Black Bow Tie in Silk Shantung Sized Butterfly Self Tie - Fort Belvedere

Fort Belvedere proudly offers a wide range of bow ties for day and formal evening wear. Our formal bow ties, perfect for Black or White ties, are individually sized and will be the perfect addition to any tuxedo ensemble. Our day bow ties prove that this versatile accessory is not just for eccentric dandies, but will appear elegant and dapper on any gentleman with our colorful selection of silk and wool challis options.

Black Bow Tie in Silk Shantung Sized Butterfly Self Tie

The black bow tie has famously given its name to the Black Tie Dress Code, but this accessory is also an essential requirement when wearing a tuxedo or dinner jacket ensemble. For the most
elegant appearance, it is important to match the facings of your tuxedo to your accessories like neckwear. Therefore, if your dinner jacket has shantung on the lapels, you should have a bow tie in the same material.

Shantung is a silk plain weave fabric with a ribbed surface, owing to its long silk weft yarns. Unlike most other silks, shantung has characteristic raw silk fibers that are not uniform in width, but varying as to thickness and thinness. This produces an irregular look that is appreciated by elegant gentlemen and connoisseurs of the unique and wonderful around the globe.

Fort Belvedere uses a fine shantung silk that has an unexpected and somewhat roughened matte appearance, which attracts all the right attention in exactly the right way. Because the bow
tie is self-tying, the quality of the material is put on full display with an unbroken, continuous neck that is perfectly sized to you, requiring no clunky and obstructing metal clasps.

Individually-sized evening neck is increasingly rare nowadays, and stands out as the choice of all discerning gentlemen.

You will not find a better black bow tie in silk shantung anywhere else!

What makes this black bow tie so special?

● Impeccable Materials. The perfect bow tie can only be achieved with the perfect fabric, so Fort Belvedere has sourced only the finest luxurious silk double warp faille from a renowned Italian silk mill. Almost all other faille bow ties utilize an inferior faille weave
because it is cheaper to make, but it also results in an inferior texture.

● A Rare Weave. Although well-known during the Golden Age of Menswear, shantung silk is rarely seen in evening wear today, despite its famous pedigree. Also known as Dupioni Silk, shantung is a preferred material for the facings on bespoke dinner jackets

● Handmade. This bow tie benefits from unique artisanal detailing, like a special cotton interlining that enhances the softness of the materials and improves shape, that can only
be achieved with careful, by-hand construction.

● Self-Tie Bow Tie. Pretied bow ties look clunky and juvenile, appearing overly artificial and being reminiscent of little boys. Learning how to tie a bow tie is an essential gentlemanly skill that is made easy with our step-by-step video.

● Fixed Sizing. To save money and effort, most formal bow ties on the market have an adjustable sizing clasp. Clunky hardwear can feel uncomfortable around your neck and will spoil the lines of your collar, especially if you are wearing a detachable wing collar.
Fort Belvedere is one of the few modern makers that offers a fixed-sized bow tie, perfectly suited to your personal measurements, and made from a solid piece of fabric so that there are no unsightly seams or lumps.

● Perfect Proportions. Styled with sleek bows that are reminiscent of the wings of a bat, this bow tie has dimensions of  approximately 4.75” by 1.75,” or 12 cm by 4.5 cm.

Black Bow Tie Style Tips

A perfectly symmetrical self-tied bow tie is almost impossible to achieve, and it too closely resembles the artificial appearance of a cheap-looking pre-tied bow tie. Therefore, take advantage of the spontaneity and unique look of a self-tied bow tie by embracing a nonchalant approach. How so? Intentionally leave one end of the bow tie a little longer than the other, or one side higher than the other, for an organic, sprezzatura-inspired appearance. You can also vary the tightness or looseness of the knot for more formal or casual looks. The result is a bow tie that is definitively styled your way and that will fit your personality.

The majority of modern bow ties come in only one or two boring styles with flimsy interlining. Fort Belvedere, however, has revived the classic bow tie varieties that made the glorious 1930s a part of the Golden Age of Menswear, with a bountiful collection of formal evening bow ties in a variety of shapes, materials, and sizes. This variety allows you to find the perfect bow tie to suit your face and your individual style.

Because of its soft, somewhat rough matte appearance, shantung silk pairs elegantly with a variety of other materials and will complement tuxedos with a satin, barathea, shantung, or faille lapel. It also pairs well with white or off-white evening shirts, studs or traditional buttons, and either traditional waist covering, be it a formal vest or cummerbund.

Similar to a very fine faille, shantung is for gentlemen who want to stand out in a subtle, nonchalant way and mark themselves as genuine menswear experts.

A black bow tie is an essential component of Black Tie, but do not forget other fine details! Be sure to select an appropriate waist covering, like a matching cummerbund, and consider a boutonniere as well: traditionally, gentlemen wore a rose or carnation with evening ensembles.