All Tied Up

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It is said that the tie makes the man. Read on to see how the man, and woman, makes the tie.

I read a post recently about a newscaster who is donating his extensive tie collection to young reporters and newscasters just coming into the profession – paying it forward so to speak. Millions of people wear them throughout the world, whether they’re going to work, a special occasion, church, or any other number of reasons. But why? You might think, ‘well, it allows men to express themselves’, or ‘people need a way to dress more formal’ or ‘it’s just tradition’. You wouldn’t be wrong, but the history of men’s neckties is far more complex than you might guess. Around here, we’re not much for formal wear – I like keeping things casual while we are enjoying all of those PIA (Pain in @%$) jobs that come in each day! , We lprefer to dress in KHT logo wear (email me if you’d like some KHT blin!).  I do love getting dressed up, while trying to matchmy ties, with my extensive sock collection. So, here’s a little history and some fashion tips to help you through the summer months.  Be stylish and proud!  Also, dig into your drawer, and send me your ugliest tie(s) – I’ll collect all the entries, and send a surprise gift to the winner, chosen by our receptionist – I know I have a bunch that are sure to compete).  Thanks to msn.com, youtube.com, esquire.com, Wikipedia.org, ascot.com, thetenaflyecho.com, and absoluteties.com for the insights.

Interesting Links:

  • Early ties hardly resemble the modern tie today as we know it. We can thank Croatians for the necktie, but the French made it the fashion staple it is today. The origin of the necktie can be traced back to the 17th Century, during the 30 Years’ War (1618-1648). The French hired Croatian mercenaries who woretraditional knotted neckerchiefs around their necks ( ) as part of their uniform. This held the top of their jackets together and was more practical than stiff collars.
  • Towards the end of the war, Croatian soldiers were being presented to French King Louis XIV. During his inspection, the king noticed these neckerchiefs and took a strong liking to them. The boy-king began wearing these himself around 1846, at just seven years old, according to the Dubrovnik Times. He named the early neckties “La Cravate,” after the Croatians who invented the fashion piece and is still the French word for necktie today. The king made cravats a mandatory accessory at royal gatherings. With the king and other nobility wearing cravats, the new fashion trend caught on like a wildfire across Europe.
  • As Europe changed over time, so did ‘La Cravate.’ Rather than its practical purpose used by the Croatians, neckwear became an indication of social status. Neckwear was worn by nobles who wanted to project power, wealth, elegance, and status.
  • In the 1800’s, the scarf became the most popular neckwear, though stocks, bandanas, and cravats were also worn. Beyond the evolution of cravat into different articles of clothing like scarves and bandanas, the tying of neckwear also became very important. A prominent pamphlet was published in 1818 called Neckclothitania, which detailed the most popular ways to tie neckwear, and in which circumstances the different knots were appropriate.
  • Neckties weren’t immune to the Industrial Revolution. With fabrics like cotton, linen, wool, and silk being able to be produced at a much more efficient and extensive rate than ever before, this fashion trend became much more common. Around this time, bow ties and ascots grew into popularity.
  • The name of the Ascot comes from the Ascot Heath, (https://www.ascot.com/royal-ascot-2023  ) a horse race in England and is the most formal type of tie. It was the formal morning neckwear of the Royal Enclosure at Ascot. Bow ties became popular among scholars and surgeons, and also came into popularity with the wealthy when wearing tuxedos.
  • Neckties continued to evolve and change with fashion and social trends into the 19th century. The origin of the necktie as we know and wear it today can be traced to a tie maker from New York in the 1920’s. Jesse Langford patented an entirely new way to make the tie; he would cut the fabric on an angle and sew it into three segments. This method is still used to this day. This was named ‘the Langford Necktie’, and the original design had ties that were much shorter than ties we are accustomed to.
  • Art Deco is a style of visual arts with the intent to look and feel modern; and was influenced by bold geometric and represented faith in social and technological progress. Some men in this same era wore kipper ties  as part of the ‘Bold Look’.
  • The 80’s were a wild time for fashion, with huge fashion trends like the hip-hop movement, New Romantic, and Miami Vice (how cool was Crockett and Tubbs!!). The 80’s are remembered for its bright and bold colors and patterns. At this time, wide ties began to be synonymous with older men; younger people started wearing narrower ties that were reminiscent of the 1950’s. Novelty ties also grew into popularity, with ties with specialty prints and crazy designs like the piano key tie and thousands of other fun and zany patterns.
  • The 90’s tie styles were very similar to the 80’s, but tended to be wider. Paisleys and colored floral prints became popular at the end of the 20th century. The 1990’s are also responsible for the shift into business casual, with business moguls like Bill Clinton and Steve Jobs ditching the full suits for more comfortable and casual dress.
  • Alternative options for people who want a faster and easier option to traditional ties are clip on ties, zipper ties, and the Modern Tie. No one is certain who invented the clip-on tie, but it is a great option for kids and those who want a more convenient option. Clip on ties have a metal clip at the top of the knot that clips on the backside of a shirt. Downsides to this is that the metal bar can irritate necks and can be seen by others. Zipper ties are essentially a pre-tied tie that is adjusted by a zipper.  You fully unzip the tie and put it over your head and then zip it up to specific neck size of the individual wearer.

Making a Handmade Tie – (talk about a PIA (Pain in the @%$ Job!).

 

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DO YOU LIKE CONTESTS?
Me, too.
As you may know the Kowalski Heat Treating logo finds its way
into the visuals of my Friday posts.
I.  Love.  My.  Logo.
One week there could be three logos.
The next week there could be 15 logos.
And sometimes the logo is very small or just a partial logo showing.
But there are always logos in some of the pictures.
So, I challenge you, my beloved readers, to count them and send me a
quick email with the total number of logos in the Friday post.
On the following Tuesday I’ll pick a winner from the correct answers
and send that lucky person some great KHT swag.
So, start counting and good luck!  
Oh, and the logos at the very top header don’t count.
Got it? Good.  :-))))
Have fun!!

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