Curious about The Tie Bar or Boston Scally? Let me tell you why I love these style brands and, most importantly, my take on how modest-man-friendly they are.
Here’s a sports metaphor I use regarding building an easy-to-navigate but still stylish closet. In any game, the most important thing is scoring — achieving a good-looking outfit is scoring. However, to accommodate changing circumstances, you need multiple ways to get there. Lionel Messi can unlock defense by dribbling right through them or via an impeccably weighted pass.
I know what you’re thinking. “So, I need multiple garments and style strategies to achieve a good outfit? How is that easy?” Nope. Your endless tactics should come in the form of accessories — ties, scarves, belts, jackets, hats, and watches. This is where The Tie Bar and Boston Scally come in.
Despite having a strictly minimalist closet, The Tie Bar has helped me become a bit of a Lionel Messi of style. I’ve taken the same shirt-pant combo from one event to another by switching ties, adding a vest, or throwing on a scarf.
When their team asked if I wanted to sample and review some pieces, I jumped at it. In addition to ties, hats, and outerwear, I even received a suit, something I’d never tried from The Tie Bar. I even got to try pieces from their Long Weekend Collection, a collaboration with Camp Wandawega.
Did the suit and Boston Scally hats live up to my expectations? And did the new accessories continue to impress? Most importantly, should shorter men even consider them? Here’s everything you need to know. Don’t worry; just because I’ve had good experiences with The Tie Bar in the past doesn’t mean I’ll be holding back.
My Build
I’m 5’7” and a half (easily 5’8″ and up in shoes) and 130 lbs at my fittest. Still, I’m generally a “skinny” guy. I have a 35” chest and wear XS tops. My waist is a size 28, which means I even have to get XS shirts tailored half the time. I figured knowing this could help you figure out how you might fit into these shirts, suit pieces, and vest.
The Tie Bar and Boston Scally: A Quick Take
I tried so many pieces, each of which offered different experiences. So, I thought I’d give a brief overview before I go into granular detail about each item. First off, here are the pieces I tried:
From The Tie Bar:
From The Tie Bar X Camp Wandawega Long Weekend Collection:
From Boston Scally:
I’ll start by saying that the pieces didn’t disappoint overall. The Tie Bar and Boston Scally both offer highly compelling value propositions. They’re well-made, look great, and provide a wide variety of styles. Truly, A+.
There’s really something for every personal style and, mercifully, every occasion. Going to a tiki party and need island-themed accessories? Perhaps you need a festive tie for a Christmas cocktail. The Tie Bar saves you from choosing between buying a $500 Christmas-esque Prada tie that you’ll only wear once a year or buying a cheap novelty tie that might give you a rash.
I’d say The Tie Bar is indeed short-man friendly, for the most part. The XS shirts were truly XS, which isn’t the case for all clothiers. The suit might need a second round of tailoring. This doesn’t deeply offend me. I think all suits should be tailored no matter how well they initially fit you, anyway.
As for Boston Scally, I’m definitely more of a size M/L than a size S. Of course, this has more to do with my head size rather than my modest height, though.
Alright, now the specifics.
The Tie Bar: About the Brand and a Hands-on Review
The Tie Bar was founded in the Chicago area in 2004 with the goal of providing premium style at high-value prices. They do this by going directly to the consumer, not via construction shortcuts. Since its founding, The Tie Bar has been on a steady rise. They boast features in GQ, The Times, and Esquire, as well as partnerships with Dwayne Wade and Jesse Tyler Ferguson.
Let’s get to The Tie Bar clothes!
The Lakeshore Wool Flannel Suit
I received the Lakeshore Flannel Pants and the Lakeshore Flannel Jacket in grey. I requested their smallest sizes, which, again, were a 36 R jacket and size 28 pants with 32 inseams.
Starting with the style and quality, I can’t believe such a well-structured, deceivingly detailed 100% wool suit adds up to just $400. Since the fabric is clearly premium, I looked for poorly stitched buttonholes or linings, a heavily rolled lapel, or even a lack of extra buttons. No avail. It’s perfectly crafted.
In fact, details like added knee linings to ensure comfort show how labored-over this design is.
Style-wise, this suit is what I like to call traditional but always relevant. It’s well-balanced. For example, the lapels are bigger, a popular look in the ‘30s, ‘70s, ‘80s, and today. However, the negative space provided by the deep, wide drop tempers this width. It’s either cleverly timeless or forever trendy — I haven’t decided.
The Lakeshore combines the professionalism of an untextured suit with the cozy elegance of a shawl cardigan. It almost wears like my velvet-lapel shawl tuxedo jacket.
The drop also provides more exposure for an extra layer over your shirt. This means you can easily transform this suit’s vibe using added layers. For a sleek, urbane look, I wore a fitted black cashmere crewneck sweater under the jacket and over my dress shirt. For a preppier style, I wore a v-neck cable-knit sweater vest under the jacket and over a button-down.
