THE HISTORY OF TIES

The origin of the necktie can be traced back to military pageantry. Derived from the word "Croat," the first "cravats" were worn by Croatian military men who dazzled King Louis XIV with their brightly colored neckwear during an honorific visit to Paris in 1660 in celebration of its hard-fought victory over the Ottoman Empire. The officers of this regiment were wearing brightly colored handkerchiefs fashioned of silk around their necks. These neck cloths, which probably descended from the Roman fascalia worn by orators to warm the vocal chords, struck the fancy of the king, and he soon made them an insignia of royalty as he created a regiment of Royal Cravattes.

It wasn't long before this new style crossed the channel to England. Soon no gentleman would have considered himself well-dressed without sporting some sort of cloth around his neck--the more decorative, the better.

The various styles knew no bounds, as cravats of tasseled strings, plaid scarves, tufts and bows of ribbon, lace, and embroidered linen all had their staunch adherents. Nearly one hundred different knots were recognized.

By the early 1800s touching another man's neck cloth could be considered grounds for a duel. The modern necktie emerged around 1860 when men began knotting their scarves like the reins of a "four-in-hand" carriage.

History of Bowties