Easy and efficient online shopping

If you tire quickly of traipsing up and down the department store aisles trying to find clothes for work while a salesperson asks you about your day, then perhaps shopping online is the answer for you.

When you know exactly what you want – such as a red and blue checked tie or a mauve scarf – the best approach is usually to conduct a quick internet catalogue search to check out the possibilities.

This is a fast and efficient way of scrolling through the options and finding the perfect garment for you, without having to get in the car or spend time scouring the shelves for hours only to walk away disappointed and empty-handed.

You can even take the process one step further and have a set of tailored ties designed and created especially to match your requests.

Customising your own ties means you that you can incorporate any particular feature that takes your fancy or include images, logos, words or signatures that hold significance to you.

They might be personal purchases in the colours and patterns you prefer, or business gifts with corporate branding worked subtly into the overall theme.

Create a brand new set of ‘vintage’ style ties

For a while now all things 'retro' have become rather fashionable, with style-conscious individuals turning to a variety of interesting pieces to add a unique edge to their look.

With sartorial favourites from the past – such as nude stockings made famous by the Duchess of Cambridge and pointed shoes for men – coming full circle back to popularity, it has opened up a whole new world for shoppers to explore.

The trend even extends to business wear, with corporate types shaking up their wardrobes by mixing contemporary designs with existing pieces to create a more traditional feel to their suits, shirts and ties.

And while for some this fashion movement provides a chance to pick up some bargain buys at op-shops or second hand stores – with the intention of working the items into their existing ensembles – other people prefer to manufacture a retro appearance rather than buy the real thing.

Understandably, wearing somebody else's old tie might not be a very appealing proposition.

The simple solution is to think about what your ideal new piece would look like if you gave it a vintage twist by way of patterns or prints from a past era.

You can then take this vision and have a set of unique tailored ties created for you – a sure way to stand out at the office for all the right reasons.

Congratulate somebody special with a tailored tie

Has a colleague, close friend or family just achieved something amazing that you would like to commemorate with a special gift?

Perhaps they just landed their dream job, won a prestigious award in their industry or completed a master's degree and will be looking to join the full-time workforce.

Whatever the momentous occasion is, you may well want to mark it by doing something outside the box that shows them just how proud you are.

One great idea could be to neatly wrap a beautiful tailored tie and leave as a surprise on their desk or present to them at a celebration dinner.

Rather than simply buying an item off the rack in a department store or choosing the best piece from an online catalogue, you could go a step further and actually customise the design and colour of the tie to your desired specifications.

This means you can even have the recipient's initials embroidered subtly into the design or include any other features that make the tie unique.

As they might only choose to wear it sparingly on special occasions, this is potentially a gift that lasts many years and will be greatly treasured as a memento of a fine achievement.

A bolder look for the contemporary corporate

As you walk around the city streets during business hours this season you may notice more stripes and checks than ever before.

And while it may seem like this trend popped up out of nowhere, the reality is that businesspeople have been looking to diversify their corporate attire with increased colour and pattern for a while now.

Gone are the days where only a white or blue shirt was appropriate to wear to a job interview and ties were expected to be plain and simple.

The contemporary office worker is just as likely to attend a meeting or deliver a presentation in a shirt with striped shades of purple and a vibrant tie as they are to bring out a traditional suit.

Colour combinations and pattern-on-pattern layering is perfectly acceptable in almost all settings – a fact fashion-conscious individuals are usually keen to take advantage of.

So next time you go online shopping for a whole new corporate ensemble, remember to do your research and consider that stripes, checks and interesting tones can actually help you stand out from the crowd.

Back-to-school tie shopping for teachers

It is back-to-school week right across Australia and while kids lament the end of the summer holidays and parents fret about uniforms, stationery and packed lunches, it is also a big change of pace for thousands of teachers.

After a few months of spending extra quality time with family or enjoying an overseas trip, in late January and early February you have to switch back to work mode and prepare your first few weeks of lessons.

While it might take a small period of adjustment before you get right back into the swing of things, why not take the opportunity to start the new year off with an upgraded image and some quality additions to your work wardrobe?

Walk into the staffroom and receive instant approval of your business shirt and complementary unique tie – the school principal and your colleagues will be impressed, while students will know straight away that you are there to start teaching.

And since you are already in a shopping mode it might be a good idea to also add some new business socks, a belt and decent pens to the list.

Well-dressed staff might boost your business image

you a business owner or manager looking to find an edge over the competition?

Along with your repeat business, word of mouth, promotional materials and online marketing strategies, it might well be a good idea to consider alternative avenues that can also make a difference to how your brand is perceived.

One idea might be to use the appearance of your staff to make a professional impression that reflects positively on the company and its level of service.

