The diverse and debatable origin of the tie

Have you ever wondered how wearing a brightly colored strip of cloth around the neck became not only acceptable, but even a symbol of status and prosperity for men? He probably won’t be surprised to find that the question is not an easy one to answer. It’s not so much a matter of missing records as one of many conflicting records and differences of opinion, mostly based on how we define the tie. However, let’s give him the old college shot.

While it’s safe to assume those adorable prehistoric Saturday morning cartoon characters aren’t based on fact, what kind of historical proof do we have for anything resembling a necktie? Historically speaking, it’s only recently that a surprising answer has literally been discovered. Within the ranks of that quaint and rather valuable Chinese terracotta army unearthed in 1970 were several sporting bands of cloth around their necks with the ends dangling. These clay warriors were created around 220 B.C. c.! Interestingly, the ends of the “loops” were similar in shape to the pointed ends of those in use now.

So it all started with these well-dressed tough guys? Probably not, as no other record of men’s ties exists in ancient China. Unfortunately, it seems he simply didn’t notice. Various others have been suggested as the trend setters, depending on what is considered a necktie. Roman neck warmers, the ruffled scarves worn by Europeans in the Middle Ages, and the tie worn by Croatian soldiers in the 17th century are among the suggestions, and indeed, even those lace ruffles were symbols of power and power. prestige. The bigger the steering wheel, the more power the man will likely have. You can draw your own conclusions here.

Of those mentioned above, the Croatian regiment seems to have had the most profound effect on world fashion. As their hard-nosed campaigns earned them respect, European rulers took notice, and after some 20 years, the French, who seem to have led global fashion trends at the time, accepted and even embraced the necktie as clothing. adequate. While other countries banned ruffles and embraced the necktie, Louis XIV of France became obsessed with the new fashion and is traditionally credited with bringing the necktie worldwide acceptance.

Public attention shifted to Britain as the fashion leader in the 19th century, and England’s George IV and George V had much to do with the transition to the modern necktie. George IV was greatly influenced by a British fashion icon by the name of Brummel, who is known for innovating necktie design and tie tying. There is little doubt of British influence in the name of a well-known knot: the Windsor.

During the same century and the next, military regiments and schools set new standards for color and design, shifting the trend away from black and white, the two “acceptable” colors for several decades. The British and later the American military developed their regimental stripes, which quickly made their way into the mainstream. Designers on both sides of the ocean quickly developed a plethora of colorful new designs and a new era was born.

Throughout the 20th century, tie styles ranged from the simple and straightforward styles to the wide and wild styles of the 1970s and now, in the 21st century, we find that ties remain the key accessory for the well-dressed man. . Who knows where its evolution will lead next? So who is responsible for the modern necktie and when? You be the judge.