Father’s Day Ties, Done Properly
A Father’s Day tie should earn a place outside its box. Monday morning, a family wedding, the restaurant he likes to dress up for: the right gift has somewhere to go. Start with the man, then choose the tie.
Yes, ties are a good Father’s Day gift when you choose one he will actually wear. Pick a shade that works with his shirts, a width he likes and a pattern that suits his real occasions. Ask which colour he would choose if you can. A useful answer beats a surprise that spends years in a drawer.
Father’s Day dates: two seasons, one guide
| Where Dad lives | Father’s Day | Plan for |
|---|---|---|
| US, UK and Canada | Sunday 20 June 2027 | June delivery and his local summer wardrobe. |
| Australia and New Zealand | Sunday 5 September 2027 | September delivery and his local spring wardrobe. |
Use the recipient’s calendar if you live in different countries. Check delivery planning below before ordering.
Are ties a good Father’s Day gift?
Yes, for a man who wears ties or has occasions for one. The occasional wearer needs something versatile for a wedding, work dinner or celebration. The collector deserves a weave or pattern missing from his drawer.
Clothing remains a popular choice. The National Retail Federation’s 2026 US survey found 58% planned to buy clothing. In Australia, the Australian Retail Council and Roy Morgan’s 2026 research put clothing, shoes and sleepwear at 19% among shoppers who knew what they planned to buy. Those figures cover clothing, not ties specifically.
The more useful research concerns how to choose. Gino and Flynn’s 2011 gift experiments found recipients appreciated requested gifts more than givers expected. Baskin and colleagues’ 2014 research found recipients put more weight on practicality than givers did. Our translation: ask about the colour, then choose the tie that works with his navy suit.
A tie is a poor choice when it ignores how he lives. If he never wears a collared shirt, or retirement has changed his wardrobe completely, choose for that life.
Our Father’s Day tie picks, by kind of dad
Start with the closest description, then check his preferred proportions. Each physical pick below was stocked in both our Australian and US warehouses when checked; product pages show current availability.
| His wardrobe | Our starting point | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Suits most weeks | Navy pencil stripe | A familiar colour with a clean pattern. |
| Weddings and functions | Burgundy and navy stripes | Warm colour within a useful dark palette. |
| Texture and earthy tailoring | Cinnamon herringbone | A quiet weave with brown, navy and grey. |
| Comfortable with colour | Green and red stripes | A stronger accent, grounded by a dark shirt or suit palette. |
| A blazer and occasional tie | Navy knit | Visible texture and a narrower blade. |
| Racing or coastal interests | Racehorses or small anchors | A personal connection he will actually wear. |
| Black-tie invitations | Black self-tie bow tie | The neckwear the dress code calls for. |
| Particular taste or no neckwear | E-gift card | He chooses the piece. |
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For the father in a suit most weeks
Our pick is the Navy Blue Pencil Stripe Tie because the pale stripes give a plain shirt a clear focal point. Wear it with white or pale blue and navy or grey tailoring. Check the 8.5 cm blade if he usually wears something narrower.
Also consider the Cambridge Navy Blue with Royal Red Stripes Necktie for a warmer accent.
Navy pencil stripe · 145 cm long · 8.5 cm blade
Shop product02 /
For weddings and family functions
Our pick is the Burgundy & Navy Blue Stripes Tie because the two deep colours work comfortably with familiar tailoring. It is a useful gift for the father with celebrations ahead, including a daughter’s wedding; our father of the bride guide covers that occasion.
Also consider the Burgundy Houndstooth Tie for a smaller pattern.
Burgundy & Navy Blue Stripes Tie
Burgundy and navy stripes · 145 cm long · 8.5 cm blade
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For texture, tweed and earthy colours
Our pick is the Cinnamon Herringbone Tie because its subtle brown weave adds interest without a bold print. Try navy, grey, olive or tan tailoring with a white or pale blue shirt.
Also consider the Burnt Orange Rust Weave Necktie for a richer accent.
Cinnamon brown herringbone · 145 cm long · 8.5 cm blade
Shop product
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For the father who enjoys colour
Our pick is the Canterbury Green with Royal Red Stripes Necktie because the dark green ground keeps the red stripes considered. It suits a man already happy in colour; a gift should not require a change of personality.
Also consider the Navy Blue with Pink Polka Dots Tie for a smaller colour accent.
Canterbury Green with Royal Red Stripes Necktie
Green with red stripes · 145 cm long · 8.5 cm blade
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For the occasional tie wearer
Our pick is the Matutine Navy Knitted Tie because its visible texture sits easily beside a blazer and chinos. It has a pointed end, an approximately 6.8 cm blade and a listed length of 150 cm. Choose it for someone who enjoys a collared shirt and jacket, even if he rarely needs a suit.
