Blue is the right colour for a bow tie more often than any other and most men already know this without quite knowing why. It photographs well. It works with navy, grey, and black without trying to compete with any of them. And there is something about a well chosen blue bow tie that reads as considered rather than costumed, which is the whole point when you are dressing for a wedding, a dinner, or anything that calls for black tie but still lets you make a small decision. The problem is that price does not always equal quality at this end of the accessories market. Some of the best looking ties in here cost less than a round of drinks. What we have been looking for specifically is weight in the fabric, a knot that holds its shape through a long evening, and a shade of blue that does not drift into garish under warm lighting. These are the ones that clear all three bars.