A bolo tie and a necktie do the same basic job: they finish a collared shirt and signal that you've made an effort. But they go about it in completely different spirits. I've worn plenty of both, and these days the bolo wins for me almost every time. Here's why.
Comfort
A necktie is a knot of fabric cinched at your throat — warm, a little constricting, and the first thing you loosen at the end of the night. A bolo leaves your collar open and your neck free. In heat, in humidity, on a long day, that difference is everything.
Character
Here's the big one. A necktie, however nice, is built to blend in — it follows the dress code and disappears. A bolo announces a point of view. It says you have your own taste and you're comfortable showing it. One is about fitting in; the other is about being yourself.
"A tie helps you fit in. A bolo helps you be yourself."
Versatility
A necktie is fairly one-note: business and formal, and that's about it. A bolo slides up for dressy and down for casual, looks right with a suit or with denim, and is worn beautifully by men and women alike. One piece, many moods.
Conversation
I'll be honest — no one has ever stopped me to compliment a necktie. A bolo, especially one with a real shell at the center, gets a comment nearly every time I wear it. It's a small thing, but a piece that makes people smile and ask is a piece worth owning.
When a necktie still wins
I'll be fair: there are moments for a traditional tie — a strict black-tie event, a formal dress code that calls for one, an industry where the necktie is simply expected. In those rooms, wear the tie. But for nearly everything else in life? Reach for the bolo.
— Aaron