For Alfred Hitchcock, it could be a murder weapon. For a doting father, the perfect gift. In the eyes of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, it's a symbol of Western oppression, and for talking heads with airtime to kill, it's an indicator of a candidate's commitment. The necktie means different things to different people. But for most, the faithful four-fold is a sensible, if functionally mysterious, supplement to a man's wardrobe. Fattened up for winter, this season's chunky cashmere and wool ties are more masculine than the silky sea of marine life that floods the summer party scene. Brooks Brothers and Paul Stuart keep it simple in solids, while Peter Elliot and Isaia offer classic stripes. If you're a stickler for utility, when the cold wind blows and your tie is as likely to whip against your brow as cover your buttons, textured tie-ons from Barneys, Borrelli, and Belvest feel as good as they look.

(Clockwise from top left)

Peter Elliot
Cashmere tie in purple with a black stripe, $195; 212-570-2301.

Borrelli
Cashmere tie, $195; luigiborrelli.com.

Brooks Brothers
Woven cashmere tie in light blue, $125; brooksbrothers.com.

Barneys New York
Wool and cashmere tie, $125; barneys.com.

Isaia
Cashmere tie, $220; isaia.it.

Paul Stuart
Solid wool tie in lilac, $89.50; paulstuart.com.

Belvest
Cashmere and silk tie, $215; belvest.com.

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