johnnymk

Where did the coat and tie "uniform" originate?

I have always felt uncomfortable wearing ties. I think they look silly and have never figured why many companies require them, why many men wear them at church services , and why they are worn in practically all weddings.

I believe that a man's "self importance" doubles when he wears a coat and tie. He believes he's a bigger "big shot" than what he really is. I think it has something to do with much of the blood being cut off to the brain when wearing a tie.

I know that a lot of women will say: Oh, he looks so sexy in his suit or coat and tie.

Enquiring minds want to know: Why??

Leon

The history of neckties dates back a mere hundred years or so, for they came into existence as the direct result of a war. In 1660, in celebration of its hard-fought victory over the Ottoman Empire , a crack regiment from Croatia (then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire), visited Paris. There, the soldiers were presented as glorious heroes to Louis XIV, a monarch well known for his eye toward personal adornment. It so happened that the officers of this regiment were wearing brightly colored handkerchiefs fashioned of silk around their necks. These neck cloths, which probably descended from the Roman fascalia worn by orators to warm the vocal chords, struck the fancy of the king, and he soon made them an insignia of royalty as he created a regiment of Royal Cravattes. The word "cravat," incidentally, is derived from the word "Croat."

It wasn't long before this new style crossed the channel to England. Soon no gentleman would have considered himself well-dressed without sporting some sort of cloth around his neck--the more decorative, the better. At times, cravats were worn so high that a man could not move his head without turning his whole body. There were even reports of cravats worn so thick that they stopped sword thrusts. The various styles knew no bounds, as cravats of tasseled strings, plaid scarves, tufts and bows of ribbon, lace, and embroidered linen all had their staunch adherents. Nearly one hundred different knots were recognized, and as a certain M. Le Blanc, who instructed men in the fine and sometimes complex art of tying a tie, noted, "The grossest insult that can be offered to a man comme il faut is to seize him by the cravat; in this place blood only can wash out the stain upon the honor of either party."

In this country, ties were also an integral part of a man's wardrobe. However, until the time of the Civil War, most ties were imported from the Continent. Gradually, though, the industry gained ground, to the point that at the beginning of the twentieth century, American neckwear finally began to rival that of Europe, despite the fact that European fabrics were still being heavily imported.

In the 1960s, in the midst of the Peacock Revolution, there was a definite lapse in the inclination of men to wear ties, as a result of the rebellion against both tradition and the formality of dress. But by the mid-1970s, this trend had reversed itself to the point where now, in the 1990s, the sale of neckwear is probably as strong if not stronger than it has ever been.

How to account for the continued popularity of neckties? For years, fashion historians and sociologists predicted their demise--the one element of a man's attire with no obvious function. Perhaps they are merely part of an inherited tradition. As long as world and business leaders continue to wear ties, the young executives will follow suit and ties will remain a key to the boardroom. On the other hand, there does seem to be some aesthetic value in wearing a tie. In addition to covering the buttons of the shirt and giving emphasis to the verticality of a man's body (in much the same way that the buttons on a military uniform do), it adds a sense of luxury and richness, color and texture, to the austerity of the dress shirt and business suit.

Perhaps no other item of a man's wardrobe has altered its shape so often as the tie. It seems that the first question fashion writers always ask is, "Will men's ties be wider or narrower this year?"

In the late 1960s and early 70s, ties grew to five inches in width. At the time, the rationale was that these wide ties were in proportion to the wider jacket lapels and longer shirt collars. This was the correct approach, since these elements should always be in balance. But once these exaggerated proportions were discarded, fat ties became another victim of fashion.

http://www.neckties.com/history.htm

cheapchinese

there's a history for everything

kei2

Dude if you know the ladies dig it, just accept it and throw on that coat and tie. Am I right or am I right?

DaFunkyUnit

over in the UK, everyone who is a professional (i.e. banker, engineer, pretty much anyone who works in an office) wears a suit & tie.

johnnymk

You're right

WhiskeyPapa

My biggest complaint about ties is that I wear them so infrequently. So I have to pay $30+ for a tie, wear it once or twice, then by the time I need to wear it again, it's out of style.

Joshua

Still own the skinny black one from the '80s?

__________________
The Apexer formerly known as SnotRocket.

"Like I ****ing said, "Ok, so I hear it may be a repost. Blah But I had never seen it, so..." **** you Canta." -Jenny 12/4/2003

Nija

That's why you should go for the classic looks

__________________

"Nija is the dark soul of gotapex. We don't like to talk about him." - LPMiller

Peachhead

I've got a closet FULL of cool ties that I never wear anymore, since I don't have to wear em to work.

and I ummmm almost never go to church. Interestingly enough most of the churches around here have gone to a more casual dress (no tie/no jacket)...well that's what I've noticed the times I've gone.

__________________
_______________________________
"I love being alive and I will be the best man I possibly can. I will take love wherever I find it and offer it to everyone who will take it..seek knowledge from those wiser..and teach those who wish to learn from me." --Duane Allman

molecularfire

I can't stand ties. Have to wear them pretty much every day this year and it's been the bain of my year. Other than that, my years been pretty cool. Not sure why I have such a passionate hate for them... think it's just that I don't like the idea of anyone having that much access to my neck. Heck, I've had to look so geeky this year that I sometimes have the urge to kick my own a$$.

__________________
Disclaimer - The above opinion should not be taken as medical advise. My only advise is to talk to your doctor. If you are stupid enough to take anything I say seriously, you have nobody to blame for your cranio-anal inversion but your stupid self.

I may not be smart enough to do everything but I am dumb enough to try anything. - Beastboy.