A clip-on tie is a

bow tie The bow tie or dicky bow is a type of neckwear, distinguishable from a necktie because it does not drape down the shirt placket, but is tied just underneath a winged collar. A modern bow tie is tied using a common shoelace knot, which is also ...

necktie A necktie, long tie, or simply a tie, is a cloth article of formal neckwear or office attire worn for decorative or symbolic purposes, resting under a folded shirt collar or knotted at the throat, and usually draped down the chest. On rare o ...

which is permanently tied, and worn by attaching it to the front of the shirt collar by a clip. Alternately, especially in the case of bow ties, the tie may have a band around the neck fastened with a hook and eye.

Reasons for use

The following are some reasons that this style of tie may be used: * Tightly tied standard neckties may be a source of irritation and discomfort. * Some people, particularly children, do not know how to tie a standard necktie, or do not feel comfortable tying one. * Some persons with disabilities may be physically incapable of tying a tie, or only capable of it with extreme difficulty. *

Police officer A police officer (also called policeman or policewoman, cop, officer or constable) is a Warrant (law), warranted law employee of a police, police force. In most countries, ''police officer'' is a generic term not specifying a particular rank. ...

s and

security guard A security guard (also known as a security inspector, security officer, factory guard, or protective agent) is a person employed by a government or private party to protect the employing party's assets (property, people, equipment, money, etc.) ...

s often wear clip-ons as a precaution against being strangled by a pulled necktie. (With

uniform A uniform is a variety of costume worn by members of an organization while usually participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are most often worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency serv ...

, a

tie clip A tie clip (also tie slide, tie bar, or tie clasp) is a clothing fashion accessory, accessory that is used to clip a necktie, tie to the underlying shirt front, preventing it from swinging and ensuring that the tie hangs straight, resulting i ...

may be used to keep the tie from "flying" in the wind.) * Some schools require clip-on ties as part of their uniform instead of regular ties as this keeps students from loosening them in hot weather. * A clip-on tie can be put on more quickly than a conventional necktie. * A clip-on tie is used as a safety precaution in a manufacturing setting to avoid neck injury due to machine entanglement. The clip-on tie was invented in Iowa in 1928 by Joseph W. Less to create safer neckties that people could wear at work.{{cite web , url=https://www.notesoniowa.com/post/iowan-invents-clip-on-tie-iowa-time-machine-december-13 , title=Iowan Invents Clip-On Tie: Iowa Time Machine December 13 , last=Mason , first=Kevin T. , date=13 December 2025 , website=Notes On Iowa , access-date=21 May 2025 Neckties