Clip-on tie

A clip-on tie is a bow tie or necktie which is permanently tied, and worn by attaching it to the front of the shirt collar by a clip. Alternately, especially in the case of bow ties, the tie may have a band around the neck fastened with a hook and eye.

Clip-on tie. Inset: Metal clip used to fasten it onto the front of a shirt

Reasons for use

The following are some reasons that this style of tie may be used:

• Tightly tied standard neckties may be a source of irritation and discomfort.
• Some people, particularly children, do not know how to tie a standard necktie, or do not feel comfortable tying one.
• Some persons with disabilities may be physically incapable of tying a tie, or only capable of it with extreme difficulty.
• Police officers and security guards often wear clip-ons as a precaution against being strangled by a pulled necktie. (With uniform, a tie clip may be used to keep the tie from "flying" in the wind.)
• Some schools require clip-on ties as part of their uniform instead of regular ties as this keeps students from loosening them in hot weather.
• A clip-on tie can be put on more quickly than a conventional necktie.
• A clip-on tie is used as a safety precaution in a manufacturing setting to avoid neck injury due to machine entanglement.

The clip-on tie was invented in Iowa in 1928 by Joseph W. Less to create safer neckties that people could wear at work.^[1][2]