Are ties and scarves really out of style in 2022?
Be it the modern necktie or scarves, they have been a staple of women’s and men’s fashion for centuries. In many professions, wearing a tie was a required part of a dress. It exudes authority and professionalism in the corporate world.
Scarves, on the other hand, are one of the most functional, trendy, and flexible cold-weather accessories. They come in a wide range of styles, colours, patterns, and materials. Scarves can dramatically change the look of practically any ensemble, making them a lifesaver for chronic outfit repeaters. So, ties and scarves are still in style?
The History and Evolution of men’s Neckties:
Ties are most likely the most popular men’s tailoring accessories. They come in a variety of cuts, fabrics, colours, and patterns, but they all can pull together and complete a formal ensemble.
Scarves have been used for centuries to help protect against the cold, and their history can be traced back to the early days of weaving and spinning. When considering a tie that is purely decorative instead of functional, the origins can be traced back to the 17th century in France.
Croatian mercenaries came to France to support King Louis XIII during the 30 years of war (1618-1648). The Croats fastened the tops of their uniforms with a piece of cloth. After the battle, King Louis had a liking for this style of the scarf and made it a requirement for Royal festivities. He named it “La Cravate” in honour of the Croats, a phrase that’s still used today in France.
For several centuries, cravats remained popular, and the more formal bow tie and the Ascot tie emerged from these. Modern Neckties didn’t come into existence until the turn of the 20th century.
Around the 1920s, the contemporary necktie evolved from the ascot. Men have been wearing neckties since then, and while the width of ties has evolved to reflect current fashion trends, they’re still worn the same way.
The Scarf & its history
The scarf’s origins can be traced back to Ancient Egypt, specifically to Queen Nefertiti, who is said to have worn a woven wrapped scarf under an extravagant jewelled headdress in 1350 BC. While scarves are most commonly associated with women’s wardrobe nowadays, they have been worn by both men and women for centuries. Men wore them as sweat clothes in Ancient Rome to keep cool and dry sweat.
Under the Chinese Emperor Cheng, fabric scarves were worn to symbolise military status. Later on in Croatia, the scarf was still used to distinguish military scale, with higher-ranking soldiers wearing silk scarves and lower-ranking soldiers wearing cotton scarves.
In early New England, scarves were given as a token of respect by grieving families as gratitude to mourners during funerals.
The first ready-to-wear patterned silk scarf was designed in 1837 by the French fashion house Hermes. Following Queen Victoria’s accession to the throne and the popularisation of exquisite silk cravats with stunning graphic motifs, the fashion industry in Europe and America embraced scarves.
Progression of fabrics & designs
As scarves became more popular, designers experimented with different fabrics. These included Chiffon, Silk, Cashmere, Pashmina, wool blends, muslin, Velvet, linen, modal, etc. The first scarves are thought to have been made from wool fibres, with more refined versions emerging in China when silk became the most expensive fabric.
Throughout much of the 19th century, the majority of pieces had the same or similar patterns and graphics. However, as the 20th century progressed, new prints and designs emerged. Hermes, the French fashion house, explored embroidered patterns on gorgeous handwoven silk scarves once again.
Tips for choosing a perfect tie every time for men
Men’s ties are available in every colour, design, fabric, and cut imaginable. Even those who have worn ties for many years may struggle to make a choice when it comes to selecting the perfect Tie. There are various types of ties that are not suitable for everyone’s style. So it’s necessary to choose a tie that complements your entire outfit as well as your personal style. Here are some pointers to help you choose the right tie.
- Choosing the right width and length
The proportion is the first and most essential factor to consider when selecting a perfect tie. That is, the length and width of the tie, as well as how they relate to the overall design, should be considered.
The tie’s length should correspond to the height of the jacket’s lapels, shirt collar, and trousers. It should be no more than the width of the lapel and no more than the length of the tie.
- Ties and Your Face
You can choose your tie based on your morphology, but you can also consider your complexion, hair and even tie a knot based on the form of your face. Experiment with colours that contrast with your skin, hair, or eyes to determine what works best for you. When selecting a tie, consider your morphology and facial shape. If you have a round face, a wide tie is a good choice. This method works well for people who have large necks. If you have a narrow or skinny neck, on the other hand, a skinny tie is a way to go. A medium or slim tie is suitable for those with ordinary body types.
- Colour and Pattern
Choose a tie with a little pattern if your shirt has a large pattern. It’s fine to choose a tie with a larger pattern if the shirt has a modest pattern. Make sure the primary colour in the shirt matches the dominant colour in the tie, regardless of whatever design you chose. Choosing a solid-coloured tie that matches the shirt’s colour is the easiest approach to match the patterns of the shirts.