Also consider the Forest Green Knitted Tie. Our knitted tie guide shows how to wear one.
Navy knit · Pointed end · Approx. 6.8 cm blade
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For the racing enthusiast
Our pick is the Melbourne Race Horse Tie because the brown horses make a personal reference on a wearable navy ground. The Melbourne Cup guide and Kentucky Derby guide cover dressing for the day.
Also consider The Royal Ascot Racehorse Necktie.
Brown racehorse motifs on navy · 8.5 cm blade
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For a love of the water
Our pick is The OTAA Navy Blue Anchor Necktie because the small pale anchors keep the nautical reference restrained. Choose the connection because it means something to him, then check that he likes wearing motifs.
Also consider the Blue Whale Necktie if he prefers a different coastal detail.
The OTAA Navy Blue Anchor Necktie
Small pale anchors on navy · 145 cm long · 8.5 cm blade
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For black-tie invitations
Our pick is the Bond Black Bow Tie (Untied) because a black self-tie bow belongs with a dinner suit. A black necktie does not fulfil the same dress code. Our black-tie guide explains the outfit.
Also consider the pre-tied Bond Black Bow Tie if that is the format he prefers.
Black self-tie bow · Adjustable strap · Supplied untied
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For the father who prefers to choose
Our pick is the E-Gift Card because particular taste is easier to respect than guess. It is delivered by email with redemption instructions; choose the amount and recipient details on the product page. A personal message supplies the thought.
Digital gift · Delivered by email · Choose an amount
Shop productWhat OTAA customers chose before Father’s Day
We checked orders in the three weeks immediately before each market’s Father’s Day in 2026. The Navy Blue Pencil Stripe, Cinnamon Herringbone, Burgundy & Navy Blue Stripes, Burgundy Houndstooth, Canterbury Green with Royal Red Stripes and Cambridge Navy Blue with Royal Red Stripes all featured among the leading necktie choices in both markets.
That is a useful starting point: stripes, herringbone and houndstooth have broad wardrobe applications.
These are orders containing the products, not confirmed gifts. Promotions also ran around the shopping periods, so we do not attribute the volume to Father’s Day alone. The data helps us choose versatile starting points; his wardrobe decides the final gift.
How to choose a tie he will wear: five checks
1. Read his wardrobe
Look at three shirts and one jacket. White and pale blue make navy, burgundy and deep green easy to use. Earthy jackets suggest brown or rust. Keep two things familiar and change one: his usual colour in a different weave, or his usual width with a small motif. Our tie colour guide helps narrow the shade.
2. Name the next occasion
Picture a work dinner, wedding or favourite restaurant. If you can name the place and the shirt, you are close.
3. Measure width and length
Lay his favourite tie flat. Measure end to end and across the widest blade, then compare with the product details. The pointed neckties above list 145 cm and an 8.5 cm blade; the Matutine knit lists 150 cm and approximately 6.8 cm. Taller wearers, larger necks and bigger knots can use more length. See how long a tie should be.
4. Balance the pattern
A plain shirt gives a patterned tie room. With stripes or checks, vary the scale so the patterns do not compete. The safest surprise is a small change to something he likes. Our tie patterns guide shows the options.
5. Consider season and finish
A lighter, textured tie can suit daytime celebrations; deeper colours and smoother finishes can work after dark. Choose for the whole outfit rather than expecting one accessory to change its comfort. If linen appeals, our linen tie guide covers the texture and combinations.
Novelty or classic?
Choose a classic unless the personal reference earns its place. A small anchor repeat for a sailor can work; a joke he would never wear is a card printed on fabric.
Racing motifs and nautical designs are good choices for the right wearer. If he consistently picks quiet ties, believe him.
What to give with a Father’s Day tie
The White Linen Pocket Square is a useful separate addition for a man who wears jackets. Give it a flat fold for work or a relaxed puff for dinner; our folding guide helps.
A tie bar can be useful too: choose one narrower than the tie and a metal colour he likes. Cufflinks belong only with a shirt that takes them. A handwritten card and a plan for lunch often add more than another accessory. Add a gift note in the cart if you want a message with the order.
Choose the pieces separately and check what each product includes. One well-chosen tie is enough.
For a dad who never wears ties
Let him choose with an e-gift card, or choose another gift he has actually asked for. A knit is still a tie: it suits an occasional wearer with a blazer, not a man who dislikes neckwear altogether. Pair the gift with time together rather than trying to turn him into someone else.
When should you order for Father’s Day?
