Chipp Neckwear, the online accessories arm of Winston Tailors, is a great place to pick up a tie if you’re looking for value. Full disclosure, they’re one of our sponsors, although we don’t do sponsored posts and have been recommending them for years (long before they came onboard). The reason is simple: with ties made in NYC from top-end Italian and English silks, it’s impressive that they’re able to offer things for under $60. The other good place for high-value ties? The Knottery, which has really stepped up the quality of their production in the last two years.
Recently, Paul over at Chipp Neckwear loaned me some of his new Shantung ties to check out. The term Shantung can be a bit confusing when you come across it online. Sometimes you’ll see it used as a synonym for raw silk (as you’d find at Drake’s). Other times, it’s used to refer to a specific kind of silk woven in India. This one is the latter.
This sort of Shantung is thinner and lighter weight than many other textured silks – including Chipp’s Matkas and Drake’s raws. I find that makes them easier to tie (and feel less bulky when worn). It also has a slight sheen, which makes them look dressier. I can see some of the solid-colored ones being worn with a casual suit for a summer’s night out. Much like how a satin tie helps reflect a bit of light at night, this shantung would do the same. I find Paul’s Matkas to be more versatile, but this Shantung can be just the thing if you have the right occasion.