This could be particularly beneficial for a bricks and mortar retail store or growing chain, where customers will gradually begin to identify with a specific work outfit, colour scheme or logo.

Rather than a situation where employees simply wear a dark pair of trousers or skirt with a collared shirt of their choice – often making the staff indistinguishable from the customers – why not create an ensemble that is both presentable and promotional?

A corporate gifts package including quality ties and scarves – that display the brand name or logo – will be appreciated by your workers, especially given that many people find choosing what to wear to work a difficult process every morning.

Ties feature prominently in GQ best-dressed men list

GQ magazine has nominated the 50 best-dressed men in Britain for 2012 – and it is no surprise to see plenty of celebrities on the list known to favour a quality tie.

From contemporary business ties and trendy skinny versions to bold bowties, the list was filled with fashion-conscious men from the worlds of film, music, sport, politics and more.

The top prize went to English rapper Tinie Tempah – often seen publicly suited up and sporting a black bowtie – while other notable high achievers included Doctor Who star Matt Smith and The Social Network's Andrew Garfield in the top five.

Both Smith and Garfield make red carpet appearances in classic single-tone tailored ties, combined superbly with a crisp white or pale blue shirt and striking modern suit in a slim fit.

GQ said of the list that appears in its February issue released Thursday: "It reflects the enormous variety of different styles that make up the quintessential British look – from the sharpest Savile Row suits to the hippest hip-hop swagger.

"That is why the world still looks to these islands for inspiration – and even an education in what to wear."

But while sartorial 'variety' might indeed be a feature of the top 50, a glance at the top ten reveals that without the ability to look good in a tie a man might struggle to figure prominently in the future.

Corporate gifts to recognise staff achievements and milestones

If you are a small business operator with a dedicated and loyal staff, chances are one or more of your employees will reach an important milestone in the future.

Whether it be a five-year anniversary of service, record sales period or any other achievement within the company, recognising these types of events can be a great way to keep morale high and show everyone that the boss is on their side.

Rather than a simple pat on the back and customary 'thanks, keep up the good work', why not extend your congratulations to a particular staff member or team of employees by way of corporate gifts?

It might only take a small financial outlay and minimal effort on your part to make a big difference when it comes to job satisfaction and staff retention.

A gift package with a personalised tie and engraved set of cufflinks is likely to provide a very welcome surprise to a worker who thoroughly deserves the acknowledgement for consistently valuable performance over a long period of time.

New employees are also likely to take note of the gesture and naturally assume that they have made the right decision to join a caring, forward-thinking enterprise.

Tony Abbott sticks with the business tie he knows in GQ shoot

Tony Abbott appears in the February edition of GQ magazine released today (January 30), with the opposition leader showing off a sense of sartorial style far removed from his renowned penchant for 'budgie smugglers' that periodically grabs the attention of the nation.

Wearing a tailored black suit, crisp white shirt and pale blue tie for the entire photo shoot, Mr Abbott looks comfortable with his appearance – perhaps because all the clothes are in fact his own.

While GQ Australia editor Nick Smith told The Australian last Thursday (January 26) that the magazine wanted to dress Australia's potential next prime minister in something Barack Obama or Robert De Niro might wear, Mr Abbott was "pretty adamant" about staying true to his own sense of fashion, according to Smith.

"I like this suit" and "I like this tie" were Mr Abbott's polite refusals to the offer of changing into something chosen by Smith and his team.

And one certainly can't blame the 44-year-old for knowing what he wants, nor for his choice of understated yet elegant outfit.

Choosing the right business tie is all about matching the colour or pattern with a sense for the occasion and your own personality.

People feel their most confident when dressed in clothes they enjoy wearing, which makes tailored ties ideal for businessmen who want to stand out for their sophistication and professional appearance.

Enjoying live performances in your best suit and unique tie

There is often no better evening out than a trip to the theatre or a few hours listening to one of your favourite voices perform live on stage.

Every year Australia plays host to some of the world's great artists from all genres, especially in the capital cities where first-class venues such as the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne's Crown Casino and the Brisbane Entertainment Centre attract sell-out crowds.

Prime examples are the Tony Bennett concerts to be held at the Opera House Concert Hall Monday April 9 and Wednesday April 11, with the jazz and pop veteran sure to delight audiences with his smooth tones and old-school charm.

But there is so much more to events such as this than just taking your seat, enjoying the show and heading home afterwards.

It is an opportunity to dress to impress, with more formal attire than you might normally wear on the weekend becoming not only appropriate, but highly encouraged.

Put on a crisp shirt, tailored trousers and jacket, and a quality unique tie – you can be confident that Tony Bennett will suit up for the occasion – and take a friend or date out for a special evening looking your absolute best.