For thousands of years, men have been interested in adorning their throats and necks. For example, around 1737 BC the Egyptian pharaoh gave Chr. Joseph a gold necklace (Genesis 41:42).
Today men in many parts of the world wear so-called ties. According to various sources, the forerunners of the modern connection appeared in England and France in the second half of the 16th century. The men wore a jacket called a doublet. They wore a necklace around their necks as decoration. In many cases, the necklace, which could have been several inches thick, was a large plate-shaped disc that encircled the neck. It was made of white fabric and was rigid to keep its shape.
Eventually the necklace was replaced by a so-called teardrop necklace. It was a white collar that covered the entire shoulder and fell on the upper arm. These necklaces were also called Vandykes. Puritans used them among other things.
In the 17th century a long inner coat called a waistcoat was worn under the usual long coat. The wearer's neck was wrapped in a scarf or tie in the shape of a scarf. This fabric was wrapped around the neck more than once. The loose ends fell forward. Paintings from the second half of the 17th century show that ties were very popular at the time.
The ties were made of muslin, grass, and even lace. Ties were expensive. The Englishman James II is said to have paid 36 pounds for his coronation and 10 shillings for one, a considerable sum on that day. Some lace ties were great. The portrait of Charles II in Westminster Abbey shows that his picture was 15 cm wide and 86 cm long.
Many types of knots have been used to tie ties. In some cases, a silk ribbon was placed over the tie to hold it in place and then tied with a large knot under the chin. This type of tie was called patience. The bow tie looked like a modern bow tie. They say there were at least a hundred ways to tie a tie. Beau Brummell, an Englishman who influenced men's clothing style, would have spent an entire morning tying a tie to get it right.
In the 1860s, the long necktie began to resemble the modern version of the tie and was known as the necktie. He was also called four in hand. This name comes from the knot that team leaders of four horses use. Collar shirts were fashionable. The tie was tied under the chin and the long ends hung in front. It was then that the modern tie appeared. Another type of tie, the bow tie, became popular in the 1890s.
Today the tie is seen by many as an important part of the wearer's appearance. Some people can even form an opinion about a stranger based on the type of tie they are wearing. Hence, it is advisable to wear clean ties with prints or colors that go with your shirt, pants, and jacket.
The selected knot must be tied well. Perhaps the most popular knot is four. (See illustration on page 14.) It is elegant and unpretentious and is often accepted for occasions in clothing. Another popular knot is Windsor, which is slightly larger. Usually a dimple is made in the tie just below the knot.
Many men feel uncomfortable with a tie. They don't like the pressure in their throat. However, some people who have experienced this problem have found that the discomfort is more related to shirt size. If this is your problem, make sure the shirt collar is not too small. If it's the right size, you may not even realize you're wearing a tie.
In many countries, a tie is seen as an essential part of business or formal attire. It is for this reason that many Christian men wear ties when participating in the formal aspects of their ministry. Yes, a piece of cloth around a man's neck can add dignity and make him respectable.
How to tie a knot by hand *
1 Start with the wide end of the tie about 30 cm below the narrow end and cross the narrow end down.
2 Cross the wide end again and thread it through the loop.
3 Loosely holding the front of the knot with your index finger, pull the wider end through the loop in the front.
4 Slowly pull the knot tight, holding the narrow end, and sliding the knot up to your neck.
Nice