Men's fashion >> Men's Neckwear

Men's Neckwear

For the sake of personality men now tend to use such an accessory as neckwear back from the old times, at the same time going after the popular retro style. Men like wearing this garment under the shirt building an image of an artistic, a bit light-minded but intelligent person.

This accessory remerged for justified reasons since it is a perfect styling garment to wear with both classic costumes and cardigan, leather jacket or shirt, a summer jacket or blazer, or home wear. Though it is obvious that it is a bad manner to wear it for official functions for it is still casual style of wear which is not affordable to formality.

Neckwear history was similarly developing in several countries at the same time. In France men practiced wearing a wide band to double wrap the neck and the ends were fixed with a pin on the chest. The width of the band was about 10 cm, and the length was about a meter, cut at the angle and triangle-shaped ends. A French neckwear was folded just in the middle that was fixed not to spoil the entire look.

Such neckwear was called foulard in French language to name the material from which it was made. The soft and light smoothly-dyed or imprinted silky cloth gained the popularity in XVIII century. In old times that materials was used for production of handkerchiefs, lampshades, bathing suits and women dresses. The foulards were popular either of single color or with imprints since the majority of men supposed that it was bad manners to wear the foulard in stripes.

The process of tying neckwear is somewhat a bit more complicated that tying a tie, because this art was mastered by few people only. In the early '30s of the XIX century when the neckwear for men was especially on the top of vogue, there were a few techniques of tying, like ‘a-la Byron', ‘Primo Tempo', ‘Irish style', ‘Eastern style' and so forth. And the trendiest technique was retained till now. And now it is back. The Ascot is gaining more popularity today. Always indicative of sartorial splendor, the Ascot began 300 years ago at the famed Ascot Heath horse race (hence, the name) held every April since 1771. Symbolizing the glory days of earlier decades, the Ascot is now geared toward the younger man who wants a chance to express himself elegantly for the '90s.

In the old England the Ascot neckwear was considered as one of the formal garments and was an elegant accessory for men at celebrated functions. At the same time, men wore Askot tie in daily official costumes of businessmen of success, hence it was made from silk of degraded shades. Unlike foulard, Askot tie was tied a simple knot with triangle ends crossed at the front of the shirt, when the entire thing was fixed with the pearl tie pin. Currently it is in vogue in Britain to wear Askot tie in formal everyday wear, at the wedding or country hunting.

In spite that foulard and Askot are similar visually and both of them are designed for men, they are used for different purposes. Askot tie is assigned to emphasize solidity and solemnity of a gentleman, while foulard creates more casual look, making a classic costume a bit more casual, but elegant casual. In the present world foulard wins the popularity among men save the British who prefer their own neckwear, tied under the shirt or blazer. The majority of men's stores offer a wide range of such neckwear. And one simple Askot knot is enough for every man to wear ties. On the top of it, if you wish to break hearts of ladies, you should try your best and make inspired face ennobled with creative potential that you cannot reject. Then, you will look the same as famous actors of old times and on single pretty girl will resist you.