Posts Tagged ‘King Louis Xiv’

Tied Up in Knots – not With Silk Ties

Monday, April 5th, 2010

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It no longer comes as a surprise to see men of just about any profession generous silk ties. In fact, one can straightforwardly spot a man wearing a silk tie in both the outer edge and the city.

Fascinatingly, the history of silk ties dates back to centuries ago. Any self just might be surprised to know the fact that the use of the usual necktie seen today is really a product of war.

Way back 1660, a crack regiment hailing from Croatia visited the empire of King Louis XIV of Paris. This monarch is famously known for his sense of fashion when it comes to personal adornments. The soldiers of the Croatian regiment were generous bright handkerchiefs that immediately caught the eye of the young king, above all because the clothing items were made of silk.

It did not take long for the clothing items to make their way to England. After which, gentlemen all over the region started taking it upon themselves to wear silk ties, to achieve a dignified and professional image for their own.

It was at the start of the 20th century when men’s neckwear started settling a strong foundation on American soil as well. Up until then, men’s ties were imported from the European hemisphere, But this all changed at the onset of the 20th century. Still, the fabrics used in the production of silk ties were imported from Europe, so the region did not really lose their strong hold on men’s silk ties completely.

But, in the 1960′s, there was a significant decline in the promote of men’s neckwear, above all during the Peacock Revolution. During this time, there was a uprising against formal wear, which had a significant impact on men’s preferences to wear silk ties. But during the mid part of the 70′s, the promote regained its strength, even to the point of apt stronger.

Of course, over the years, the preferences of men have changed, in terms of length, width, and such. The standard length is still within the range of 52 to 58 inches. As for width, 3 ΒΌ inches wide is the standard.

When it comes to men’s silk ties, it is very vital to seek ties that are of superior quality. There is one effective way of doing this, and this is to feel the fabric of the tie itself. If the tie feels a bit rough, then silk of inferior quality was used to make it. Do not buy ties that are made of inferior silk. The fabric itself is very brittle, and the edges of the tie will fray too straightforwardly. The tie might contain puckers and misweaves as well. Thus, one should be extra careful in choosing silk ties.

Neil Thompson is a fashion writer who specialises in men’s gifts and accessories. He has a particular interest in ties and wallets and brands such as Simon Carter and Ted Baker. Click here for more information on ties and wallets.

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