Necktie is a band of material or a bow that is worn around the neck. The tie is the most visible item of men’s clothing, and it reflects the wearer’s personal tastes. The four-in-hand and bow ties worn today have been about the same style since they were first worn in the 1870’s.
Neckties originated in the neckcloths that men folded and wrapped around their necks, with ribbon tied over them to hold the ends in place. In the 1700’s, men wore a whalebone stock. They fastened it in back with a strap or buckle, and tied it in front with a bow or knot. The cravats of the 1600’s and 1700’s were often frilly and lace-trimmed. By the mid-1800’s, narrow string ties, knotted bow ties, and ascots had replaced the more elaborate cravat. By about 1870, most men began to prefer wearing the wider four-in-hand necktie during the day. They wore white bow ties in the evening. Black bow ties appeared in the early 1900’s. Today, necktie widths vary slightly in accordance with the styling of suit lapels.
