The other day, as I crafted a perfect knot on my ultra-stylish skinny Full Windsor, I came to a stark realization: The necktie is an utterly useless article of clothing.
I looked down at my masterpiece, somewhat dumbfounded. How can something with no practical purpose be so ubiquitous in our modern-day culture?
The tie is a fixture of formal wear, nearly as important to male formal attire as a nice pair of pants or a button-down shirt. When we put on a suit, it isn’t just encouraged that we wear a tie -– it is required, even though it does not serve any practical function.
The only purpose of the necktie is style. So how did people start wearing ties?
Rather unexpectedly, neckties had their inception during the Thirty Years’ War, in the 17th century. Croatian mercenaries, who fought in the conflict, originally wore scarves around their necks. These scarves became a part of the Croatian military uniform.
These so-called “cravats” became somewhat of a fashion trend in France in the 17th century after they caught the eye of King Louis XIV. The king, obviously a fan of Croatian battle style, began incorporating the cravat into his own wardrobe.
We can thank the Sun King for helping to start a worldwide style movement. Over the next couple centuries, the cravat began to spread around Europe, but it didn’t become fully popularized until the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century.
It was an American tailor named Jesse Langsdorf who conceived the modern design of the tie and patented his idea. By the middle of the 20th century, the necktie was an essential piece of the American businessman’s attire.
So what began as a part of Croatian military garb has become an essential aspect of the modern-day businessman and working professional –- and something even acceptable to wear to class. Who knew so much good came out of the Thirty Years’ War?