TYPES OF MENS NECKTIES

Neck ties are a common part of today’s fashion world. From businessmen to heads of state, most men have worn a neck tie at some point in their lives. However, some men do not know that there are four basic types of neck ties.

The oldest type of neck tie, and the least used in modern dress, is the cravat. The cravat originated in Paris in 1660. King Louis XIV, who was a fashionable king, noticed that the officers of the Croatian army who were visiting him were wearing brightly coloured silk handkerchiefs around their necks tied in a variety of styles. He was impressed with the look, and soon royalty throughout Paris had to wear the cravats. The term comes from the French phrase a la croate, which means “like the Croats.” This type of neck tie was considered fashionable for many years.

In the 1850s a new type of neck tie became popular in Britain. The four-in-hand neck tie was made out of rectangular cloth strips that were cut on the square. They had square ends and were tied about the neck with the four-in-hand knot. The ends of the tie were left to hang in the front of the man’s shirt.

These ties slowly morphed into the neck ties that are worn today. It wasn’t until 1926 that the ties were cut on cross-grain. This allowed fabric to fall evenly without twisting the knot at the neck. Bright patterns were introduced to the ties at this time as well. Soon the triangular bottom of the ties became popular.

Today’s men wear four-in-hand ties on a regular basis. Most are made out of silk, cotton, or polyester, although wool is sometimes worn as well. Some ties feature novelty items such as cartoon characters or pictures representing a particular holiday. Lights and music boxes have even been inserted into four-in-hand ties in today’s culture.

The more sophisticated neck tie enthusiasts may wear six or seven-fold ties. These look like the four-in-hand tie, but they are made out of high quality silk that is folded six or seven times to make the tie’s shape. This helps the fabric to lie properly when worn.

The final type of neck tie is a clip-on tie. These were invented in the 20 th century and feature a four-in-hand style tie that is attached to a metal clip. Instead of being worn around the neck and tied, these ties are clipped in place. While not generally accepted in fashionable circles, those who need to wear ties in places where the danger of choking is present sometimes use clip-on ties. For instance, police officers who could be strangled in the line of duty will use clip-on ties as part of their uniforms.

 

Neck Tie Designers

Many popular neck tie designers are putting ties on the market today. Some of the most famous designers are from Great Britain. These designers’ products can be purchased at fine stores across the globe, such as Neiman Marcus in the United States.

Turnbull & Asser

Turnbull & Asser is one well-known British neck tie designers. They have been designing clothing since 1885. Many famous people have worn their neck ties and other clothing, including Ronald Reagan, Prince Charles, and Sir Winston Churchill. This designer is known for bright, vivid colours and fine fabrics.

Paul Smith

Paul Smith is a British fashion designer that focuses mainly on men’s wear, including neck ties. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2001, but is far more famous for his clothing lines. Multi-coloured stripes adorn many of his garments.