The Tie: What You Did Knot Know

According to some historians the tie was born approximately 3,000 years abo when primitive tribes began wearing pelts, beads and bangles as neck cloths. Why? Well some believed it was superstition or even to provide protection against wounds which may occur during battle.

At one time, men used to wear strips of fabric around their neck to help hold wigs on their heads.

The 1600's say the introduction of the cravat. According to historians, King Louis XIV was impressed by scarf wearing Croatian soldiers who used these colorful scarves to celebrate one of their battle victories over Turkey.

The cravat later came to England when Charles II returned from a period of exile in France. It seems he returned to England wearing "the latest" in male adornment. It wasn't much longer before all of Europe was on the bandwagon.

By the 20th Century silk became the fabric of choice for the tie. As for the Windsor knot, it is believed it first made an appearance after World War II when the Duke of Windsor tied a larger knot to fill the wide space at his shirt collar. Who knows?

Lastly, there is one somewhat controversial theory behond the creation of the necktie - a fertility symbol. Think of it as an arrow pointing downward to the genitals where the male species was believed to derive his strength. Fellas, remember this fact the next time you put on a tie.