My only complaint, if you can call it that, is that the suit fit me poorly out of the box despite having chosen their smallest size. I could’ve gotten away with wearing the pants pre-tailoring, but certainly not the jacket. I’ve definitely had suit jackets that fit me better pre-tailoring.
Is the Lakeshore Suit Modest-Man-Friendly?
Ultimately, I’ll say yes. I’m on the taller side of the below-average category (5’7”) and definitely on the thinner side of thin (135 lbs). That being the case, I don’t think most short, thin men will get away with wearing these suit pieces pre-tailoring.
However, I still give it my thumbs-up for the modest man community because you should get your suits tailored anyway. This is especially true with a well-made suit.
Yes, I know that some of us have found suit jackets from short-guy-specific brands or even the boy’s section with pretty good fits. I still don’t think those situations mean you can completely avoid tailoring. They just mean you can put tailoring off. A suit needs to fit like a glove.
Full Placket Pointelle Polo
This full-placket pointelle polo comes in three colors: navy, cilantro, and ivory. I opted for ivory. If you told me I’d enjoy wearing an open-knit polo before I received this shirt, I’d say you were mad. Yet, just as The Tie Bar converted me to big lapels, they changed my mind here.
The aesthetic is crochet-adjacent but in a more mid-century man’s way rather than a grandmother’s way. This is because the weave is open but not overly loose; it’s more like a sophisticated topographical pattern.
You could wear this polo at a pool party with nothing underneath. Or, as I did since it’s currently autumn at the time of this writing, with a silk shirt underneath. Funny enough, the silk shirt I chose is something I wear around the house for comfort. It’s definitely too dandified for me to wear in public. Yet, underneath this polo, it adds a subtle sheen and an ascot-like collar.
The point I’m making is that you’d be surprised by what you can do with this shirt. Its versatility is its biggest strength.
It’s also impressively constructed — light and comfortable yet sturdy. Tie Bar constructs this shirt with mercerized cotton, which means they treat it for extra strength and luster.
Is the Full Placket Pointelle Polo Modest-Man-Friendly?
Without a shadow of a doubt, 100% yes — and impressively so.
Truly, 90% of the time, I have to tailor the sleeves of XS short-sleeve shirts from other brands. Even if the body fits okay, I’ve gotten used to accepting that the sleeves will be too wide or too long. Or, I’ll have to cuff them, which I do often.
The sleeves of this polo fall just above the mid-bicep and aren’t too loose or tight.
Retro Diamond Polo
This polo comes in two colors: Cafe, a deep brown, and camel, a classic tan, which I chose. Overall, this shirt is for any guy who wants to look classy but not stuffy. As someone who needs to wear a full suit and tie to work every single weekday, I avoid formal fashion whenever I can. However, I’m also not a jeans-and-t-shirt kind of guy.
Enter the Retro Diamond Polo.
I know this 100% merino wool top looks autumnal, but I think you can wear it on cooler summer and spring days as well—at least with the camel version. Imagine it with a pair of cream chino shorts and sockless loafers. I plan on wearing it on a boat with shorts and topsiders in the summer.
In the winter and autumn, this polo looks particularly natural with flannel trousers (like the Lakeshore pants, for example). It’s so effortlessly stylish that I’ve treated it like a fashion hack. By that, I mean I go straight for it when I don’t want to think about how to dress for the day. It balances casualness with formality so well. You can top any pair of pants with it and come out looking great.
Is the Retro Diamond Polo Modest-Man-Friendly?
Yes, just like the Pointelle Polo, this Retro Camel Polo comes in a true XS. Based on these two shirts, I’m fully confident in The Tie Bar’s size inclusivity when it comes to their shirts.
The lines of this polo fall cleanly without being too close to the body, and the shoulders sit perfectly and comfortably. I find this shirt highly flattering.
Merino Library Sweater Vest
The Merino Library Sweater Vest comes in a mostly black Twilight colorway and a brown Latte colorway. I went for the Latte. As its name suggests, this vest has a fall-friendly academic aesthetic.
I’ve always been a fan of sweater vests (I’m thin, and I get cold). However, I tend to go for creams, pastels, and cable knits. This vest has a more grown-up look to it, though—more professor, less student. As such, its inclusion in my closet has fully leveled up my rotation.
Whether you like a truly trad style or an eclectic grandpa approach, this sweater vest will do the job. Just style it accordingly. Or just throw it over any button-up and pants to add a class factor.
I’m also impressed with the fantastic 100% Merino wool build. The buttonholes are tight and strong, but not impossible. The hems are solid and hang cleanly despite the fit not being extra tight.
Is the Merino Library Sweater Vest Modest-Man-Friendly?
This vest works on short men and thin men if you like a classic fit. Button-front sweater vests shouldn’t be tight, in my opinion. Perhaps you want a slimmer fit with a pull-over cashmere sweater vest but not a library-style button-up vest.
