Nice Tie Store presents the story of neckties. Actually, the origin of neckties is not just fashion history; necktie history is part of world history. This seemingly useless accessory of clothing that men either love or hate has taken quite a path through the ages. Men's ties have evolved through the unique influences of political and social events that have affected men's fashion in Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
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Modern day Croatians rein-act a military ceremony celebrating their introduction of the necktie as fashion in the 17th Century during the 30 year Religious War of Europe |
Necktie history notes the tying of cloth around a man's neck into an accessory fashion about 330 years prior to the new Millennium during the Thirty Years War which was a conflict involving religious beliefs in 17th century Europe. A King, a mercenary army with an unusual addition to uniforms, and a noble cause set the stage for a fashion accessory that lives on to this day. There is a clear-cut relationship between fashion on one hand, and power and wealth on the other. Fashion generally follows power and wealth. This old adage spells out the creation of the evolution of neck wear, not its true actual origin. There are accounts of neck cloths tied as a form of necktie much earlier in civilization. However, without this acceptance by the King of France Louis XIV, of tying cloth around a man's neck in the 17th century, neckties would not have had their fateful way in the world.
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A Terra-Cotta Chinese Army from 221 B.C. wearing neckties |
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Roman soldiers wearing neckwear depicting in artwork |
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Leif Eriksson and the Viking Neckties |
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King Louis XIV of France accepted the cravate as fashion accessory |
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Croatian soldiers and cavalry of the Thirty Year Religious War of 17th Century |
Only after two decades, did King Louis XIV of France, 1638 - 1715, fancy the cravat. The necktie-cravat was not "accepted attire" at court as old standing customs governed fashion. This changed when the Queen Mother Anne of Austria ( born in Spain ) died giving King Louis XIV rule of his right. A painting by Henri Testelin hangs at Versailles depicting King Louis XIV wearing a cravat. His necktie collection was extensive made from fine fabrics and styled by the most revered fashion designers of the time. He had his own "cravatier" who would lay our several cravats each day for the King to select which one he would wear. With-in one year of King Louis XIV acceptance of the cravate, London's elite became enamored by the fashion and King Charles II of England the British spent fortunes on expensive lace from Venice to have his neck wear made.
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Napoleon Bonaparte had his influence on
men's fashion, as with any man of power Napoleon was always in grand attire |
Ties were still black or white and great discussion was involved about this in England, Germany, France, Italy and other European nations. In 1820 when King George V was crowned he introduced the black tie, which was not so popular with his guests who often kept a white tie in their pockets. After the beginning of 19th Century colored neckties and ties with patterns appeared partially due to schools, hunting, sports, and military influence. By the mid 19th Century neckties started to resemble modern day neck wear.
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Ludwig Van Beethoven with a necktie under his collar - clearly not a scarf |
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“A well tied tie is the first serious step in life,"
Oscar Wilde, poet, play write of great acclaim,
1854 – 1900. He tied his first tie at he age
of 2 while wearing a smoking jacket |
This New World American vs. the Old World European look was distinctive and of course gave way to British designers fashion designers creating ties with polka-dots and colorful patterns. After the turn of last century, these fancy designs produced an unlikely trend with retailers - ties were designed much like a women's' thought for fashion - but for a product meant for a man. This was a marketing ploy probably, as fashion houses took note that women were buying their men neckties. Appealing to their sense of color and style was a natural conclusion.
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The Duke and Duchess of Windsor |
The Windsor Tie knot was a very meaningful contribution to men's fashion as this necktie knot commands the most attention and respect. The finished look is a symmetrical knot with a dimple below. It is fairly easy if you know how to do it. The problem is almost no one knows the easy way to tie this fashionable tie knot. The Duke in a series of photographs showed the World a very complicated method to create this tie knot. What could be the greatest hoax of last century, save the Beatles Paul McCartney being dead, the Duke made the tie knotting difficult by changing a key move when completing the knot. Presumably, he must have motivated by the fact that the no one should be so handsome and distinguished as the Blue Blood Royals.