Order before you need to rely on the fastest service. The current shipping page lists estimates from dispatch, not from the moment you place the order. Choose the recipient’s address at checkout to see the available services.
| Destination | Published service estimate | Before ordering |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Standard 3–5 days; expedited 2 days; next-day air | Check the warehouse cut-off and carrier holiday schedule. |
| Australia | Standard 2–5 days; express 1–2 days | Check dispatch timing and postcode coverage. |
| UK and Canada | DHL Express 3–5 days | Allow for dispatch from Melbourne and public holidays. |
| New Zealand | DHL Express 3–5 days; often 1–3 | Plan using the longer estimate. |
Confirmed Father’s Day order-by cut-offs are not published here. For the June occasion, check Juneteenth carrier arrangements in the US and the King’s Birthday public holiday in Victoria. Do not plan around a Saturday arrival. Ask OTAA about a fixed deadline before choosing a late service; use the e-gift card if a parcel is no longer a sensible bet.
If the colour is not quite right
OTAA’s current policy offers free exchanges within 60 days of fulfilment, one exchange per item, subject to its conditions. Gift returns go to store credit; any price difference on an exchange is handled under the policy. Keep the item unworn, its tags and original packaging, and the order details.
The clock starts at fulfilment, not when Dad opens the gift. Read the returns and exchanges policy before buying far ahead. Do not use “days from arrival” to calculate his window.
Why ties became the Father’s Day gift
The menswear trade helped establish the tradition. TIME’s 2017 history describes necktie interests promoting a June date in the 1920s, followed by a broader retail push and a national promotional council in the late 1930s. Ties became a familiar way to mark the day, rather than a recent gift-guide invention.
Australia’s September tradition developed through the mid-1930s. ABC’s 2017 history points to an Adelaide shop display and newspaper references to celebrations and gifts. It reports a later account of the first Sunday in September being formally designated, with no official reason given for the month. Spacing it between Mother’s Day and Christmas is a common explanation, not an established motive.
We are a tie company, so the commercial connection is hardly a secret. The useful question remains whether the present earns its place. He can tie it to his own length with our tie-tying guide.
Father’s Day tie questions, answered
Are ties a good Father’s Day gift?
Yes, when it is a tie he will wear: a familiar colour, a suitable width and a real occasion in mind. Ask which shade he would choose if you can. Requested gifts can be thoughtful gifts.
Why are ties a Father’s Day gift?
The menswear trade helped promote Father’s Day, including necktie interests in the 1920s and retail campaigns in the late 1930s. The tradition lasted because a tie can be both personal and useful when chosen well.
What kind of tie should I buy my dad?
Start with his wardrobe: navy stripes for regular suit wear, burgundy stripes for functions, or a navy knit with a blazer. Check the dimensions of a tie he already likes before buying.
Is a tie a boring gift?
It is when it is a default that ignores his taste. Choose a useful variation on his favourite colour or texture, then add a handwritten note naming the occasion you pictured.
What colour tie should I buy my dad?
Navy or burgundy is a useful starting point with white or pale blue shirts and navy or grey tailoring. Brown, rust or green can suit an earthier wardrobe. His favourite shirt is the best clue.
Should I buy a novelty tie or a classic?
Choose a classic unless he enjoys wearing personal motifs. A small nautical or racing repeat can work for the right man; a joke he would never wear is a poor substitute for a considered choice.
What do you buy a dad who does not wear ties?
Choose something he has asked for or let him choose with an e-gift card. A knitted tie can suit an occasional wearer with a blazer, but it is still a tie. Respect the wardrobe he actually wears.
When is Father’s Day in 2027?
Sunday 20 June 2027 in the US, UK and Canada; Sunday 5 September 2027 in Australia and New Zealand. Use the recipient’s date if you live in different countries.
Why is Father’s Day in September in Australia?
The September tradition developed in the mid-1930s. No definitive official reason for the month is established in the history cited here; spacing it between Mother’s Day and Christmas is a common explanation.
When should I order for Father’s Day delivery?
Order early and check OTAA’s current shipping information for the destination. Delivery estimates run from dispatch and are not confirmed Father’s Day order-by cut-offs. Ask about your deadline before relying on a late express service.
Can he exchange the tie if it is not right?
OTAA’s current policy offers free exchanges within 60 days of fulfilment, one per item, subject to its conditions. Gift returns receive store credit. Keep the order details, tags and original packaging, and check the current policy.
What goes well with a tie as a Father’s Day gift?
A white linen pocket square or a suitably sized tie bar can be a useful separate addition. A handwritten note and time together make the gift more personal. Check what each product includes rather than assuming a ready-made set.
Choose for the man
Shop Father’s Day ties, properly chosen
Start with his wardrobe. Choose a classic, add a personal detail and give it somewhere to go.
Shop Father’s Day tiesExplore stripesExplore knitsLet him choose
