What to do with ties after retirement?

[David1961]

To me, nothing represents the grind of work more that ties. I once knew a guy who on his last day of work, brought in all his work ties and signed each one and gave to a co-worker. I've also known people who have made ties into a pillow case. Of course, you can always give to Goodwill, but has anyone heard of other creative ways to dispose of their ties after retirement?

 

[bbbamI]

Here are some ideas...

Recently, at an open mic night event my husband and I attended with friends, I noticed an interesting use of a recycled necktie. Seeing this reminded me of a skirt I saw years ago in the same medium. So I got to thinking, what else can you create from old neckties?


New Ideas for Old Neckties | Wise Bread

Another idea that tickled me was stuffing an old tie, sewing some buttons on for eyes...thus turning it into a snake.

 

[73ss454]

Never thought about it, when I left work I put all my suits, sport jackets and ties into the car and dropped them off at Goodwill. Oh yeah, I kept one suit so DW would have something to bury me in, but lately I've been thinking of becoming a crispy critter so I may not need it after all.

 

[W2R]

Generally retirees still need a tie occasionally, for funerals, weddings, and such. A couple of favorite ties will probably be enough. Maybe you could take the rest to GoodWill for someone else to use.

 

[Alan]

I kept a few ties, a couple of pairs of good trousers plus 2 suits, a smart brown one and a dark one for funerals. Not worn the smart one since retiring but had to use the funeral suit far too many times for my liking.

I also got rid of a bunch of long sleeve smart shirts to Goodwill I used to wear at work, but I've still got too many and should really make another trip to Goodwill.

 

[Bluemoon]

I was a tie buy for a retail chain and owned about 75 ties, when I retired I kept 3 ties and gave the rest to my brother-in-law. Have since outgrown my suits and sport jackets and in the 8 years since I've retired haven't had the need for one. If the occassion arises I will buy a navy blazer or a suit

 

[freebird5825]

Mr B has dozens and dozens of them. I've been hinting to him to go through them, keep the really cool ones and give away the rest.
It ain't happened yet.

 

[W2R]

Mr B has dozens and dozens of them. I've been hinting to him to go through them, keep the really cool ones and give away the rest.
It ain't happened yet.

F. not only has dozens and dozens of his own, but also ended up with dozens and dozens more when his uncle passed away. Some of them are really striking! Some are very classy, and some are not the type that he would wear. I don't recall but I think he gave most of them to Goodwill. We made a lot of Goodwill runs when we were preparing for the move-that-never-happened.

I gave away almost all of the fancy clothes that I needed for formal work meetings and conferences. I kept one very nice outfit and matching shoes for funerals.

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

I have not worn a tie for decades. I had to buy one with the suit when our DD got married.

DW made most of them into quilts. I lost a beautiful pink paisley tie that way (homage to Tom Wolfe). I still get to look at it, though.

I still hold on to a Jurassic Park tie, with a tyrannosaurus painted on it on it. 'S byootiful, man.My old a**hole boss had no idea what it was.

 

[REWahoo]

Back in the day our company president sent out a confidential note to all the male employees at corp HQ that the following Friday would be a clandestine "ugly tie day" with a $100 prize awarded to the worst in show. None of the female employees were clued in on the contest. Of course it only took a couple of minutes on Friday for them to figure it out, but you should have seen some of the looks on their faces...

 

[braumeister]

Thanks for starting this. It never occurred to me, and I have dozens of them in a closet. Haven't worn one in years. I think that will be a project for this weekend. I'll pick out 5 or so, and take the rest to Goodwill.

It might even be interesting, when I ask DW if the five I pick out are the best ones to keep, or if she would choose different ones. Maybe I'll just ask her to choose them in the first place. Yeah, that's the ticket.

 

[Amethyst]

I use silk ties, when I can get them, in quilting projects. I used to be able to get silk ties at thrift stores, but that source seems to have dried up - possibly because the $$ in my area is based on IT work, and geeks don't wear ties.

Amethyst

 

[freebird5825]

I use silk ties, when I can get them, in quilting projects. I used to be able to get silk ties at thrift stores, but that source seems to have dried up - possibly because the $$ in my area is based on IT work, and geeks don't wear ties.

Amethyst

Set up a PO Box, and we can send you all the ties that need to "go away".

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

Set up a PO Box, and we can send you all the ties that need to "go away".

Cruel, too cruel. Would a loving, considerate husband do this to his wife? At least I get to look at my wonderful pink paisley masterpiece.

 

[Midpack]

Thanks for starting this. It never occurred to me, and I have dozens of them in a closet. Haven't worn one in years. I think that will be a project for this weekend. I'll pick out 5 or so, and take the rest to Goodwill.

+1. Me too...

 

[Amethyst]

If anyone has genuine silk ties to give away, PM me and we can talk

Set up a PO Box, and we can send you all the ties that need to "go away".

 

[freebird5825]

Cruel, too cruel. Would a loving, considerate husband do this to his wife? At least I get to look at my wonderful pink paisley masterpiece.

Hee hee heeeeee

 

[freebird5825]

If anyone has genuine silk ties to give away, PM me and we can talk

I'd love to, but Mr B might have a canary if I messed with his tie collection.
I'll gently remind him again when he is done with school.

 

[FreeAtLast]

I must have about 60 ties which hang in the closet. I do attend an event once in awhile that requires a tie. I guess that I will most of them to my son and keep a few for the occasional events that I attend.

 

[mh]

sew them together lengthwise and you've the world's most stylish poncho.

 

[Nords]

Back in the day our company president sent out a confidential note to all the male employees at corp HQ that the following Friday would be a clandestine "ugly tie day" with a $100 prize awarded to the worst in show. None of the female employees were clued in on the contest. Of course it only took a couple of minutes on Friday for them to figure it out, but you should have seen some of the looks on their faces...

My father won one of those contests in the late 1970s with a cute little burlap number that included both a lined pen/pencil pocket and a calculator pouch with a snap closure. What put him over the top was that my mother actually had a pattern for a tie of that size, a sewing-machine needle that could handle burlap, and the crimping tool to install a snap closure.

Yes, he's an EE and it was the Westinghouse nuclear division.

 

[scrabbler1]

We had one of those "Ugly Tie" contests at my old company about 20 years ago. I remember the winning tie which was bought from "Joe's Junk Shop" and still had its price tag (25 cents) attached to it LOL! Second place was a crumpled tie from the bottom of another guy's bag after he got out of the military before he joined our company. It was an ugly yellow-puke-green color and had an image of a fruit salad. It was so crumpled that the end of it stuck out horizontally. Funny day.

I have not worn ties regularly after my former company got rid of its dress code in May of 1998. I have about 20 or 30 ties but only a few of them I really like wearing, the ones I have worn once or twice a year when I have had to attend formal events such as weddings or funerals. I probably should get rid of the rest of them at this point.

 

[Koolau]

I love this place. Just wear a tie here every day until you run out.

No Ties Allowed

 

[braumeister]

Great thread!
Went through the collection yesterday, and I'll be bringing 32 of them, all pretty decent ties, over to Goodwill this afternoon. Kept 10, a few for fun, the rest boring but useful when needed.

 

[JOHNNIE36]

I asked DW about this and she said a friend of hers had the idea about sewing them all together and made a quilt. Thought she had enough ties but ended up having to beg other friends to raid their closets for out of date ties. DW said the quilt was beautiful.