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Tie as a Fashion Statement

When it comes to updating your wardrobe or giving your regular look a new twist, a fashion tie can make all the difference.

A men’s fashion tie can come in any material, any style, any color, and any print pattern. A fashion tie can be equally at home in the boardroom as it is at a wedding or a night on the town. A fashion tie can be worn with a suit or with a simple sweater and dress shirt.

That’s the beauty of a men’s fashion tie: its styling and craftsmanship makes it suitable for any number of situations where great style and looks are called for.

Ties weren’t always a source of fashion. In fact, the first ties weren’t worn for fashion at all, but rather as a convenience. Croatian mercenaries fighting for France in the Thirty Years War in the 1600s wore a knotted handkerchief around their necks primarily for warmth. This style soon became known as a “Cravat” (an alteration of the French word for Croatian) and went from an article of convenience to an article of fashion. Both men and women began to emulate this style and the first fashion tie was born.

Fashion ties took a further step into legitimacy with the publication of a book entitled “Neckclothitania”, a tome that consisted of illustrations and instructions on 14 different ways to tie cravats. The book was also the first one to use the word “tie” in conjunction with neckwear.

The aristocracy and upper class were the main wearers of fashion neckwear in the early days, wearing colorful cloths while attending formal dinners, horse races, coronations, etc. For the common man, fashion ties were rarely used. At best, ties were simply part of their everyday workwear. These were ordinary fashion accessories that were mainly popular because they were easy to use and were durable enough to make it through an entire workday. As long as the knot remained knotted, it was considered a suitable tie.

That began to chance in the 1920s. A New York tie manufacturers, Jesse Langsdorf, invented a new technique for making ties in 1926. He began cutting the fabric that the tie was being constructed on a bias and sewing it together in three segments. This new technique improved the durability of the tie by increasing the elasticity that let it return to its original shape no matter now long the tie remained knotted. Another tie manufacturer in Ireland created method for connecting the lining of the tie to the interlining for further stability.

As the workforce changed, ties became less important in the factories and a staple of the office. Suits and ties were the uniform of the businessman and to make an impression, office workers have tried to choose ties that stood apart from the rest. These fashion ties could gain notice by using colors, patterns or prints that catch the eye. These types of neckwear are usually not too extreme (no wacky clowns or crazy swirling patterns, for example) but are fashion enough to get the wearer noticed.

Whether it’s a bold striped pattern, an eye-catching complimentary color or a subtle but important print, fashion mens neckwear is a great way to stand apart from the crowd.

Also good articles are about how to tie a tie, formal ties, bar mitzvah ties, missionary neckties, and church neckwear. Just click there and take a look = )