The Necktie Is the Latest Nerdy-Chic Trend to Take Over

Go steal one from your dad.

If 2023 was the year of the ultra-feminine coquette, 2024 is already shaping up to be about something a little nerdier. We finished off the year with all the It Girls embracing their inner librarian with sweater sets, pencil skirts, and itty bitty reading glasses; and the "office siren" aesthetic is predicted to take over this winter. The latest way the fashion girls are infusing their style with a preppy touch? The classic necktie.

The new take on the tie is nothing like the one your dad wore to the office. 2024's version is dressed down, edgy, and, dare we say, sexy. Ahead, we unpack the old-but-new trend and show how you can style the It accessory yourself.

The Trend

Obviously, the tie is nothing new—it's been around since 17th century France, to be specific—but for most of its history, the accessory has been relegated to men and has become a symbol of power and professionalism.

Over the past few decades, though, the tie has gone through many changes. In the past few decades, fewer people started to wear the accessory to work, skinny ties were made popular by rock bands in the indie sleaze era, and women incorporated the tie in both their professional ensembles or in a subversive fun way (we're looking at you, Avril Lavigne). 

Now, all the cool girls are picking up the accessory, and there's never been a more fun time to try your hand at Patrick Batemancore.

In 2024, for the most part, ties have shed their stuffy reputation and are more of an embellishment than they are a 9-5 necessity. Fashion girls have ditched buttoned-up styling in favor of a dressed-down aesthetic, pop punk references, new-age prep outfits, and sophisticated skirts.

Designers are also embracing the look. Thom Browne has never put on a runway show that doesn't include ties for every gender, and the brand regularly dresses stars like Janet Jackson, Diane Keaton, and Emma Chamberlain in its preppy suits. Other designers from Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren, and Prada have also made the tie a staple of womenswear collections, and Heaven by Marc Jacobs has released a few gender-neutral button-downs with a built-in tie.

TikTokers have been making a case for the tie as well—leaving it slightly undone, paired with oversized everything, and adding a prep-school touch to tiny pleated skirts. They're reinventing preppy styles with accents of Avril Lavigne, Thom Browne, and '80s maximalism.

How to Wear It

There isn't a one-size-fits-all way to implement the tie into your wardrobe. You can easily make it work for your personal aesthetic and style. However, we've noticed a pattern in how most fashionistas are wearing the accessory.

First, of course, you will need a tie. The more it looks like a dad in the '80s would have worn it, the better. Chunky, stripped, patterned, multi-colored, and bright are themes of all the trending ties. To get your hands on the style, your best (and cheapest) bet is to just head to your local thrift store and pick up a few that catch your eye.

With your tie secured, it's time to have fun. One of the coolest ways to style the accessory is to wear it on the looser side and keep the top button of your shirt—preferably oversized or super-tight fitting—unbuttoned. Then, throw on a denim skirt for a perfect combination of preppy, edgy, and trendy. If you want to make it feel a little more classic, toss on a sweater vest or add a leather jacket for more edge.

Or you could do something completely different. Try wearing the tie like a scarf with a vest and tank top. Or, simply wear the tie over a T-shirt with bloomers and motorcycle boots. Treat it as a necklace that goes with everything, and it will make the accessory look all the more authentic.

Double down on the accessories to make the look feel ready for the runway, not the boardroom. Add in "rockstar girlfriend" makeup, ballet flats, and chrome jewelry to make the tie all the more trendy. Ready to take the look for a spin? Shop some of our favorite ties below.

Up Next: 10 Winter Handbag Trends We’ll Be Carrying Into 2024

Read the original article on Byrdie.