Then and Now - Home Front Magazine

SPONSOR

Scooter Link: Your medical equipment superstore

MAIN MENU

- Home
- Feature stories
- From the editor
- Just a thought
- Small blessings
- You are not alone
- Come and get it
- Then and now
- Fun pages
- Advertising info
- Helpful links New
- About Us

LEARN HOW TO MAKE OUR TYPE LARGER

Ties that bind
Published July/August 2002

Young boy in tie

With all the changes that have taken place in men's fashion over the years, it is amazing that the tie is still around. While there have been slight variations in regards to specifics, such as tie width, length and fabric, the excitement pretty much stops there. There are still only two basic choices, the necktie or bow tie.

While the use of ties originally dates back to the days of the Croatian army who wore white kerchiefs tied around their necks, Louis XIV liked this style and adopted it for France as a symbol of nobility. Both his army and navy wore black silk kerchiefs (cravats) and a regiment was developed called the Royal Cravattes.

Early variations of both the bow and necktie can be seen in the late 1800s. In the 1930s, it was the Duke of Windsor in an attempt to "fill in" the space between the new wide-collar shirts being introduced, who popularized the bulky triangular knot for ties, known as the Windsor knot. This is still used by men today.

Older man in tie

Because of the fabric shortages during WWII, post-war fashions in neckwear, gave way to wide ties in bold bright colors. The 1940s and 1950s saw conservative trends in men's fashion occurring with suits and ties in bland fabric and colors.

It wasn't until the 1960s that there was a moving away from the wearing of ties for men in the US. This "decade of rebellion" resulted in a lot of men opting for a more casual style of dress thus ending the tie-wearing tradition with their fathers and grandfathers. However, by the mid-1970s, this rebellion subsided. Men once again put on their ties and headed off to work.

What is the next trend? Will the Baby Boomers who threw away their ties in the 60s, rise up and rebel again? Will they show younger executives that they don't necessarily need to conform to an uncomfortable tradition just to be respected? There really is no true purpose of the "tie" anyway. Women would have thrown them away years ago!!

Return to a list of "Then and Now" features.