Views: 201 Author: Wendy Publish Time: 2023-05-24 Origin: Site
Millions of people wear them throughout the world, whether they're going to work or church, or any other number of reasons. But why? You might think, 'well, it allows men to express themselves', or 'people need a way to dress more formal'. You wouldn't be wrong, but the history of men's neckties is far more complex than you might guess. It's important to know why we dress the way we do today and having the necktie history background can help to inform the way you dress today. This article will cover who invented the necktie, how it grew into popularity, and its evolution throughout the last four centuries from a practical piece of a military uniform into the modern tie we know today.
Early ties hardly resemble the modern tie today as we know it. We can thank Croatians for the necktie, but the French made it the fashion staple it is today. The origin of the necktie can be traced back to the 17th Century, during the 30 Years’ War (1618-1648). The French hired Croatian mercenaries who wore traditional knotted neckerchiefs around their necks as part of their uniform. This held the top of their jackets together and was more practical than stiff collars.
Towards the end of the war, Croatian soldiers were being presented to French King Louis XIV. During his inspection, the king noticed these neckerchiefs and took a strong liking to them. The boy-king began wearing these himself around 1846, at just seven years old, according to the Dubrovnik Times. He named the early neckties “La Cravate,'' after the Croatians who invented the fashion piece and is still the French word for necktie today. The king made cravats a mandatory accessory at royal gatherings. With the king and other nobility wearing cravats, the new fashion trend caught on like a wildfire across Europe.
We can thank the Industrial Revolution for much of the way we live our life today. Pre-Industrial Revolution, 80% of the world’s population were farmers and most people didn’t own anything made outside their community. Today, most people buy their food at the grocery store and much of what we own has a “Made in _____” tag. It’s clear that the industrial Revolution changed the world; the combustion engine, tap water, electricity, and nearly everything else has a connection to it.
Neckties weren’t immune to the Industrial Revolution. With fabrics like cotton, linen, wool, and silk being able to be produced at a much more efficient and extensive rate than ever before, this fashion trend became much more common. Around this time, bow ties and ascots grew into popularity. The name of the Ascot comes from the Ascot Heath, a horse race in England and is the most formal type of tie. It was the formal morning neckwear of the Royal Enclosure at Ascot. Bow ties became popular among scholars and surgeons, and also came into popularity with the wealthy when wearing tuxedos.
The 80’s were a wild time for fashion, with huge fashion trends like the hip-hop movement, New Romantic, and Miami Vice. The 80’s are remembered for its bright and bold colors and patterns. At this time, wide ties began to be synonymous with older men; younger people started wearing narrower ties that were reminiscent of the 1950’s. Novelty ties also grew into popularity, with ties with specialty prints and crazy designs like the piano key tie and thousands of other fun and zany patterns.
The 90’s tie styles were very similar to the 80's, but tended to be wider. Paisleys and colored floral prints became popular at the end of the 20th century. The 1990’s are also responsible for the shift into business casual, with business moguls like Bill Clinton and Steve Jobs ditching the full suits for more comfortable and casual dress.
Ties have an interesting and complex origin, from being a practical part of a uniform, to a fashion mandate by a French king, to a plethora of clever iterations and patents by fashion-forward people throughout the last 100 years. Clothing is a way to express oneself, and ties are an essential part of many people's wardrobe; ties are worn every day or every week by many people. The history of the necktie is a story about how the tie has been changed to better fit people's needs. Modern Tie is the tie reinvented, a better option to fit people's needs than what has come before it. Learn more about the Modern Tie and how it works, and why so many people are excited about it.
