Our all-in-fun story last Friday about whether men should be wearing ties at business
events drew a lot of interesting reactions.
Many were for the practice. Others were adamantly against it. And one detailed how
they once tried to start a movement allowing flip-flops in the workplace.
There was the philosophical response: Dress the way you want to present yourself to
the world — while keeping in mind that, like it or not, the world will judge you, one
person said.
And then there was this: Our favorite response was a really cool story from Kevin
Hagan of PPAG.
It turns out Hagan has been cutting ties with formal dress since his days as a middle
schooler at St. Joseph the Carpenter School in Roselle (see nice feature in New Jersey
Globe here)
Back then, students could get out of wearing a tie on Fridays if they made a $1 donation
to charity.
Years later, after joining the workforce as a lobbyist for Princeton Public Affairs Group, Hagan continued both trends: Going tieless and contributing to charity.
Hagan was so passionate about both ideas that he even considered starting a nonprofit — “Cut the Ties,” he would have called it. And while that nonprofit never materialized (too much paperwork), the idea of helping others remains.
To this day, Hagan makes monthly donations to various groups. And he doesn’t wear
ties.
It’s a way of giving back, he said. It’s also a way to go without. And when Hagan says,
“go without,” he means it.
When Hagan received a ticket to attend the inaugural ball for new Gov. Mikie Sherrill,
he also needed one more thing: A tie.
“I actually had to buy one on Amazon because I donated all my ties years ago to Sen.
(Troy) Singleton’s suit drive,” he said.
Ah, the trappings of a formal occasion.
At least that’s how Hagan views it. Others do not.
Walter Brasch, whom we highlighted in the article for always being impeccably dressed,
said he does it for a female.
And before you think Brasch is going all ZZ Top on us, think again: He said he’s a
sharp-dressed man in honor of …
“I owe it all to my mother,” he said. “She insisted that her children were dressed for the
day or occasion.”
So, tie or no tie? Decide for yourself. We’re only sure about one thing — it’s always a
good move to listen to your mom.
