I stopped wearing a suit and tie for work when I was Western Australian Wheatbelt manager for an insurance company in the 1970s. When the state manager found out he started to have a go at me, but I quickly let him know that he was wasting his time.

My social life has revolved around ballroom dancing since I was 16. That's when my very smart mother told me that learning to dance was the best way of meeting girls. Years ago, a man wouldn't get into a dance without a tie, but those days are long gone, thank goodness. It's not generally known, but the strange outfits which are often worn by male dancers at competition or demonstration level are not ordinary good quality off-the-peg or made-to-measure suits. The jackets are specially made with extra room in the shoulders, because an ordinary well cut suit jacket would be too restrictive.

I'm now 90% retired, but I am a regular speaker at business seminars, something which I enjoy. I'm the only regular male speaker who does not wear a tie and one of the few who does not also wear a jacket. Funny thing, both the organisers and the audience seem quite comfortable with that and I certainly am.

Just recently, the WA state govt had a TV campaign, trying to reduce the sudden increase in power usage when people got home from work about 3pm or later and switched their airconditioners on. The campaign was a costly failure. Why should people be told to do without their aircon, when the pollies and bureaucrats need extra aircon in their workplaces, in a vain attempt to counter their addiction to wearing too much unnecessary clothing.

cont

There was an article in the West Australian a while back, quoting an environmentally aware architect. He made the point that office buildings have to be between 21C and 24C, "so that [men] can wear a jacket and tie". "This is costing us an absolute fortune in terms of greenhouse gases".

My view is that, except during the actual times of exceptionally hot weather, say over 35C, office aircon should be allowed only on a roster system, say two days a week. This would bring the brainwashed ones to their senses.

The man's suit was originally a horse riding outfit in the comparatively cool English climate. So why is it so popular in hotter countries like Australia, for everything from parties to funerals? My suggestion is a mixture of brainwash, superstition and vanity. Why vanity? Because almost any man can look OK in a well cut suit, regardless of his body type.

Whilst we're talking about useless items of clothing, I'd put swimwear and sleepwear into that category too. Don't rely on the rag trade moguls for guidance. They don't care whether or not our clothes are comfortable, attractive or healthy, all they care about is artificial obsolescence and money. They'd tell us what we simply must wear to go to the toilet in, if they thought they could get away with it!

Unless we go to work in shorts and thongs ,why not a tie ?

I like my ties - my old public school tie [for some reason still in the cupboard and with half the diagonal threads picked out]; the black tie for funerals; the "uppercrust" flashie striped tie to put on a bit of a front and the new favourite, a lovely piece of Aboriginal art work from someone I know ,to indicate my politics, plus a fair few that incredibly must have said something at the time of purchase .

And there's also a lot of satisfaction seeing my lads do a good Windsor knot.

Should we have to wear them?

Never.

Ties are wonderful things

They are the bright light shining from a dark suit

They are a conversatino piece (- although I do wonder why anyone wants to makes Elmer Fudd their conversation piece) I did have a glorious array of Marilyn Monroe ones, far more tastful and discerning.

The convey taste (a very individual thing).

They convey, for some kinship and the system of old school, something which I am alien to but none the less exists.

Ties are not uncomfortable.

My most expensive tie is Italian Silk and cost around $120 about 15 years ago.

They do more than repleat a well tailored suit.

They at least show who can do them up and who is limited to elastic substitutes. This applies to the bow tie as much as to the regular tie.

Doing up a bowtie from scratch is a difficult exercise which challenges most and far outweighs the rigors of a Windsor of half Windsor knot.

Anyway ties have also given opportunity for the ladies in my life to contribute to my wardrobe in a manner which can be as delightful as it is sometimes disasterous so that now I do suggest leave the choosing to the wearer.

To wear a tie tight around m' neck

Would turn me into a half-choked wreck!

I’d rather wear it 'round m' waste

And hang it out m' fly… in really bad taste!

(:>()

Are my jokes too obscure and below the belt?What no laughter?What was the vain actor's bow tie?Or is it just a matter go nads with no bow tie.