All Wall Street bankers know a thing or two about ties, though many may argue that banker-turned-designer Robert Valdes- Rodriguez is the expert when it comes to crafting the neck adornments. Rodriguez was inspired to venture into tie design after he found that his personal favorite was no longer being made, and has since been a leader of innovation and design in the industry. One of the company’s first bestsellers was made of Italian silk and dipped in liquid sterling silver. This rare textile inspired a line of navy and 24-karat gold dipped ties that are sold exclusively at the Plaza Hotel. Though these metal dipped ties are a hit, Rodriguez pays equal attention to traditional ties. All of RVR’s fashions are made of the most luxurious silks available and are all self-tipped and hand-tailored by master craftsman, resulting in beautiful ties for any occasion. Rodriguez explains his design philosophy saying “In my opinion, the tie is the one menswear accessory that can make or break your look. You can hid an inferior belt, or mediocre pair of shoes but you can’t hide a bad tie.”