News
The necktie took hold in 1650, thanks to a visit to Paris. It shows no signs of dying. The history of the necktie in 20 words: Once upon a time, 6,000 Croatian soldiers went to Paris. Men have been sporting sartorial nooses ever since. The end.
The fuller story: The Croatians wore bright silk scarves around their necks, a fashion touch unfamiliar to but much admired by their French courtier hosts. By 1650, during the reign of Louis XIV, where military fashions enjoyed cachet, loosely knotted, colorful neckwear had overtaken high, tight, starched white lace as the flourish of choice for men’s necks. Thus did the descriptive phrase a la croate become la cravate, French for “necktie.”
(Albany Times Union,09.10.2006.)
