Refinements of elegant neckwear (8)

I believe the answer is:

niceties

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'refinements' is the definition.
('nicety' can be a synonym of 'refinement')

'elegant neckwear' is the wordplay.
'elegant' becomes 'nice' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'neckwear' becomes 'ties' (I've seen this in another clue).
'nice'+'ties'='NICETIES'

'of' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for niceties that I've seen before include "Fine points" , "refinement" , "delicacies" , "Degrees of precision" , "Shades" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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