Sock It To ‘Em!

If you’re still on the hunt for that perfect graduation gift, set your sights on Bird Dog Bay’s Sock of the Month Club. Perfect for those recent grads entering the work force–or those still finalizing their plans!–our Sock of the Month Club delivers a new pair of socks to your lucky grad each month for a year.

With whimsical and traditional options available, we have the perfect combination of socks for anyone. After a single payment, we’ll send a pair of our mid-calf socks to your favorite grad on the first of the month. No worries on your end about shipping, choosing a new pair, or gift wrapping: we’ve got your back!

While Steve is best known for his whimsical illustrations, he is  continuously asked to create more traditional patterns. Even with this more conservative look, Steve relishes these opportunities to design, and his creations include a circular pattern inspired by magician’s rings, a stellar geometric pattern, and a colorful floral pattern that has evolved into “Flower Power”. Originally, inspired by Steve’s overgrown front garden, the first offering was named “Daisy Days”. At this time, his neighbor was growing hops in his front garden and went on to co-found our favorite Chicago mirco-brewery whose best-selling beer also has daisy in it’s name. But that is the beginning of the story behind “Hoppy Hour”, which we’ll save for another time. Nevertheless, “Flower Power” has grown into one of our top “traditional” ties and best sellers for spring and summer wedding parties. “Vintage Tapestry” came about more recently, with more and more of our customers asking for something that could be worn that doesn’t raise eyebrows but does raise interest. 

Drawing inspiration from his Grandpa’s collection of wide, colorful designs from the late 60’s as well as his collection of old Persian style rugs, Steve came us with this gem. It’s bold, fluid look lends itself to the funkier side, while transitioning seamlessly from the office to the cocktail party. Now in his 10th year of designs, Steve’s drawn hundreds of different illustrations and patterns, from dogs to Datsuns, diagonals to dodo birds. So dig in, there’s something for everyone! Happy Shopping!

GO WITH THE BOW

Our top selling Pedigree Bow Ties are back in stock and set to make you best in show. Our latest re-stock of these American made, 100% English woven silk bow ties come just in time for summer weddings, garden parties, cocktail outings, and anywhere our sophisticated whimsy is needed. Pair with our pocket squares or socks for true sartorial superiority.

HIP TO BE SQUARE

Our linen pocket squares are perfect for the rising temperatures and are readily paired with or without our signature neckwear. Each pocket square features a single embroidered motif in one corner, perfectly adding our signature whimsy. All squares come with a white background composed of a linen and cotton blend and measure 16″ by 16″ when unfolded.

As Long As I Got My Shirt and Tie...

Peanut butter and jelly. Batman & Robin. Chips and salsa. The Blues Brothers. Our lives are filled with iconic duos, and Bird Dog Bay’s dress shirt and tie gift sets are no different.

Like the combinations seen above, our Italian-milled dress shirts and 100% silk neckties make a great team. Each season, our founder and creative, Steve Mayer, works diligently to match his original necktie illustrations to our dress shirt offerings. Fans of the brand can pick and choose their matches to look their “Best in Show,” all while remaining confident of the quality that comes with the Bird Dog Bay brand.

Now through Friday at midnight, shop any of our dress shirt and printed silk necktie combinations and pay only $180 when using the coupon code “SPRINGSALE.” Don’t see your pick of the litter? Craft your own breed and apply the coupon–we’ll take care of the rest, with free shipping, too.

An interesting part of working at Bird Dog Bay is seeing what designs are the best liked every season. We all have our predictions at the beginning of each collection, but we are continually surprised as to what all of you find most popular. One thing we noticed early on is the more whimsical, unconventional designs do quite well. Steve had this in mind years ago, when he initially drew his first mermaid tie “Mermaid Mixer” (or maybe he just grew up in the 80’s and fell in love with Daryl Hannah in the movie “Splash”). After it sold out, Steve kept getting asked if the mermaid would ever make a return. Celebrating our 10th year in business, Steve saw a great opportunity to bring it back into the collection, and worked on improving the mermaid design and incorporating it into different goods. This nautical beauty was woven strikingly into socks, embroidered into one of our favorite linen pocket squares (or hankies) and most recently made an appearance on our first ever Pedigree line of English Woven neck and bow ties.

Black Tie Bonanza

For some, a tie qualifies as “dressing up”; for others, a tie is simply part of his daily outfit. For all, however, a cummerbund universally qualifies something as a special occasion. Whether a wedding, a gala, a ball, whatever–Bird Dog Bay is second to none when it comes to our cummerbund selection!

Featuring a handful of new designs for the season alongside some fan favorites, we guarantee you’ll pick a winner from our unrivaled collection. With both whimsical and traditional options available, we have a choice for each and every occasion. 

Additionally, if outfitting your groomsmen or purchasing for a large group, we’re happy to offer a discount–just let us know!

Design #286: ON POINT

When Bird Dog Bay released its first collection of neckwear in 2006, all neckties were exclusively 100% printed silk. Though Steve Mayer, our founder and illustrator, cut his teeth as an English woven silk designer for twelve years prior to that collection, he chose to employ printed silk in our inaugural venture. At the time, there was a resurgence in the market of prints, and he found his craft best translated to this medium.

