Erin MacLeod elevates the necktie to new fashion heights

Often a staple of first-year fashion design students, the ubiquitous necktie skirt can make for yawn-inducing attire, but Portland-based designer/crafter Erin MacLeod has elevated the necktie to new fashion heights with her selection of tie cuffs and necktie necklaces.

Offered in 24 fabrics, ranging from a standard, diagonal-striped banker's tie to a more whimsical Chinoiserie and a teal-and-tangerine paisley, the Tie Cuff ($14) is offered in two sizes: a thin bracelet style or a more striking, wider version. Both styles are finished with stainless-steel snaps.

MacLeod says her cuffs are "an effort to transform men's business attire into
something funky for women," so pair one with a short-sleeved white button-down shirt and trousers for a feminine play on formal work apparel.

The Snaptie necklace ($29) is a standard men's tie adorned with a row of snaps, which results in a multitasking necklace that can be worn in a variety of ways, from a tight choker to a low-slung belt.

A multimedia artisan, MacLeod studied fiber and design at the University of Kansas. Her work has been showcased at galleries throughout the Northwest, including the always cutting-edge Stumptown in Portland. Her tie accessories are available online at www.erinmacleod.com, and occasionally at the local craft road show I Heart Rummage.

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