Review part one: MISTER. duvall

A friend of a friend is affiliated with a newish bow-tie company called "MISTER. duvall."  (Don't worry; their typography is sufficiently well-chosen to carry such a brand name.  I doubt the Virginia Corporation Commission would be able to register it properly, though.)  They bill themselves as specializing in weddings and other special events.  They sent me a few samples to have a look at, and to the surprise of no one, I have many opinions, which I will try to string out into several posts.

The fabric is 100% silk and comes in a huge variety of weaves--twill, corduroy, and more standard options.  The silk is substantial and has a lot of internal structure compared to what you'd find at a department store (I have a question in to them about their interfacing and will update you); knotted, they make for a reasonable-sized bow but can get plenty big if you futz with the tying process.  They have both pre-tied and adjustable self-tied options; you know which to choose.  List price is $120, which is not outlandish for a small business.  JAB sells their noticeably lower-quality, lower-weight, smaller, and un-piped product for $60 list (still very wearable, nothing shabby).

As you can see, this is definitely a special-event bow tie.  Contrast piping is a "sartorial power move" as the #menswear people call it.  A magenta bow tie is not out of the question in court (for oral argument, at least), but the black piping will make it look equally startling next to a gray or navy suit, which would otherwise be its natural and fetching home.  It might work with a black suit, but then, you'd be wearing a black suit.  Compare the navy and orange/rust/brown? tie with matched piping; this could be worn in front of a jury of one's peers or drinking buddies with equal aplomb.

The fox tie on the far right merits its own study.