn full tracksuit in the baking sun of Chelsea's first two games, a look he looks likely to adopt all season-long. We certainly don't expect to see him in suit and tie anytime soon.

Paul Ince 7/10 - The new Blackburn Rovers boss would be on 10/10 had he chosen not to wear a tie for his side's second outing of the season at home to Hull City. He wore smart suit and tie for Rovers' opening day win at Goodison Park, but opted to go without the tie for the draw with Hull City last weekend. Moral of the story? The tie brought you luck Paul.

Phil Brown 9/10 - Hull City's surprisingly good start to the season has coincided with Brown looking rather dapper in both their opening encounters. Sam Allardyce's former assistant has worn a nice orange and black club tie for the matches against Fulham and Blackburn.

Tony Pulis -1/10 - We never expected Pulis to be there in the style-stakes this season, but for him to wear a baseball cap for his side's games has left him with a minus score!

Tony Mowbray 9/10 - Mowbray's start to the season has been much smarter than his side's. West Bromwich Albion may have kicked off the campaign with two losses, but their boss has looked sharp during both games. Mowbray has worn a nice traditional navy blue and white striped tie on both occasions.

Try and find a tie like your favourite Premier League boss at Tiesplanet.com!

Premier League Bosses to Show Respect by Wearing Tie?

Respect has been the talk of the football world this week as the Premier League prepares for the take-off of the 2008-09 season. A new Premier League Initiative, dubbed "Get on with the Game" has been agreed between the twenty clubs, focusing on a greater need for more respect between players, referees, managers and fans.

The key feature of the initiative is the plan for less abuse of referees by players, and for any objections to go through the captain.

At Ties Planet we would like to see managers show their respect for the game by wearing their tie for every game. OK, we have a vested interest, but it can only help can't it?

It will be of interest to see how many managers do wear their tie for the first round of fixtures this weekend. We'd love to see 15 of the 20 managers sporting their club's colours around their neck. We shall see.

All colours of men's ties available at Tiesplanet.com

Beckham In Tie Again

David Beckham has been talking to Sky Sports this week and chose to carry on his tie wearing ways for the interview (which can be viewed here).

The LA Galaxy star spoke about all things football including Real Madrid, Fabio Capello, Manchester United and even gave his view on the summer's hot topic, Cristiano Ronaldo's proposed move to Spain.

Beckham sported a thin black tie to complement his white shirt and v-neck jumper. We thought he looked rather smart.

Be sure to check out our full range of thin ties at Tiesplanet.com!

Lagerbäck Tops Euro 2008 Tie Competition

Euro 2008 is now well underway, each team having played their first game of the tournament. Spain, Portugal and Holland have all impressed in the early exchanges, but as ever of course we have been more interested in the neckwear on show at the tournament.

We are pleased to see that the majority of head coaches have chosen to wear ties for their respective team's opening games. Of particular interest was Sweden boss, Lars Lagerback's decision to wear a skinny tie for his sides 2-0 victory over reigning champions, Greece.

The trend of the last couple of season's has been for young fashionistas to wear thin 4-5cm width ties. Lagerback though has shown that the skinny tie is not just the accessory of choice for the hip, young things, but for shall we say more mature gentlemen too?

Lagerback, Sweden's manager since 2000, is fast approaching his 60th birthday, but still knows how to look pretty damn cool!

Below we rate each manager's tie of choice for their nation's first Euro 2008 game:

Group A

Karel Brückner (Czech Republic) - 7/10 - The Czech boss chose to wear a plain ribbed grey tie. Simple, effective and nothing too extravagant. Pretty much like his side.

Luiz Felipe Scolari (Portugal) - 0/10 - Scolari spoilt a fine display by his men, by choosing to wear a rather shabby looking tracksuit instead of wearing his suit and tie.

Jakob Kuhn (Switzerland) - 8/10 - Kuhn wore his country's colours, with a red and white striped tie. A classic blade width, classic design and classic colours.

Fatih Terim (Turkey) - 0/10 - Another tracksuit manager. Poor decision. Perhaps he'll put his lucky tie on for their second game?

Group B

Josef Hickersberger (Austria) -8/10 - A striking silk tie worn by the Austrian boss. A light blue and dark blue squared design.

Slaven Bilic (Croatia) - 8/10 - A plain darkish red tie worn by Bilic. A plain bold colour goes a long way.

Joachim Löw (Germany) -1/10 - No tie again! Tut tut, but one mark given as at least he wore a collared shirt, that a tie could easily be popped on.

Leo Beenhakker (Poland) - 9/10 - A plain bold red tie. Very simple, but a beautiful tie knotted to perfection by the experienced boss.

Group C

Raymond Domenech (France) - 7/10 - A nice tie, but we're not sure Domenech quite carried it off. The narrow navy tie with French cockerel will probably suit Thierry Henry better!

Roberto Donadoni (Italy) - 9/10 - A classy black tie worn by Donadoni. Did we expect any less from an Italian?

Marco Van Basten (Netherlands) - 0/10 - A shame that the Dutch legend didn't wear a tie as he has been seen lately in a very nice bright orange tie.

Victor Piţurcă (Romania) - 0/10 - We're unlikely to see Victor in a tie for his side's matches any time soon.

Group D

Otto Rehhagel (Greece) - 0/10 - We think Otto would suit a nice wide tie, but he chose to wear a polo shirt. Shame.

Guus Hiddink (Russia) - 8/10 - A very nice black and white striped tie worn by the Dutchman.

Luis Aragonés (Spain) - 0/10 - Aragones didn't wear a tie, but as he wore a coat for the summer tournament, we're not sure anyone wants to be looking to the Spain boss for fashion tips anyway.

Lars Lagerbäck (Sweden) - 10/10 - What a decision by the Swede. Wore a tartan pattern skinny tie. Totally unexpected, but Lars did look the part in the fashionable tie.

Be sure to check out the links to ties we stock like the ones worn by the coaches!

We are getting a tartan skinny tie, like Lagerback's in stock in the next couple of weeks so be sure to keep checking out our Skinny Ties section!

Short Suits Hit The Streets

BBC reporter Brian Milligan tries out the new 'short suit' which is designed for summer office wear in this video...

The suit which incorporates shorts rather than long trousers has already met much criticism. The main gripe being that many mens' legs are better not seen in the office.

The same could be said, in our unbiased opinion, of the male neck. Open-necked shirts reveal that part of the body that many people just don't want to see!

There is only one solution to these problems, wear long trousers and wear a tie. Some fashions never lose their class.

Ties from £3.99 available at Tiesplanet.com