Boy Scout Classic

In the midst of a renewal of interest in men's fashion, which has seen expensive separates flying out of stores, one key item has not been cleared for takeoff: the necktie, sales of which are flat as tarmac.

But stylish men are like nature: they abhor a vacuum. Out on the streets - if not at the office - neckerchiefs are winning converts for their brand of bohemian elegance.

If the neckerchief is a Far East story for some, for others it is the Wild West. At Gucci, where the Western look is the big thing for spring, GBP100 silk neckerchiefs in bandanna prints are selling out. For non-Gucci cowboys, it is worth noting that a plain 20-inch-square cotton bandanna, sold by second-hand stores such as Salvation Army, will cost you about 95 percent less, at GBP5.

Whether silk or cotton, they tie the same. Lay it flat, fold it diagonally, roll it tightly and, slipping it around your neck, tie that Boy Scout classic, a square knot.