subject: Nerdy Or Stylish? The Trend And Style History Of The Bow Tie [print this page] To some, the bow tie is a sign of good fashion sense and style. To others, it is the mark of a nerdy scholar or professor. The answer to why this necktie has such opposing connotations lies in its history.
The bow tie's name is derived from the French word "jabot," a type of 17th century lace cravat. During the 30 Years' War, Croatian mercenaries in France wore cotton jabots around their necks to keep the top of their uniforms closed and protect their necks from the cold winds. King Louis liked their bow ties and adopted the style as a required piece of fashion for the upper class during formal events. The popularity of the black bow tie, specifically, dates back to the late 1800s when Pierre Lorillard invented the tuxedo. Before Lorillard invented the tux, tailcoats that were worn with white neckties were stylish. In more recent times, the bow tie is associated with debonair cultural icons like Humphrey DeForest Bogart and Frank Sinatra.
Some say the bow tie first developed a negative connotation with President Harry Truman. A frequent bow tie wearer, Truman made the decision to use nuclear weapons against Japan at the end of World War II. "GQ" provides another hypothesis, saying the decline of the formal necktie maybe "was due to a subconscious fear of natty, neat and determined Black Muslims, as personified by Malcolm X." Others say it became associated with Communism because Carl Marx wore one. No matter the cause of the bow tie's downfall, by the 1970s, it was associated with nerds like Pee-wee Herman.
The bow tie recently made a comeback among fashionable celebrities, and the trend is currently popular in street style and everyday fashion. Also popular in formal settings, it is currently the tie of choice for the groomsmen of many wedding parties. Although some still associate them with nerdy professors and stuffy politicians or architects, a recent article by "GQ" claims the "bow tie's not just for schmucks." In pop culture, this necktie is currently associated with "Gossip Girl's" Chuck Bass and rapper Swizz Beatz.
