When and why did men start wearing ties?

• The tie is now very much a fashion statement. Men wear them to work, and some wear them for casual occasions. They can be quirky or they can be sober as you like. Men have been wearing wearing ties for a long time, and they have changed in style countless times over the years. In this article we’re going to look at when men first after wearing ties and why.

  There has been plenty of healthy speculation over the past couple of centuries, but it is generally agreed that the Victorians were the first people to really wear ties seriously. The idea behind the tie back then was to apparently help protect your shirt against mess and dirt. This meant that if you were eating on the run, something the Victorians probably didn’t do very much, the shirt would be safe from any mess. This is a rather quaint and pleasing idea and seems to fit in neatly with the perception of the Victorians. They were quite tidy and neat people, well the upper-class was anyway, and this ties in neatly with the idea of wearing something to keep your shirt clean.

  Later ideas about why ties were worn in the first place came from a variety of sources and varied in nature quite drastically. Some people thought the ties were a simple phallic symbol. The symbol illustrated that the man wearing a tie was virile and also sexually active. This idea is still prevalent today, but is not taken as seriously as it first was.

  Even more fanciful

  Other ideas are perhaps even more fanciful. Some people even put forward the idea that men started wearing ties so that they could blow their nose easily, without having to reach for a handkerchief. Another more sensible idea was that it was created just to help men keep their neck area warm on cold days. These days the tie is worn on mainly formal occasions or as part of a business outfit.

  Things became more sensible. People started to realise that the tie generally we spoke about the quality and sophistication in the gentleman that wore it. It showed that the gentleman had authority and some class. This continued well into the 20th century, when men who wore ties were generally seen to be professionals, and having some sartorial style.

  The tie has come a long way since the Victorian era, and now it is more of a fashion statement, even when worn for business.

  
  
  

  by: admin

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