As time passed, however, the opportunity to branch out presented itself. A few years ago, we released our first run of woven neckties and bow ties, all still 100% 18 momme weight silk. After incorporating other seasonal styles like wools and linens, we introduced a set of cotton/linen blends, one of which is seen here.

“On Point,” featured above, marked a great example of utilizing additional fabrics in our neckties. While almost all of our offerings are still 100% 18 momme weight silk, it’s nonetheless exciting to develop fresh takes season after season. When designing these panel ties, it was Steve’s goal to pay tribute to older insignia ties popular years ago. By incorporating some of our most popular themes, Steve knocked this one out of the park, providing a style enjoyed by guys no matter their interest.

 

Run for the Roses
The week of May is always special. With winter finally in the rearview mirror, over 100,000 individuals descend on Louisville, KY for the Kentucky Derby. The first race of the famed Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby celebrates its 142nd running this year, drawing attention across the nation and world.

Whether making your way to Millionaires Row or joining friends locally, Bird Dog Bay has the perfect accessory to show your affinity for “The Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports.” From neckties displaying thoroughbred scenes to bow ties adorned with horseshoes, any of our choices will complement your seersucker suit or white bucks. If you find yourself at a more casual affair, opt for one of our bright pairs of socks to fit the mood!

Perfect Pairings  

At Bird Dog Bay, we’re always on the hunt to to try something new. From Steve’s first collection of original illustrations ten years ago to today’s offerings, we like to think we have something for everyone. 

 

Alongside Steve’s work in illustrating our neckties, he also looks far and wide to develop our product offerings. In his neckwear construction, he makes sure each design is tailored to fit any number of products, from hats to socks to pocket squares. Years ago, however, he was struck with an idea after seeing an old button maker: could he fashion his illustrations to fit a cufflink crafted with our silk? In short, yes!

 

While we look to match themes throughout our collections, arguably the most impressive of these is when we coordinate our neckwear and cufflinks. “Aboat Time,” pictured above, is one such elegant example. Each design is crafted to fit on the 1 and 9/32″ silk template to adorn the cufflink perfectly. For those gentlemen who enjoy matching their ties and cufflinks, we’ve got you covered, making sure you strike a perfect balance of being formal and fun.

 

As you read this, Steve is hard at work on our next collection of neckwear and cufflink companions. As we travel the country at trunk shows this spring and summer, keep an eye out for us and let us know if there’s anything you’d like to see!

Bird Calls: Drunken Crab and Old Man & The Sea

Nautical themes have always made up a large portion of our spring and summer collections. With dozens of wholesale accounts from the tip of Maine to the toe of Florida–not to mention hundreds of wonderful customers!–Steve is always looking to draw a new classic for our collection.

When looking at Steve’s illustrations, it’s clear that they’re the product of an involved process. Working to this day with the same drafting pencil he started with some twenty years ago, Steve aims to transpose his vision to paper and then to silk, crafting dozens of great new designs every season. Though Steve often nails it right off the bat, the two designs below are ones that took a bit more time to perfect.

The first, “Drunken Crab,” is actually the third variation of this theme. A nice repeating pattern, “Drunken Crab” features a cool crustacean throwing back a cold one, and last appeared in a previous form in 2013. While the design was popular, Steve thought he could do better, and was able to successfully reinvent the pattern. It’s active without being overwhelming, striking a perfect balance of appearing like a simple pattern at a distance before its true nature is seen up close. “Drunken Crab” is perfect for those who enjoy a bit of fun, and is the perfect choice for that summer cocktail party or wedding.

While “Drunken Crab” evolved over time, this season marks the inaugural release of our “Old Man and the Sea” tie, also seen above. Though it had been in his file for a number of years, “Old Man and the Sea” was finally perfected this year. Steve had worked hard to draw the motif and pay tribute to Hemingway’s famous work, yet discovered it to be a trickier venture than he originally thought. Between balancing the marlin and boat and fitting all the subtle details in, it took a number of silk screens to get to where he needed to be. When the dust settled, however, Steve nailed it on this one: a great step and repeat, showcasing the sophisticated whimsy for which we’re known.

Four for the Future

Spring has always been the season of birth and renewal. The temperatures rise, the birds sing, and the leaves return. Spring also marks the college commencement process, with thousands of seniors moving onward and upward in life.

If you’re still in search of the perfect gift for your new grad, look no further: through this Sunday at midnight, buy any four neckties and receive a free Bird Dog Bay tie case. Retailing for $188, each tie case is 100% American aniline leather, featuring a fully lined interior and brass hardware. Manufactured by Florida-based Korchmar, each soft, durable case is sure to protect your neckwear while also serving a lifetime of adventures.

Wondering what to pick? Choose a traditional tie for interviews, and a bit of whimsy sure to spark conversation at a cocktail party. Grab a necktie with school colors for Homecoming, and pick out a sharp one for weddings. No matter where they go, we’ll help you have them covered. In order to claim this offer, enter “GradGift” in the gift message section and we’ll take care of the rest!