STYLE The Prince of Ties

Ties make the man. And in Dallas the man who makes the ties is Barry Wells, one of the newest names in neckwear. Wells, a longtime tie connoisseur, started his own design business four years ago pushing a new point-of-view in ties. His wildly colorful cravats sport bold geometries and whimsical patterns, each with a theme and a name. One of this year’s best sellers is the appropriately titled “Jungle Photo Opportunity” tie with its animal motif print. Other popular picks include designs from his Texas Collection, featuring symbols

near and dear to our hearts, like cacti, chill peppers and longhorns. Wells, who’ll be branching out into boxer shorts and vests for spring, plans on keeping his business firmly planted on Texas soil. “Pallas is convenient to both coasts,*’ he says. “Besides, I don’t have a 7th Avenue mentality, and I don’t want one.” Wells’ Italian-made ties (“Italian silk is still the best”) are priced from $60 to $65 and are available at Neiman Marcus, Stanley Korshak, Saks Fifth Avenue and The TieCoon Trading Company.