The quintessential companion to a man’s wardrobe is a striped silk tie. Whether for business or for leisure, the silk tie is timeless in its appeal and beautiful in itself. From ancient times to modern the tie has undergone changes which have made it only more desirable.
The classy and timeless silk tie is an essential part of a man’s wardrobe. The beautiful fabric that makes the tie so special comes from the cocoon of a silk worm. Historically the Croatian soldiers used to tie a fabric around their necks to keep the shirt collars together. This style was taken to France by the French soldiers and later popularized by the elite. Since then the humble tie has undergone a lot of transformation. From the fabric to the length and width and patterns, the tie has adapted well to the changing tides of fashion.
The earliest example though is that of Chinese emperor Shih Huang Ti whose mausoleum contains the famous terracotta soldiers all wearing a silk fabric around their necks. Since silk was very expensive then, it shows that the emperor was bestowing a great deal of honor on the soldiers guarding his tomb. This example proves the status of silk in erstwhile Chinese society.
Of course the difficulty of procuring silk was what made it so expensive and made it the favored fabric among royalty in other parts of the world as well.
In 1864 the tie was patented and produced for the masses and became quite popular in Germany and the United States.
The production of silk has remained unchanged since its inception and it requires 2000 silk worms to produce a pound of raw fine silk. This means almost 150 silkworms per necktie.
The tie endured a lot of transformation through the centuries from the stocks, solitaires, and cravats to the bow tie, scarf/ neckerchief, ascot and the long tie. Around 1944 the simple neck tie became quite popular and the width became 5 inches almost. In the present era the tie has become a must have and a lot of different styles and techniques to wear it has come about.
The classic silk tie can be worn in different ways. These are,
- The Four in Hand Knot
- The Windsor Knot
- The Half Windsor Knot
- The Shelby Tie
With the advent of slim/skinny ties the knots have become more casual but the above still remain as the definitive choices.
Whether business or leisure, silk ties are perfect. Visualize a perfect business suit and you have a navy blue suit accessorized with a pocket square and a fabulous silk tie or a grey suit for the more matured look. In both cases the silk tie is the focal point for the attire.
A leisure or more casual dresser will probably go for a patterned tie or men’s striped ties in silk with more colours. Whatever the age of the wearer or the preference, there is a silk tie for everyone. The fabric can be easily tied into knots and comes back into shape the moment it is taken off.
The silk tie is classy because it is evergreen and sophisticated. It is timeless because it can be worn any time of the year and by people of any age. Think of a tie and the first thing that comes to mind is a striped silk one.
