TIES are back in fashion, thanks to stars such as Jude Law, Pete Doherty and Russell Brand, according to a report which says sales have jumped 5 per cent in three years.
Britons spent more than £160 million on neckwear last year as the collar-and-tie look challenged the open-neck shirt, according to research.
It follows a long-term decline in tie-wearing in the workplace.
While the absence of neckwear was once seen as disrespectful, the relaxation of workplace dress codes has led to the arrival of crewneck sweaters, open collars and buttoned-down shirts of the type favoured by business leaders, such as Sir Richard Branson. But market analysts Mintel say ties are experiencing something of a renaissance.
Sales have made an impressive comeback and are expected to be worth no less than £162 million this year, having slumped from £158 million in 1999 to just £154 million by 2004 - 5 per cent up in three years.
And the report predicts a further 7 per cent growth for the market by 2011.
But rather than seeing a return to the workplace, British men are smartening up their act when heading for a night out. Influenced by the "Mod" revival in sharp suits and ties, spearheaded by movie stars such as Jude Law in Alfie and music stars, including Pete Doherty, right, Franz Ferdinand and Preston from the Ordinary Boys, men are now reaching for a tie before heading out for the night.
Fergus Robson, of John Lewis menswear in Edinburgh, said: "A lot of guys are wearing the skinny ties like the ones you see Russell Brand wearing, so we've expanded our lines of those. Rather than matching the colour with a suit shirt, the current fashion is for matching with a wristwatch, sweatband or other accessories. You will also see more contrasting colours, such as a black tie to go with a white shirt, and vice versa, rather than the pastel colours you would associate with a work tie.
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David Bird, a senior Mintel market analyst, said: "In recent years there has been a fashion role reversal, with many men dressing down for work and dressing up for a night out on the town.
"Around the start of the millennium, tie sales were falling as casual dressing and dress-down Fridays became the norm in offices, and working from home started to rise. But today the growth in popularity of Mod styles has meant wearing suits and ties is now a fashionable choice in pubs and clubs, undoubtedly giving the UK tie market a healthy boost.
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Mintel says men are opting for more appealing silk ties, with more than one in three (37 per cent) having bought one last year, compared with just one in five (20 per cent) who had bought a polyester one.
Ties represent over half of the £297 million market for men's accessories.
• NEVER mind dress-down Friday, it is dress-down every day of the week in some workplaces these days, writes Scottish fashion commentator John Davidson.
The resurgence is fuelled by a trend for casual tie-wearing which has worked its way down to the high street. Designers and manufacturers have had to work harder to make their ties appealing. Most high street ties are now silk, rather than nasty polyester, and the designs have been raised above the usual unappealing pastel shades.
Much like suits, ties have survived various fashion fads because of their practicality: you don't have to be thin to wear a Dior tie.
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