Summary:
The history of neckties, bow ties, scarves and ascots through the decades shows significant changes to styles, sizes and colors to reflect society in those time periods.
Tie designs
In this essay I intend to discuss different kinds of ties, when they were made, where they were made, what they are made of and who made them.
The Necktie.
The necktie became an established item of mans dress in the second half of the nineteenth century. Gradually the necktie evolved into four different styles of ties.
These were: the Bow Tie, the Scarf or Neckerchief, the Ascot, and the four in hands or sailors knot better known as the long tie. Different styles were adopted for particular occasions.
The Bow tie.
There are two main styles of bow ties, the butterfly and the bats wing.
The butterfly is a bow tie with broad ends and a small knot, and the bats wing was a narrower bow tie with square ends. Both of the styles are still worn today.
Scarf or Neckerchief.
The most popular kind of scarf or neckerchief was the 'De Joinville'. It was named after the prince of Joinville who came to Britain in 1843. It is a knotted scarf with lacy ends which spread across the chest of the shirt, without either end crossing paths.
It was popular in America around the 1900's, but now they are hardly ever seen.
The Ascot.
The Ascot was mainly worn for formal occasions or for hunting and was usually white.
The four in hand or long tie.
The four in hand is worn all throughout the world. The long tie could be made or decorated in many different ways:
- printed cotton
- hand painted
- silk
- woven or knotted
- wool
- rayon
- Batik design, etc.
A wide range of ties were available in America even though the range depended on the different kinds of materials available.
The late 1950's and 60's
In 1957 Pierre Cardin opened his first men's boutique. Cardin was one of the foremost designers to try using different materials and designs not usually thought of as suitable for ties. In 1966 the kipper tie was introduced by Michael Fish. Many designers were influenced by contemporary art such as pop art, and by music groups such as The Beetles. Designers were also influenced by social and political factors, like hippies and the Vietnam War.
1970's
In the 1970's more and more daring designs gave way and the duller and softer ties of the 1930's and the 1950's returned in its place.
1980's - 1990
Britain, Europe and the U.S.A developed a taste for unusual tie designs. Contemporary British designers Hugh Dunford Wood and Vicky Holton both produced their own ties and designs. Their work is distinctive and original. Other producers of ties also started having fun with their designs.
1990's onwards
The Icon tie was made. The 'icon' tie was very bright and original and was often garnished with recognizable film or cartoon characters e.g. The Simpsons, Walt Disney characters, Star Wars and Tom and Jerry.
In the late 1990's the ties were made up of repeated designs which on a closer look, reveal, for example an animal or sporting item.
Today the future of the long tie is questioned.
Menswear department stores have a wide range of ties, and exclusive shops and boutiques are noted for their unusual tie commissions, especially their label.
After 300 years of wearing neckties, the importance of neckwear is still recognized and appreciated by the wearer and the observer.
This is the complete article, containing 526 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
