When Did Men First Start Wearing Ties?

Have you ever wondered where and when the tradition of wearing ties first began? We have grown so accustomed to seeing men wearing ties to work or on special occasions that most of us don't even start to think about what prompted them to wear them. They have come to represent polish and professionalism, and men who do not wear them when they are appropriate are seen as being lazy or unsophisticated. Ties are just what men are expected to wear at certain times. Why? History provides some clues.

Early Development of Neckties

The earliest evidence of men wearing ties can be dated back to 221 B.C. in China where in paintings men are seen to be wearing something around their necks that resembles a tie. And in 101 B.C. the Roman military were also depicted as having something around their neck. Though very dissimilar to the ties of modern times, it is the earliest time anything even close can be seen. Even this stopped when the Han dynasty came to an end.

The 17^th Century: A Time of Change

In the 1600's, as wages raged, fashion was not something people worried much about. But the wealthy men of Europe felt the need to change this perspective and began to wear lace ruffles around their necks. In European culture at that time, the way people dressed was pretty much left up to the individual class. But when Spain and France went to war, it was deemed inappropriate to spend money needlessly on ruffs and so it was ruled that they could only be worn during formal occasions, such as funerals. The war was a costly endeavor for both countries.

Croation Mercenaries Impact Development

In the mid to late 1600's, the Croatian soldiers began to wear cravats, which were a necktie of sorts and part of their uniform. The French took an interest in this and began to accept them once again. They made a few styling changes in the process. They banned the ruffs entirely and instead introduced the turned down shirt collar. High end fabrics were used to wrap the collar. King Louis XIV was so delighted with them that even he began to wear them and a new styling trend began.

Prince of Wales and Beau Brummell

The tie became a part of French tradition and was rarely seen elsewhere until the late 1700's when the Prince of Wales found himself caught up in the trend at the suggestion of Beau Brummel, a British fashion icon of that ear. The prince eventually became King George IV, and he was responsible for being the first to wear a white tie. King George the V brought the black tie into fashion and it quickly became very popular among all men.

Renewed Popularity in the 1800’s and 1900’s

By the 1800's ties had become popular among the wealthy, the military and in the schools. Their variety and style grew and more and more options became available. Men began to wear patterned ties of all colors.

In the 1900's mens ties were introduced in various widths and sizes. A man measured his collar and lapel size to determine the size of the tie he would wear. The novelty tie may have begun as a trend when in the 1940’s Salvador Dali created the first one by using his artwork on a tie. This became exceedingly popular and more and more men wore ties as personal fashion statement. This era was followed by thin narrow neckties, wide ties and normal width modern neckwear.

Conclusion

Ties have been a staple in men's wardrobes for so long that it is not likely that the trend will die out any time soon. While a more relaxed dress code is evident among the younger generations, a tie is still the appropriate attire for a man in many social circumstances. Undoubtedly, the trend will evolve. It will be interesting to see where it goes next!