Neckties started out as an odd piece of clothing that was not popular with the masses. They then became a mark of sophistication. With time the same necktie became a standard sign of professionalism. Though we are still referring to neckties as items that are worn by professionals in their best formal outfits, the necktie has changed into a trendy accessory in male fashion. The history of necktie is as interesting as it is intriguing.
To start us off in this exploration of necktie fashion trends over the years let us first define a necktie as the strip of fabric usually worn by men around their necks and under shirt collars. The tie is worn with a large knot in front and then the two ends are left hanging at the front of the shirt. If you are reading this article you definitely know what a necktie is. But do you know that the necktie has not always been the same size and shape as we know it now? The genesis of a necktie is lodged deep in ancient times. A review of some ancient civilizations which had a piece of clothing close to the necktie reveals that in those days necktie fashion trends were among the elites, the wealthy and the powerful. It was a garment of class to put it another way.
In ancient Egypt a rectangular cloth was tied around the neck as an adornment, a symbol of wealth, power or elevated social class. In China most excavated graves and other archeological sites of many notables have been found with the corpse being surrounded by numerous statues each one wearing a slim piece of cloth around the neck. The ancient Roman Empire had specialized pieces of neck cloths adorned around the necks of the elites.
King Louis XIV with necktie
Croatians soldiers wore a cravat during the Thirty Years’ War of 1618 to 1648. The cravat was a tiny neckerchief that was worn by knotting it around the neck. After some interaction, Parisians picked up the trend having found the neck adornment very interesting. During and after the war the cravat emerged as a fashion item in Europe. Most historical records usually denote this as the most important era in the history of necktie fashion. That is debatable but what is for real is that this was the beginning of necktie fashion trends in Europe especially among the fashionable French royalty. After the war the necktie had become the single hottest European accessory worn by men as well as women. King Louis XIV of France, (1638 – 1715) fancied the cravat. He started wearing one casually but frequently thereby endorsing its loyal adoption.
By 1692, princes were wrapping cravat-like garments around their necks. They used to twist the ends of the cloth together and then tuck them into the jackets via a precise buttonhole. This was the most fashionable style of adorning the garment during the Battle of Steenkerque and they were thus referred to as Steinkirks. A book published in 1818 under the title “Neckclothitania” detailed 14 illustrations on how to tie a cravat. It was in this book that the word “tie” was used for the first time to refer to this neck adornment. Finally the necktie (muslin type) had become the single most popular neckwear in Europe. One important thing to note about necktie fashion trends in these early years is that the tie was worn in casual settings and never during formal occasions.
18th century necktie fashion
The 19th Century industrial revolution soon took over Europe and catalyzed a transformation of the cravats towards the shape and design of the modern necktie. There was need to find a neck adornment that could be worn easier and quicker than the popular cravat. It was in this age of the necktie history that the bow tie, the ascot, and the long tie evolved gradually to become the latest necktie fashion trends of the time.
It is worth noting that all through the history of necktie fashion the item has survived very many variant trends. You might have seen the 1940s necktie fashion trends that had their genesis in northern American cities. These neckties had funky patterns (more than we see in modern novelty ties) and also featured a wider breadth than ever before. The 1950s saw New Yorkers and some Italian cities like Naples adopt calm and slim necktie fashion trends. This was consequent to the need to match the necktie to the overly slim suit lapels popular at the time. That was not all. In the 1960s the tie progressed towards a slimmer look compared to the 1950s necktie. Not only did the necktie continue to get slimmer but it also acquired the dark solid colors.
Today, neckties have changed in shape (a bit wider than the 60s necktie but slimmer than the 50s) and have also acquired different colors and styles. Modern necktie fashion trends incorporate striped ties, polka dotted ties, solid colored ties and almost any other art or pattern imaginable. The only variation of the necktie as we know it now that has survived since the late 19th Century is the ascot and the bow tie.
Necktie fashion trends