August 28 is National Bow Tie Day, a day to appreciate this distinct and often overlooked accessory. However, not all Americans approve of a bow tie. In fact, while 22% of Americans find them a trustworthy addition to an outfit, 19% find them untrustworthy. A much larger 60% say it depends on the person. 

Demographic data show that men are 10 percentage points more likely than women to say that bow ties are untrustworthy. Meanwhile, Gen Z is the most divided, with the highest share of respondents finding bow ties both trustworthy (33%) and untrustworthy (25%). 

Of course, there’s more to bowtie favorables than what this topline data reveals. Here’s what a deeper dive shows about those who trust a bow tie, versus those who do not: 

Lounge Pants: While 34% of those who believe bow ties are trustworthy say they prefer sweatpants or yoga pants around the house, just 20% of those who find bow ties untrustworthy say the same. 

Food Ethics: Those who find bow ties to be trustworthy are 20 percentage points more likely than those who find bow ties untrustworthy to be ‘very willing’ to pay more for food products that are produced with the ethical and humane treatment of animals (37% vs 17%). 

Financial Stress: While 25% of those who believe bow ties are trustworthy say that managing debt is their biggest source of financial stress, just 17% of those who believe bow ties are untrustworthy say the same. 

Running for Fitness: Those who find bow ties to be trustworthy are 12 percentage points more likely than those who find them untrustworthy to run or jog for fitness every day (32% vs 20%). 

Travel: While 42% of those who believe bow ties are trustworthy say they have never left North America, just 30% of those who believe they are untrustworthy say the same. 

Clearly, a preference for bow ties isn’t just a fashion choice, but a window into a variety of other unique consumer behaviors that extend far beyond the wardrobe.