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The bow tie has a long and complex history. It shares its origin with the modern necktie, but has a more complicated past than its simple appearance would suggest. The first bow ties were worn by Croatian mercenaries during the Thirty Years'War of the early 17th century, as a way to hold closed the opening of their shirts. This style was later adopted (under the name cravat, which is French for “Croat”) by the upper classes of France, then the world's leader in fashion, and continued to develop into what we now call the bow tie.
As the 20th century roared, the bow tie was the signature look of men of all walks of life. Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplain, and the members of the Rat Pack all sported bow ties, as did Hollywood legends Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, and fictional characters such as Dagwood Bumstead from the Blondie comic strip and Porky Pig and the Cat in the Hat from Dr. Seuss.
The bow tie's style and popularity rose steadily until 1886, when tobacco tycoon Pierre Lorillard invented the now-standard outfit of a tuxedo and black bow tie for a formal ball. This ushered in the age of the bow tie, and it continues to be a stylish and versatile accessory today. Wearing a bow tie is more than just a fashion statement — it shows confidence, an individualistic sense of style, and the ability to make thoughtful decisions about clothing. It takes thought to select a perfect bow tie, to know how to knot it properly, and to pair it with the right suit.
