Retirement Gifts for Men: A Silk Tie He Will Still Wear
Alice NguyenQuick answer: a silk tie is a good retirement gift for a man who wore one to work and still dresses up for dinners and weddings. If you are unsure, choose the navy diagonal stripe tie, 3.1 inches (8 cm) wide, at $142. If he wears French cuffs, choose a tie and cufflinks set at $191. Order about four weeks ahead.
In this guide: Why a tie · Which one · Our pick · Who is giving it · When to skip it · The hand-over · The card · Timing · Questions
The retirement party is in a few weeks, and the office has already bought the usual things: the engraved plaque, the card everyone signs, the sheet cake. You want to give him one object that is not a plaque, something he can put on and wear without anyone thinking about the job.
Why does a silk tie work as a retirement gift?
He may not need a tie at the office again, but weddings, funerals, church and good restaurants still ask for one. A gift he wears at the next of those events is used more often than a plaque on a shelf.
A tie also needs no size, so you do not have to guess a collar or a wrist. The only decision is color, and navy is the easy answer.
Our ties are woven jacquard, so the pattern is part of the silk and not printed on top. When he holds the tie, he can see the weave in the cloth, which a printed tie does not show.
Which silk tie fits the man who is retiring?
Choose by his shirts and his weekends. If he owns French-cuff shirts, pick a set with cufflinks. If he wears a tie a few times a year, the single tie is enough. Every necktie below is 100% mulberry silk, and the standard width is 3.1 inches (8 cm), with a length of 57 inches (145 cm).
| Gift | Price | Best for | Where he wears it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woven silk tie, 3.1 in (8 cm): stripe, dot grid, check | $142 | A colleague, a friend, or a man who owns a few ties | Weddings, church, dinners out |
| Dragon pattern silk tie | $167 | A man who likes a bolder woven design | Days he wants the tie noticed |
| Tie and cufflinks set (navy dot, obsidian, emerald) | $191 | A husband or a father who owns French-cuff shirts | Formal dinners; see how to wear cufflinks with a silk tie |
| Dragon pattern tie and cufflinks set | $224 | A family gift when the budget allows a bolder design | The days he dresses up |
| 36 in (90 cm) silk square scarf | $153 | A man who never wore ties | At the neck, under an open collar |
These prices are on our silk necktie collection and our 36 inch silk scarf collection today. Shipping is free over $90.
Which pattern is the safest?
Navy or dark blue with a small woven pattern: a fine stripe, a dot grid or a check. It sits well with white and light blue shirts and with gray and charcoal suits. Bolder colors suit a man who already wears them. Our guide to choosing a silk tie covers width, length and pattern in more detail.
Woven or printed?
Every tie here is woven. A woven pattern holds its detail close up, while a printed one sits on the surface. The jacquard versus printed silk ties guide shows the two side by side, and this reference on the necktie covers its history.
Which tie should you pick if you cannot decide?
Our pick is the navy diagonal stripe tie at $142. It goes with the shirts he already owns and does not depend on a hobby you may have guessed wrong. If he wears French cuffs, buy the $191 tie and cufflinks set instead, so he does not have to find cufflinks himself.
Who is giving the gift, and what should it be?
A family gift and an office gift are not the same size of gesture.
| Who is giving | Best match | Why |
|---|---|---|
| His wife or partner | The $142 navy tie, or the $191 set if he wears French cuffs | Personal enough to feel like a gift from home, and easy for him to accept. See gifts for husband |
| His son or daughter | The $142 navy tie, or the $191 set if he wears French cuffs | Familiar colors and no sizing. See the father-in-law gift guide for the same logic |
| A team of colleagues | One $142 tie, with the cost shared and one card signed by everyone | One good tie from the whole team is easier to receive than several small gifts |
| A boss or a mentor leaving | Often a group gift; for a solo gift see gifts for boss | A tie bought by one person at $142 can feel more personal than the working relationship allows |
When is a silk tie the wrong retirement gift?
A tie is wrong when he left the tie behind years ago. If he worked in a workshop or a classroom with an open collar and has not knotted one by choice, it will go in a drawer and neither of you will say so. Ask yourself when he last wore a tie because he wanted to. If it was last month, go ahead.
A silk scarf can fill that gap. A 36 inch (90 cm) square at $153 sits at the neck under an open collar. Our guide on how a man can wear a silk scarf shows the neck, pocket and collar styles.
This is also not a gift for every budget. Our ties start at $142. If that is more than you want to spend, a handwritten letter about what he taught you is a better gift than a cheaper tie.
How do you hand it over at the party?
Every Folk Form order includes a gift box, so there is nothing to wrap unless you want to. Give it in person if you can, and say what you noticed. "I saw how often you reached for the navy one" works better than mentioning the price. For folds and boxes, see the gift wrapping guide.
What should you write on a retirement card for a man?
Two short lines are enough, one about him and one about what comes next. Pick the line that fits.
- From his family: "Congratulations. This one is for the days you choose to dress up."
- From colleagues: "Thank you for the years of good work. Wear this somewhere you choose to go."
- From a friend: "Congratulations on your retirement. Here is something for the dinners ahead."
We suggest leaving out the price and "you deserve it"; a specific line about him reads better.
How far ahead should you order for a retirement date?
Order about four weeks before the party. Orders ship from Hanoi, the tie leaves within 1 to 3 business days, and US delivery takes 9 to 15 business days after that, so the full range is up to 18 business days, a little under four weeks. Order at the start of that window, with a few days spare.
If the gift is not right, we offer a gift exchange on orders up to $200, and returns are open for thirty days. The last question below has the detail.
If you are shopping for others too, our silk scarf gift guide and the guide to retirement gifts for women cover them.
Retirement tie gift questions
What is a good retirement gift for a man who has everything?
A well-made silk tie, or a tie and cufflinks set. It is small, it needs no size, and he can wear it to the next dinner or wedding. Our woven silk ties start at $142.
How much should you spend on a retirement gift for a man?
Our ties run from $142 to $224. For a colleague or a friend, the $142 tie is enough. For a husband or a father who owns French-cuff shirts, the $191 set is the better fit.
What if he never wore a tie to work?
Then skip the tie. A 36 inch (90 cm) silk square scarf at $153 goes at the neck under an open collar, and our guide on how a man can wear a silk scarf shows how.
Is the tie real silk?
Yes. Our ties are 100% mulberry silk, woven as jacquard, so the pattern is part of the cloth.
How early should you order for a retirement party?
About four weeks before the date. The tie leaves within 1 to 3 business days and US delivery takes 9 to 15 business days after that, so the stated range is up to 18 business days, a little under four weeks.
Can he exchange it if it is not right?
For orders up to $200 we offer a gift exchange with no return shipping. Orders above $200, such as the $224 dragon pattern set, follow the standard thirty-day return terms.
