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The 'bow tie' is a men's necktie popularly worn with formal attire, such as suits or dinner jackets. It consists of a ribbon of fabric tied around the collar in a symmetrical manner such that the two opposite ends form loops. Ready-tied bow ties are available, in which the distinctive bow is sewn into shape and the band around the neck incorporates a clip. Some "clip-ons" dispense with the band altogether, instead clipping to the collar. The traditional bow tie, consisting of a strip of cloth one must tie, may be known as a "self-tie" bow tie to distinguish it. Bow ties may be made of silk, polyester, cotton, or a mixture of fabrics. Some fabrics (''e.g.'', wool) are much less common for bow ties than for ordinary neckties.

Contents

Origin and History

Stereotypes of bowtie wearers

Current

Designers

See also

References

External links

Origin and History

The bow tie originated among Croatian mercenaries during the Prussian wars of the 17th century: the Croats used a scarf around the neck to hold together the opening of their shirts. This method was soon adopted (under the name Cravat, a name perhaps derived from the word Croat) by the upper classes in France (then a leading country in the field of fashion) and flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries. The famous French writer Honoré de Balzac even wrote a book on the subject.
It is uncertain if the cravat then developed into the bowtie and necktie, or if the cravat gave rise to the bow tie, which in turn lead to the necktie.

Stereotypes of bowtie wearers

Main articles: list of bow tie wearers

Architects are said to wear bow ties frequently, but the evidence for this is thin and based more on certain individuals than on the profession as a whole. It has been suggested that one possible reason involves routinely standing over drafting boards, and the necessity of keeping dangling clothing away from blueprints. Nonetheless, the concept may be a meme rather than a substantiated fact. Doctors may also be seen as wearing bowties. This would stem from the need to avoid having a tie dangle on a patient. Southerners from the United States are often depicted as wearing bowties.
Bow ties are commonly seen in popular culture as items of sophistication, such as those worn by fictional spy James Bond. However, they have also been adopted into the "uniform" of clowns and male strippers, and such associations have lent bowties a less serious image.

Current

Although the necktie proves most prominent in today's society, being seen at business meetings, formal functions, schools, and sometimes even at home, the bow tie is making a comeback with fun-formal events such as dinner and cocktail parties, and nights out on the town. Bow ties are still popular with men of all ages in the American South. It is also still much more common to wear a bow tie with a dinner jacket than it is to wear a necktie with one; previously the bow tie was the only proper neckwear for this.
The dress code of "black tie" requires a bow tie, although, paradoxically, it need not always be black these days. Most military mess dress incorporates a bow tie. Oscar Wilde once said:

"Learning how to tie a bow tie really well is the first important step in life."

Shown on the right is one style of "ready tied" bow tie; there is also a clip on that does not go around the neck but clips to the collar points; these are the simplest type to put on. If choosing a "self-tie" bow tie, there are usually two shapes available: the "bat wing", which is parallel-sided like a cricket bat, and the "thistle", sometimes known as the "butterfly". An example of each can be seen to the right also. Which is worn is a matter of personal preference. Some other shapes do exist, for instance with pointed tips at both ends. Both of these are of the double-ended type, with both ends shaped; occasionally one still sees bow ties of the single-ended type, in which only one end flares out to give the batwing or thistle shape, and the other remains thin. To tie one of these requires careful consideration, to ensure the broader end finishes in front of the thinner one.

Designers

Leading designers of bow ties include Charvet, Duchamp, Robert Charles and Paul Smith who are renowned for bow ties with interesting and colourful designs. Likewise designers Frederick Theak, KJ Beckett and CT Shirts are leaders in formal bow ties (black formal and white marcella bow ties). Within the UK, leading retailers of some of the aforementioned designers include Turnbull & Asser, John Lewis Partnership, House of Fraser, and Selfridges. Within the US retailers include the department stores Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus, as well as the noted specialty shop Brooks Brothers.

See also

★ List of bow tie wearers

References

★ Page with examples of the cravat slowly becoming the bow tie
; Specifically concerning the architect-bowtie conjecture:

★ Some thoughts on dress on an architectural sociology page.

★ An article about a bow tie collector, of clip-ons, who happens to be an architect.

★ A page with photos of past winners of an architects' award. Few wear bowties.

External links

★ How to tie a bow tie with extra steps to make it easier to follow along, and adjust how tight or loose the tie is.

★ How to tie a bow tie with instructions to be viewed in front of a mirror.

★ wikiHow on How to tie a bow tie