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The Duke of Windsor tying his tie in a famous photographic sequence |
To learn more about the Duke of Windsor and the necktie knot inadvertently name after him check out The Mystery of the Windsor Necktie Knot - A Love Story Like No Other, a King, a Would be Queen and a Tie Knot Fashion Statement. This tale of Duke of Windsor is a part of a controversial history and is a well-known sore in the British fashion and political world. Many Brits do not give the Duke credit for his wonderful necktie knotting and a prejudice of sort has followed to this day. So much so that even Ian Fleming's spy 007 James Bond considered a man that wore a Windsor Tie Knot as a Cad and not to be trusted. It is no wonder that some of those bad guys out to conquer the World, that Bond had to eliminate - looked so handsome with their perfectly symmetrical Windsor Knotted ties.
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The belly warmer tie |
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Mark Abramhoff and Ralph Marlin's famous fish ties |
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Four unlikely necktie designers Salvador Dali, Jerry Garcia, Peter Max, and Rush Limbaugh |
Ties illustrating the "pop" art of Peter Max set a new stage for artistic ties. Others artists like Christian Lassen famous for his underwater scenes followed. These tie lines were mostly licensed by necktie manufacturers providing unique artistic neckties for a man to express himself. Ties illustrating the licensed artwork of Marvel Comics and D.C. Comics, Disney, Bart Simpson, Star Wars, and ties with Tabasco and Endangered Species themes became the rage of non-conservative dress. Licensed novelty ties became a big retail draw especially popular with young men and even women who waitress at Denny's, the Cheese Cake Factory and other restaurants.
In the mid 90's Wall Street became amazed at a rather very surprising tie line that became a fashion statement that was a contradiction. A man who wanted to be a rebel and still wear a tie had his wish with the creation of Jerry Garcia and Grateful Dead ties. These ties were designed and modeled using Jerry Garcia's art; he had been at first a talented art student in San Francisco's Art Institute.
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"Who Wants To Be a Millionaire" Regis Philbin's Monochromatic necktie fashion trend |
After the turn of the 20th Century necktie design turned conservative taking a turn back to rep stripes. An event that had caused great despair and even greater political and diplomatic changes also created a fashion trend, short-lived but none-the-less very widespread. Neckwear retailers and manufacturers answered the call as the tragedy of September 11, 2001 encouraged American men to sport patriotic ties with the same vigor as most Americans who displayed American Flags on the car antennas, and their front porches. The seriousness of the state of Geopolitical climate attributed to conservative dress. Television anchors and reporters, politicians and of course bankers could not be seen as soft or not on guard.
Throughout the decade conservative ties were the norm, although liberal fashion buffs held out fancying novelty ties and bold colorful abstract panel designs. The opposite of conservative neckties was sharp and exact. Ties that screamed in color and loud design seemed to blossom. Electric ties evolved from the Rush Limbaugh No Boundaries ties which came to an end in 1997 after selling about 6 million ties. Sold almost exclusively through the Rush Limbaugh mailing lists and through online stores, these bright ties were wild and practically electric in attraction.
The Internet retailing of ties became a source for wild and different ties as most department stores went with the conservative trend. Additionally, many retailers either severely cut back on their stocking of neckties or stopped selling ties altogether. Save the Internet, novelty ties became hard to find with the exception of specialty retailers in kiosks for the holidays. Collector novelty neckties became a unique business for Internet retailers as almost all licensed novelty ties were discontinued making fancy "conversation" themed ties illustrating Marvel Comics Superheroes and the like a sort of commodity.
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"The Apparel Off Proclaim the Man," William Shakespeare |
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Ed Hardy, Christian Aguilar Tattoo Art Neckties |
With an understanding of necktie history and how various cultures and societies have contributed to this fashion accessory, it is fair to say that neckties are here to stay. Not only is wearing a tie a tradition of manhood, they are an important element of men's fashion. Women love them and the casual trend has seen its run. Being serious about dressing is a commonplace habit for men as Shakespeare had noted: "the apparel oft proclaim the man."
Watch this great video The Origin of Neckties