Bow tie

The bow tie is a fashion accessory, popularly worn with other formal attire, such as suits or dinner jackets, most commonly by men. It consists of a ribbon of fabric tied around the collar in a symmetrical manner such that the two opposite ends form loops. Ready-tied bow ties are available, in which the distinctive bow is sewn into shape and the band around the neck incorporates a clip. Some "clip-ons" dispense with the band altogether, instead clipping to the collar. The traditional alternative, consisting of a single strip of cloth, may be known as a "self-tie" bow tie to distinguish it. Bow ties may, like neckties, be made of silk, polyester, cotton, or a mixture of fabrics, although some fabrics (e.g., wool) are much less common for bowties than for ordinary neckties.

Origin and History

The bow tie originated among Croatian mercenaries during the European wars of the 17th century: the Croats used a scarf around the neck to hold together the opening of their shirts. This method was soon adopted (under the name Cravat, a name perhaps derived from the word Croat) by the upper classes in France (then a leading country in the field of fashion) and flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries. The famous French writer Honoré de Balzac even wrote a book on the subject.

It is uncertain if the cravat then developed into the bowtie and necktie, or if the cravat gave rise to the bow tie, which in turn lead to the necktie. Architects are said to wear bow ties frequently, but the evidence for this is thin and based mostly on individuals than the profession as a whole. The concept may be a meme rather than a substantiated fact.

The bow tie today

Although the necktie proves most prominent in today's society, being seen at business meetings, formal functions, and sometimes even at home, the bow tie is making a comeback with fun-formal events such as dinner and cocktail parties, and nights out on the town. It is also still much more common to wear a bow tie with a tuxedo than it is to wear a necktie with one; previously the bow tie was the only proper neckware for a tuxedo.

The dress code of "black tie" requires a bow tie, though, paradoxically, it need not always be black these days. Most military mess dress incorporates a bow tie, which must always be of the self-tie type. For a military officer to wear a clip-on bow tie with mess-dress or dinner-jacket is regarded as a faux pas, and in many regiments the offender will be required to purchase a significant quantity of champagne for his fellows, by way of a fine.

Edgar de Evia used to quote Oscar Wilde saying:

"Learning how to tie a bow tie really well is the first important step in life."

Many, including Robert Denning learned this skill from de Evia.

Bow ties are commonly seen in popular culture as items of sophistication, such as those worn by fictional spy James Bond. However, they have also been adopted into the "uniform" of clowns and male strippers, and such associations have lent bowties a less serious image.

Shown left is one style of "ready-tied" bow tie; there is also a clip on that does not go around the neck but clips to the collar points; these are the simplest type to put on. If choosing a "self-tie" bow tie, there are usually two shapes available: the "bat wing", which is parallel-sided like a cricket bat, and the "thistle", sometimes known as the butterfly. An example of each can be seen to the right. Which is worn is a matter of personal preference. Some other shapes do exist, for instance with pointed tips at both ends. Both of these are of the double-ended type, with both ends shaped; occasionally one still sees bow ties of the single-ended type, in which only one end flares out to give the batwing or thistle shape, and the other remains thin. To tie one of these requires careful consideration, to ensure the broader end finishes in front of the thinner one.

Men known for their bow ties

Others include Fred Allen, Thomas Edison, Raj Bhakta, Chippendale Dancers, Bud Collyer, Robin Day | Keith Dunstan, Peter Eisenman, Louis Farrakhan, Walter Gropius, C. Everett Koop, Janusz Korwin-Mikke, David M. Lee, Matthew Lesko, Groucho Marx, Charles Osgood, Lester Pearson, Orville Redenbacher, Norbert Schedler, Joseph Welch, Timothy White, George F. Will, and Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, Ulysses Grant, Rutherford Hayes, James Garfield, Grover Cleveland, and William McKinley.

Fictional characters known for their bow ties

References

Page with examples of the cravat slowly becoming the bow tie

Specifically concerning the architect-bowtie conjecture:

External links

How to tie a bow tie
How to tie a bow tie
How to tie a bow tie with extra steps to make it easier to follow along, and adjust how tight or loose the tie is.
Bow tie home page
Bow Tie Video Video instructions on how to tie a bow tie

Necktie | Accessories | Formalwear