Like them or not, neckties are the most common Father's Day gift. Americans spend more than $1 billion each year to buy a staggering 100 million ties. That's roughly one tie for every male over the age of 20 in the United States.
" They are not particularly comfortable. They always go out of style( or back in as soon as we have thrown them out), and they are not even practical. Yet the tie remains an essential part of a man's wardrobe because it unites all the elements of a man's outfit, giving him instant respectability and, above all, it is the ultimate symbol of individuality" - Author Michael Solomon in 'Chic Simple'
TIES ARE the most common presents given on Father's Day.
In the United States people spend more than $1 billion each year to buy a staggering 100 million ties. That's roughly one tie for every male over the age of 20 in that country.
A KNOTTY HISTORY
This men's neckwear has been made of every kind of material -- silk, cotton, wool, leather, rope, string, lace, linen, rayon, and polyester.
They have been called cravats, jabots, bandannas, bolos, ascots, bootlaces, bows, butterflies, kerchiefs, or simply ties.
It's believed that 600 million men around the world wear ties.
Archaeological evidence of neckties goes back to the Chinese and the Romans almost 2,000 years.
The earliest known version of the necktie has been found in the massive mausoleum of China's first emperor, Shih Huang Ti, who was buried in 210 B.C. Unearthed in 1974 near the ancient capital city of Xian, the tomb contained an astonishing 7,500 life-size terracotta replicas of Shih Huang Ti's famed fighting force. The armour, uniforms, hair, and facial expressions of the soldiers are reproduced in exquisite detail. Each figure is different -- except in one respect -- all wear neck cloths.
Historians say other records indicate the Chinese did not wear ties, so why the emperor's guards wore carefully wrapped silk cloths remains a mystery. Since silk was a great luxury, the cloths could indicate the ultimate honour Shih Huang Ti bestowed on his soldiers; they were trusted enough to guard him until the end of time.
In 113 A.D., one of Rome's greatest Emperors, the military genius Trajan, erected a marble column to commemorate a triumphant victory over the Dacians, who lived in what is now Romania.
The 2,500 realistic figures on the column sport no less than three different styles of neckwear. These include shorter versions of the modern necktie; cloth wound around the neck and tucked into armour; and knotted kerchiefs reminiscent of cowboy bandannas.
TIED DOWN IN EUROPE
Croatia is believed to be the mother (or father, if you prefer) country of the modern necktie. More than 350 years ago the movement to the modern tie started in a small region on the Adriatic coast.
Louis XIV of France was intrigued and delighted by the colourful silk kerchiefs worn around the necks of Croatian mercenaries. The soldiers were presented at court around 1660 so the King could thank them for a victory against the Hapsburg Empire.
Many experts believe the French word for tie, cravat, is a corruption of "Croat." In fact, French kings maintained an elite regiment, the Cravate Royale, until the French Revolution of 1789.
In 1660, King Charles II returned to England and reclaimed the throne that had been lost during the Puritan revolution. After nine years in exile, aristocrats flooded England, bringing with them a passion for the pleasures of the European courts.
Weary of war, and tired of the austerity imposed by Oliver Cromwell, England wanted to have fun. Gambling, drinking, music, dancing, parties, theatre, elaborate clothes, grand wigs, and he stylish, new cravat were suddenly all the rage.
A few years before 19th century trend-setter Beau Brummell, a rugged young prize-fighter of working class origins named Jem Belcher took to wearing a blue silk bandana covered with large white spots containing pale blue bird's eye centres.
GIDDY UP THERE COWBOY
Soon, working class Englishmen were wearing coloured bandannas. In so doing, they were adopting a trend already common in America. Only rich colonists wore cravats made of lace. America was already adopting a casual, practical attitude toward fashion.
Derived from the Sanskrit word, bandhna, or bandhana, meaning "tying", bandannas were first imported from India around 1700. The original bandanas were silk and came in an array of colours. Bandanas could also be hand printed or tie-dyed with flowers or bird's eye patterns.
Cowboys used red or blue bandana to keep dust from the face. Bandits also used bandanas as masks. Bandanas today are an integral part of western style, and are often worn square dancing.
