Wearing uncool tie, making speech (9)
I believe the answer is:
elocution
'speech' is the definition.
(I know that elocution is a type of speech)
'wearing uncool tie' is the wordplay.
'wearing' indicates anagramming the letters (wear can mean to become damaged).
'uncool'+'tie'='uncooltie'
'uncooltie' with letters rearranged gives 'ELOCUTION'.
'making' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for elocution that I've seen before include "first class phrasing?" , "Pronunciation" , "Art of public speaking" , "Art of effective speaking" , "vocal presentation" .)