The lines are still straight when I wear it, but there’s plenty of give. Now, does that mean you can’t wear it under a suit? I think it depends on your style. Sure, a slimmer vest won’t interrupt how your suit jacket falls. However, I wore this vest under the Lakeshore suit with the suit jacket buttoned, and I found the silhouette dynamic but neat.
The Tie Bar X Camp Wandawega, Long Weekend Collection Hands-on Review
Camp Wandawega is a retreat for artists and creatives right on Lake Wandawega in Wisconsin. They and The Tie Bar teamed up to create Long Weekend, a collection of refined accessories celebrating camp life and the outdoors.
I’m a New Yorker who attends several formal events, cocktails, and black-ties. However, I’d almost rather be grouse hunting, riding horses, or just running around the woods with my dog. This collection was made for me.
Even if you aren’t outdoorsy, the line exudes a retro-cool, happy-but-not-corny stylishness. The designs are elegant, and the construction is top-notch.
The Wandawega Neck Ties
Both ties I received were beautiful. They were made from 100% Italian silk and hand-finished in the USA. According to the product description, the pattern of the camp’s wood-paneled walls inspired the charming lining.
The Wandawega Flock Plaid Lily Pad Tie is my favorite. It’s a vivid green tie featuring a print of ducks throughout a grid pattern that looks like minimalist plaid. The balance of the outdoorsy motif with the sheen of the silk makes it perfect for cocktail attire.
The Wandawega Fetch Chocolate Tie is a simple, mostly solid brown tie. The deep brown silk is lustrous yet understated. The hunting dog print at the blade is as classic as a 19th-century sporting painting.
Wandawega Migration Harvest Orange Bandana
This Wandawega Migration Harvest Orange bandana is handmade with 100% silk, so it felt great against my skin. The delightful mallard pattern sits on a hunter-orange background that simply shines on silk.
It’s an excellent option for a classy statement piece whether you love camping and hunting or not. After all, bird motifs and patterns are evergreen. Meanwhile, that orange hue stands out but isn’t gauche.
Personally, I thought it looked lovely on my dog.
Wandawega Dive Bar Plaid Navy Socks
These Wandawega Dive Bar Plaid socks surprised me the most. They’re so well-made. They’re cozy and comfortable and not too thick or too thin. They’re well-structured enough not to ride down even as I’m walking. I’m used to either super thin dress socks, super thick winter socks, or really high ones to ensure they don’t ride down.
Of course, they feature a fantastic design based on a vintage pattern the team found in old catalogs. The red, white, and blue combination is timeless (why do you think so many national flags use these colors?). However, the added yellow-gold accents make them pop even more.
Boston Scally: About the Brand
Boston Scally, as its name indicates, is based in Boston. And frankly, the only other place I’d trust to find scally caps would be England. I love how story-forward the brand and its designs are. Boston Scally embraces this hat as a cultural symbol of the city’s resilience and humor.
I’m endeared by this, as I lived in Boston on and off for the better part of ten years.
Boston Scally Hands-On Review
As mentioned, Boston Scally sent me the Underdog cap in a small and the Halloween Rose in a medium/large.
Both caps boasted strong architecture, a sturdy but not uncomfortably rigid brim, and a soft but stable band. Construction-wise, I’ve no complaints. These are clearly well-built hats.
The Underdog is a six-panel design that sits closer to the scalp for a more “body-con” fit. I think it would look great on guys with wider foreheads whose faces slim down towards their chin. It’s made of tough, rugged polyester. This makes sense since the design is inspired by hard-won challenges and never giving up—very Boston.
The Halloween Rose is an eight-panel cap made of a wool and polyester blend. The eight-panel design gives it a slightly poofier look, which makes for a dynamic silhouette. I do love the use of orange in both hats, but I think the thinner orange lines on the Halloween Rose make it more versatile. I also love the leatherette brim.
As mentioned, the size small was a bit too tight for me. I love the look, so I may suffer for fashion to wear The Underdog. However, the M/L is definitely my size. Fortunately, every product page on Boston Scally includes a helpful size chart.
I already gave Boston Scally my thumbs up for good construction. When it comes to design offerings, like The Tie Bar, they have a wide range of colors and styles. Whether you love a working-class cool aesthetic or a more posh English countryside look, there’s something here for everyone.
Conclusion: A Wide Range of Quality Pieces
Overall, I was quite happy with what I got from The Tie Bar and Boston Scally.
Again, the size smalls fit short men perfectly, though you’ll have to get the suits completely tailored. And again, that’s not a bad thing. Meanwhile, Boston Scally offers a helpful guide on their product pages to ensure you get the right size for you.
The best part about these brands is that you can find a piece for any personal style or occasion at an impressive value. I’ve seen just as well-made suits and shirts on Fifth Avenue for literally double the price.
Questions? Comments? Let us know in the comments below.
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