Necktie Origins
The neck has long been used as a way to make a fashion statement. Chains of office, necklaces, pendants and so on have remained popular remain items that have been worn for centuries. In Elizabethan times men wore ruffs which were rather stiff and restrictive. Nowadays greater comfort and convenience is required.
Whereas the origins of the neck tie and bow tie have a common heritage that includes these early examples, the way in which the necktie bow tie evolved is shrouded in a little bit of mystery. There are at least two competing explanations – and neither can be claimed with complete certainty as the true origin of the bow tie.
The Bow Tie and Moroccans
The first, and seemingly least known or accepted version, is that it evolved from the scarf worn by Moroccans to combat desert weather conditions. The desert can be very cold at night, and also strong winds can blow dry sand across the desert plains. A scarf wrapped around the neck and over the mouth and nose offers good protection.
The Bow Tie and Croatians and French
The second, better known and seemingly more widely accepted version is that it originated in Croatia. During the 17th century European Wars the French uniforms had fairly stiff awkward and uncomfortable collars. However they fought alongside Croatian mercenaries. In contrast the Croatians wore distinctive scarves which they used to denote rank. These scarves were worn in a more casual way, straightforwardly tied in a simple knot around the neck. They were made of silk or a similar soft and entirely unrestrictive material. They were quite clearly far more comfortable.
The more fashion conscious French copied the scarves and they became an item of non-military fashion – and so the cravat, named after its Croatian origin was born. From the cravat the fashion of wearing a distinctive and colourful neck adornment was started and in turn from this the necktie and bow tie evolved.
The Typical Bow Tie Wearer
It used to have a stereotypical wearer – those that were, shall we say, more mature, or even advanced in years. It was also restricted to men from a small number of professions, such as architects, university professors, attorneys, and doctors. All of these professions are characterised by respectability, longevity, dependability and trustworthiness.
In short the bow tie was associated with men of prestige: those of solid and verifiable achievement. With senior politicians at one time almost exclusively sharing this, or a similar background, it is not surprising that it was also worn by prominent politicians. Wishing to convey a similar status, other politicians of a dissimilar background have adopted the bow tie. Some senior newspaper editors might be included amongst those with similar motives perhaps.
For similar reasons, albeit from an entirely different background, it became popular among waiters in high class restaurants. This mimicked the dress of the customers and so helped to promote, for the restaurant, a reputation of being part of the “establishment” and so enhanced the dining experience. Importantly it also had a very practical purpose - it was less likely than anything else to get in the way when serving table.
Famous Wearers of the Bow Tie
The bow tie has been popularised by several people over the years. Politicians of note were two Presidents – Harry Truman and Franklyn D Roosevelt – and Britain’s Wartime Leader, Winston Churchill.
Taking a lead from these people, prominent members of the entertainment business followed suit. At the very height of their success, bow ties were worn by Frank Sinatra, Groucho Marx and Humphrey Bogart.
With the move post war to less formal attire – with the necktie generally becoming less popular and replaced by open-neck shorts, T shirts etc, the bow tie was then adopted by people who wished to convey the impression that they did not follow the herd, and were sufficiently self-confident not to. The fictional character James Bond is perhaps the best known and most fitting example of this.
The Modern Bow tie
Over the years the bow tie has changed a great deal. The introduction of different material and patterns has resulted in a wide and varied selection of bow ties. With plain and muted colors and styles to the very bright and flamboyant, men can now choose whether they wish to convey an image of conservatism through to quirky and ultramodern - from the reserved to the riotous.
One big change has been the introduction of the clip – on bow tie. It has become popular because it can be put on fast and easily with a good knot every time.
The bow tie continues to change and meet the demands of today's fashion conscious men