Neckties - the then and now

That says a lot about the modern, artistically designed ties, doesn't it? Neckties have come a long way from being simple pieces of fabric tied around the necks of men to pieces of designer fabric. They have evolved into an expression of art and the personality of the wearer.
This article studies the evolution of this fashion accessory over time. It attempts to study the journey of the necktie from its origin, through the development of various styles, to the modern designer ties available in the market today. It also gives a glimpse of the trends that are in vogue with respect to neckties.
www.fibre2fashion.com had an exclusive conversation with Mr. Patrick McMurray on the subject of neckties. Mr. McMurray is an entrepreneur as well as strategic planning and business alignment specialist, actively involved in market research of various fashion accessory brands. He has an active interest in the evolution of fashion over the years. Mr. McMurray expresses his views on various aspects related to neckties.
Origin and evolution
The necktie, so much a part of today's formal attire for men, is not something that came into existence a couple of years ago. It has been around for thousands of years. To be precise, the origin of the necktie dates as far back as 1660. It was in this year that Croatian soldiers gained victory over Turkey, after a long and hard fight. As a part of the victory celebrations, a regiment of Croatian soldiers visited the court of Louis XIV in Paris, who was well known for his liking for unique embellishments. The officers of this regiment were wearing pieces of silk cloth in bold colours around their necks. The monarch was highly impressed with this style, and he advocated the use of this style as a symbol of royalty. This soon became a fad, and the pieces of fabric began to be known as 'Cravats', derived from the word 'Croats'.
Within a short time span, this fad had passed on to England. It began to be considered highly fashionable to wear a cravat. Almost 100 different styles of tying a cravat were developed in England. The English also began to experiment with various kinds of fabric and designs. Cravats became highly ornamental. 'The more ornamental, the better' was the motto of the English during this period. Cravats with tassels, ribbon, lace, bows and embroidery began making an appearance.
The cravat retained its popularity for several centuries, in different parts of the world. Later, with the passage of time, the cravat became narrower and well tailored, and became popular as the 'necktie'. According to some experts, the cravat evolved into the bow tie, which, in turn, evolved into the necktie. However, this is uncertain.
The necktie as we know it today emerged in the 1900s. During this period, the shape of the necktie became more or less universal. 3-1/4 inches began to be accepted as the ideal width of a tie, and 52 to 58 inches the ideal length. These measurements are still considered to be standard.