In the late 70s, we used to go to thrift shops and vintage shops to get authentic skinny ties from the late 50s/early 60s, imitating the postpunk bands we loved. Punks and postpunks would wear them either with narrow-lapeled, late 50s/early 60s suits or loosely knotted over torn T-shirts or sweatshirts, the latter done by men and women. Black was the most sought-after color, but I remember seeing black-n-white checkerboard ones and my favorite vintage ones to wear were a couple of grosgrain ones in narrow, diagonal stripes of green-n-black and yellow-n-black. Soon after, mainstream designers started showing skinny ties and I got many more, including a rust-colored suede one. The one I had that everyone liked best was an Armani one from about 1983 in a sort of Polynesian-look chevron print of electric blue on electric orange, cotton.