Ties are a favorite accessory in men's and women's dressing rooms alike! The first trace of the cravat goes back to the Croatian cavalrymen who wore its ancestor, a kind of fabric knotted around the neck, decorated and used above all as a shield against deadly sword blows. Royalty were quick to adopt this elegant, original and practical accessor...
Ties are a favorite accessory in men's and women's dressing rooms alike! The first trace of the cravat goes back to the Croatian cavalrymen who wore its ancestor, a kind of fabric knotted around the neck, decorated and used above all as a shield against deadly sword blows. Royalty were quick to adopt this elegant, original and practical accessory, as it also served to protect the king from the drafts of the Palace of Versailles. The kings wore a personalized tie, with its color, ornaments and jewels, adding a touch of whimsy to stand out and be coquettish. Louis XIV even created the profession of cravatier, whose role was to adjust the king's tie to his size and coordinate it with the rest of his attire.
It wasn't until the 17th century that ties became popular and democratic among civil society. Lighter, less frilly and more cumbersome than lace and ruffles, cravats were quickly adopted. Made from linen or cotton and adorned with lace, they conquered men's hearts fairly quickly.
The French Revolution, which overthrew the king and put an end to the privileges of the nobility, didn't seem to affect this royal fashion accessory, which on the contrary became increasingly popular with the French. French men adapted their ties and wore them garat-style, like the comedian of the same name. It was also worn in the rest of Europe, in England in particular, where it was white with a set of bows.
European fashions followed one another, influenced by the arrivals and discoveries of foreign explorers. Fabrics, colors and patterns diversified, but the cravat remained a popular men's accessory. Ties were sold knotted to make them easier to wear, and had to contend with the arrival of the bow tie created at the same time.
It wasn't until the early 1920s in the United States that the creator of today's tie, New York cravat-maker Langdord, invented a manufacturing method that would revolutionize the industry: he cut his fabrics on the diagonal to assemble the three sides of the tie: the front, the back and the intermediate inner fabric. The modern tie was born in his American workshop, and would enjoy unparalleled success in the 20th century. It even became a mandatory accessory, a fashionable component of many work uniforms, and for going to church on Sundays, it became as essential as shoes or a white shirt .
The 60s, with the success of Hollywood films and actors who became global celebrities, influenced the tie. The accessory became flamboyant, luxurious, in pure silk, with new manufacturing methods and new shapes, shorter or wider, the tie became plural to match your personal style.
The 80s played their part, imposing a more informal creative dynamic, with ties becoming as thin as they are thick, short or extra wide, with funny, baroque or graphic motifs. As a result, this accessory takes on any shape you want, and becomes more feminine, with women seizing on it to wear it with skirts and dresses, or in an androgynous look with a suit. From Madonna, who uses it in her music videos, to working girls who use it as a professional accessory, women are taking advantage of 80s fashion to wear ties as they please!
At the time, ties measured up to 16 cm, marking the start of the oversize trend and the fashion of the '80s, as shirt collars and pants got bigger and wider. With the punk and rock spirit sweeping the fashion and music worlds, ties were once again ultra-thin, slim-fitting and worn loose with an open white shirt and mostly slim-fitting pants. Ties became more colorful and free of convention, as men indulged in more whimsical looks and revived forgotten materials to create atypical models: leather, knitwear, fashion designers dared to create a modern, fun tie!
The nineties saw the tie trend recede, but without running out of steam. Ties were looser, fluorescent colors and cheesy or almost cheesy patterns were dared, but they resisted this drop in interest and remain an essential accessory in men's dressing rooms today.
Nowadays, it's worn in a dandy, retro look, with a tartan or plaid pattern and long, slim linen pants, while a plain blue or black tie is reserved for formal, important occasions, at work for example, or for an end-of-school-year internship interview!
LessFine satin burgundy tie Plain model Single loop on the back Pointed toe Length: 145cm Composition: 100% Polyester
