subject: Types Of Neckwear: Neckties, Bow Ties, Ascots, Bolo Ties [print this page] In the beginning of the last century the male accessories were quite a hard thing to come by. There were the watches, the pocket watches, rings and the cravats. Since then, however, the male half of the population has developed a great sense of styling and had made its range of accessories a lot vaster by adding different types of bracelets, earrings. Hats and even face-accents such as the very widespread piercings and also chains were also subjoined to the list. But even though the variety, the most common and at the same time diverse type of male accessory is the neckwear category.
Neckties. They are one of the most popular in this category. They come from the old cravats, which were born when Croatian mercenaries entered France (hence the name Cravat a transformed form of the word "Croatian" in French). Currently, they are a part of the everyday school uniforms in the elite schools, common work dress codes, formal ceremonies and even street and rebellious styles such as the punk and alternative ones. They vary in fabrics, patterns, colours, size and even sewing techniques.
Bow ties. They are usually an extreme type of neckwear, suitable for especially formal occasions. Although it may not seem so, the bow tie is actually another form of neckwear that origins from the old-school cravat. The bowtie is usually in black, although various colours and patterns are now present. They are a typical detail of the old tuxedo combination. Since in the past people had a lot of problems with actually knotting the bow, the pre-tied bow ties appeared. They are actually very comfortable since the hard-to-achieve knot is not only ready-made but also very stable. The only thing left for the man who is going to wear it is to put it on and fasten it.
Ascot ties. An ascot tie, also known as just an ascot, is a neckband with wide pointed wings. Most of the times it is made of pale gray or black patterned silk. The fabric is actually thicker than the traditional one of the original cravats and more alike the current neckties. It is usually folded over and in order to be kept in place it is fastened with a stickpin or a tack. It is most commonly worn at formal occasions and events that take place in the pen and on a sunny time of the day. The curious name comes from the Royal Ascot race meeting, although it is supposed that such type of cravats were no longer used at the time of the event. The ascot tie has been used for daytime events and parties even in the late 19th, early 20th century, after which it has been slowly forgotten.
Bolo ties. These are extremely special types of male neckwear, which is one of the few which aren't actually a popular wear for the female half of the population. They can be also called a Bola tie or a Shoestring necktie. It is a neck accessory which consists of a piece of cord-like thread or braided leather with a decorative metal tips, which are fastened together through an ornamented slide or clasp. They are mostly associated with the Western wear of the United States. The silver tips and slides of the cords are also a traditional production of several Native American tribes such as Navajo, Zuni and Hopi. Today it is the official neckwear of the state of Arizona since 1971, the state of New Mexico since 1987 and the state of Texas in 2007.
There are even more neckwear varieties depending on nationality, traditions and cultures, but due to these few the field of accessories in the world of men's fashion will never be the same again. Diversity, colourfulness, elegance and extravagance can all be expressed through the proper neckwear. Be sure to think about it next time you are going to either a formal or casual events.
