Hmmm, I don't know if I have a longer torso than the rest of you but I have never found a tie that couldn't be tied in such a way as to not extend over the belt. I'm 6'1.5" tall and can knot a 60 inch tie so that it just touches the top of my belt buckle. It's rare to find one longer than 60 inches. Try lengthening the bitter end (the thin end) of the tie until it is the same length as the wide, most good ties have loops to accomidate this, then adjust accordingly.

As a boy I was taught, by my grandfather who was a gentleman indeed, that a gentleman never tucks his tie into his belt or waistband. It gives an air of not caring about one's apperance, of not taking the time to dress correctly, sloppy. It also gives the apperance of second hand goods or hand me downs that don't fit.

Like brown shoes being a must with any blue suit lighter than navy blue, I filed all this as trivial information, never to be used. I can't think of the number of times I have thanked him in the past years of formal engagements and military pomp.

Oh, and cajun, if it is of any interest to you...Black socks are like white and are rarely worn with anything short of black tie, white with white tie although he prefered spats with white tie. All other "semi-formal" dress he considered casual and colored socks were worn to match a part, usually the shirt, of the outfit. All part of the balance that Ham speaks of.

Mike, who blessed his grandfather while on embassy duty.