Why a tie??

[Odysseus]

Not a rant, but I'm just wondering if there has ever been an explanation from Lucas or Spielberg about the addition of the necktie. It always looked terribly out of place with the rest of the kit. In LC, I had dismissed it as a one-off, because he was travelling in Europe, and ties were the fashion, even for working men in that era. But then it shows up again in YIJC and DoD.

Just curious. Thanks for any response.

[fifthchamber]

In Crusade at least, the implication is clear that he's trying to dress up to impress his father, who still cares about these things...We don't know about the other uses of it, but I'd suspect it's still somewhat the same, he's aware that he would need to look "formal", or more so than just a shirt, so elects to have the tie to add flex to his shirt and an option if needed..

[bearbeast]

Hmmm, I thought that in Crusade it was just part of the "Scottish lord" persona and he never took it off.

[Manwiththehat]

Hmmm, I thought that in Crusade it was just part of the "Scottish lord" persona and he never took it off.

He forgot the was Not a sSottish lord nor Mickey Mouse I guess

[fifthchamber]

Hmmm, I thought that in Crusade it was just part of the "Scottish lord" persona and he never took it off.

No, although it might have helped with that too, he wears the tie in the car on the way to the castle, so clearly had a need for the tie before he even thought up the Scots lord idea - "I dunno...Think of something..." I strongly suspect it's simply because he knows his dad would mind him not wearing a tie with a shirt....

Or rather, might have appreciated a shirt and tie more than a shirt without one...

[bearbeast]

Hmmm, I thought that in Crusade it was just part of the "Scottish lord" persona and he never took it off.

No, although it might have helped with that too, he wears the tie in the car on the way to the castle, so clearly had a need for the tie before he even thought up the Scots lord idea - "I dunno...Think of something..." I strongly suspect it's simply because he knows his dad would mind him not wearing a tie with a shirt....

Or rather, might have appreciated a shirt and tie more than a shirt without one...

Hah, you are right! I had always believed he'd taken it from Elsa somehow. Guess I gotta watch the movie again.

Hmmm, I thought that in Crusade it was just part of the "Scottish lord" persona and he never took it off.

He forgot the was Not a sSottish lord nor Mickey Mouse I guess

Not so far from Mickey, being owned by Disney and all.

[Western New York Indy]

I always just thought he was dressing up for going to the castle and seeing his dad. (also maybe dressing up a bit for a certain Austrian woman he's traveling with ) I also imagine that maybe Indy thought this was more of an academic trip and had packed a couple ties to add a bit more "esteemed professor" look to his beat up old gear. But I'd say it's most likely he threw it on just to look good for his dad and perhaps impress him a bit.

I would guess that when they were making the movie they wanted Indy to wear the iconic adventure gear but add something a bit more fancy. As for DoD, I think they were just trying to echo a lot of different eras of Indy (like with the Jacket being an amalgamation of the different styles we've seen) and chose the tie to represent LC.

-WNY Indy

[Raskolnikov]

My two cents: the same way the leather jacket and trousers were inspired by militar clothing, and especially pilots' clothing, so was the necktie. Actually, it makes a very cool combination.

[Holt]

Personally always loved the look with Indy and the tie and I was very happy to see it back in DoD. Personally really liked that film. But yeah, I agree, he was dressing up to see his dad.

Again, I really really love the tie for Last crusade (see my profile picture. lol)

And totally dig the look of the military crew!

[Western New York Indy]

Personally always loved the look with Indy and the tie and I was very happy to see it back in DoD. Personally really liked that film. But yeah, I agree, he was dressing up to see his dad.

Again, I really really love the tie for Last crusade (see my profile picture. lol)

And totally dig the look of the military crew!

I agree with you Holt, I also personally love the tie, both in LC and and DoD. The latter of which I really enjoyed as well.

One of these days I need to get a more screen-accurate tie. I'm just using an old black tie that I deemed "close enough." But I love the look with the tie enough that I might have to invest in the real deal. (The tie is in my profile picture as well, though somewhat hard to see through the image of the state of New York )

-WNY Indy

[Illinois_Jones]

It only looks out of place to your eye today. I mean, I have several pictures of my grandfather in the 30s, who was a carpenter on Pullman cars, wearing a tie with like a Sears Hercules and a fedora. It wasn't unusual at all for people to wear a tie with "workwear."

And you have to remember the sequence of events in LC; he didn't go to find the grail, he went to find his father. The events just kind of happen. I'd wear a tie too if I was going to a castle trying to get let in. Not to mention, and nobody ever brings this up, but traveling with an uber hot woman, who although a Nazi, would tend to make a man want to dress nicer. And then on the zeppelin everyone dressed up for travel back then; I mean I remember my grandmother getting dressed up for a Disney cruise to the Bahamas, lace gloves and hat and everything. You'd think she was boarding the Titanic. And yeah, his father would have probably been a jerk about not looking like a gentleman at least a little bit. When I was a kid my grandparents used to dress us up to go to Marshall Fields and buy school clothes and maybe get some ice cream after lunch. I learned how to tie a tie when I was 6 years old; we all did. Even going to the zoo it was like we had to "dress nice."

[Seezer]

Also throwing my voice in support of the tie. I think it's fantastic!

I always just thought it was part of his "formal" adventuring attire. In LC he wears it in Europe when he's not expecting to do any dirty archaeological jobs - and to add some class when rescuing his father, of course! - but loses it as soon as they go to Hatay. Likewise in DoD, just to smarten up a bit in the urban environment of Tangier. But then it's gone once the real adventuring starts.

And I do like the idea of it going well with air force-inspired look too, especially with the formalities of the time period. It complements his style well I think

[Charybdis]

Ahh, yes. People did seem to dress much nicer back in the day. Remember, that this is 1938 in LC, so a gentleman would be wearing a tie when he was travelling, for the most part.

I also remember back in the mid-1970's when my family would take a trip and we had to fly on an airliner, my brothers and I would have to wear our leisure suits! Mine was a light blue one!! Yikes!!

[Odysseus]

Thanks for all of the weigh-ins. This topic generated much more interest than expected. Fun stuff.

[Indy Magnoli]

I always loved the idea that you could instantly transform a casual outdoors hiking/adventure outfit to something more formal by the use of the necktie, or to step it up even more, the bow tie and tweed jacket. I've used this on several occasions which makes packing light super easy.

[Indiana Jeff]

I agree that in universe Indy wore a tie to be dressed up to see his father and to go to a gangster's bar.

Out of universe the return on the tie in DoD was a deliberate call-back to LC.


Regards,

Indiana Jeff

[KarolianDryGoods]

I always loved the tie.

My headcanon in DOD (personally I really loved it) is that Indy is very out of place in the 1960s culture.

We see this established at the college, his neighbors, etc.

I think the tie is the costumers trying to separate a more formal look of the "classic" era Indy with the informal dress of everyone else in the 1960s. He doesn't wear it the whole film, but he does when he travels - a little bit of formality held over from his youth.

Not to de-rail, but I also really liked that the colors on his costume are more muted. There is less contrast in the shirt and jacket, hat felt and ribbon, beige trouser belt, brown tie, it shows how dull and sullen Indy's life has gotten after his separation and death of his child. Sallah is also in dark colors after moving to the US due to the conflict in Egypt.

Just my .02!

[Nosirrah]

Can't resist a quick dive down the rabbit hole of the archaeology of everyday objects.
Indy is roughly 2-3 generations closer to the original form and function of what we now consider "formal" attire, which in its origins was anything but. Henry Jones Senior is even closer to the prototype. Take a look at old (18th-19th century) paintings of gents and you can deconstruct the origins of 20th century menswear.
Consider the term "sports jacket." Made of water-repellent wool tweed, it had a lapel and collar which, when turned up and buttoned (the top button survives as the vestigial buttonhole where you put that boutonniere), and secured with a scarf/cravat tied in a loose bow, you had the right kit for a day of "sport:" shooting grouse on the moors in typically filthy weather.
Indy's "respectable" kit straddles the line between the functional past form and its modern social descendants.

[Nosirrah]

I always loved the idea that you could instantly transform a casual outdoors hiking/adventure outfit to something more formal by the use of the necktie, or to step it up even more, the bow tie and tweed jacket. I've used this on several occasions which makes packing light super easy.

Hear, hear.
Ounce for ounce, there's absolutely nothing better than a tie for a quick transformation from the informal to the respectable. Having once (well, maybe twice) made the mistake of showing up casual at a dress-code event (yacht club dinner), I now keep a lightweight cravat in my jacket pocket. Two seconds inside the door is enough to signal a quick trip to the men's lounge. A bow tie, for me at least, seems like one-upmanship-- although I admire those who can carry it off.