How ties are becoming a must-have for women’s fashion?
The covid-19 pandemic has reshuffled the cards in the fashion world, flipping consumer habits along with current trends and inspirations. While working from home has allowed many men to forego ties in favour of more casual attire, women seem to be doing the reverse, proudly wearing and personalising this classic accessory.
Fashion, like history, repeats itself. The early years of the twenty-first century appear to be making a comeback in a variety of ways. The necktie, in particular, has recently made a comeback, bringing a classy touch to women’s appearances.
In parallel, designers and fashion houses have begun to provide increasingly genderless apparel and accessories in response to rising demand. All of this makes us wonder if the tie is still considered the main menswear accessory. Most likely not.
As seen at recent fashion runway shows, women are now donning suits, complete with a perfectly knotted tie.
Scarves, 2022’s chicest accessories:
Scarves are unquestionably a wardrobe staple. In the winter, scarves keep us warm, in the spring, they add pattern to our clothing, and in the fall, they keep us looking stylish. There are numerous ways to wear a scarf which is why they have been the most popular and never-fading trends in the world of fashion. Furthermore, they can be worn in any season, at any time, and anywhere as long as the chosen material is suitable.
We’ve rounded up a few scarf styling ideas to help you incorporate it into your outfit and make it look great.
- As a Belt
Wear your scarf as a belt to add a casual, fun touch to your outfit. Wrapping it around a nice pair of jeans and hanging it in front of your clothing is just appealing. Make sure you pick a vibrant colour! And they go well with casual dresses, T-shirts, and T-shirt dresses, among such styles.
- Wrap it around your neck
Tie a silk scarf around your neck to add a fun element to your work outfits or urban costumes. You can also tuck a scarf into your cape by wrapping it around your neck. Make sure it’s not entirely concealed, as you want it to peek out for some fun texture and colour.
- As a hair accessory
Make a cute brunch style by tying a small knot in your ponytail. Also, tying your lovely scarf with a bow in the front or back as a hairband is a huge trend this season. It’s the ideal style for any holiday when paired with sunglasses.
- Accessories your purse with a scarf
And, if you get tired of wearing them on your head, you can always put one in your handbag. This accessory is truly versatile in every way.
Scarf Materials: A Guide to Scarf Fabrics
Scarves are available in a variety of styles, sizes, and fabrics. When shopping for scarves, pay close attention to the fabrication, because it determines the texture, appearance, and weather-appropriateness of the scarf. Look over the fabric descriptions below to figure out which style of scarf fabric is best for you.
- Alpaca: Wool from the alpaca, a tamed South American camelid, is used to make alpaca scarves. Alpaca fleece is a shiny, silky natural fibre that looks and feels like sheep’s wool, but it’s warmer and softer.
- Pashmina: Pashmina is a shawl or scarf produced from the pashmina goat’s cashmere wool. And this fabric is extremely soft, delicate and warm.
- Cashmere: Cashmere is a silky, opulent fabric made from cashmere goat’s wool. It is light in weight and evolves softer with time when handled with care.
- Cotton: Cotton is a staple because of its ability to be washed and its durability. It’s a light and breezy fabric that’s ideal for summer.
- Satin: Satin is a shiny, silky fabric made primarily of silk or polyester. Satin is available in a variety of weaves, with varying levels of shine, thickness, flexibility, and weight.
- Silk: Silk is a natural protein fibre that is made from the cocoons of mulberry silkworm larvae. It has a subtle sheen that can be shiny or matte.
- Wool: The wool comes from the fleece of sheep. It’s extremely warm and long-lasting, and wool fibres provide excellent insulation from cold and heat.
A guide to men’s scarf – Stylish ways to tie a scarf:
The scarf is undoubtedly the most overlooked accessory in men’s clothing: primarily seen as a way to keep warm, although a few regard it as a valuable fashion item to add even more sophistication to their ensembles. Here we’ve listed out the simple ways to tie a scarf.
- The Parisian knot
This scarf style is quite elegant! Also known as the European knot, is quick and easy to use, and it will keep you warm during the winter months. Almost any coat, sweater, or jacket will look great with this.
- The draped scarf
The draped scarf is quite simple to wear! In the winter, you may layer a scarf over a classic jacket, and in the summer, you can layer a scarf over a shirt. Simply wrap the scarf over your shoulders to make it stand out as an accent that contrasts wonderfully with the outfit. Without a doubt, the end result will always be trendy!
- Neck scarf with the centre knot
There are plenty of styles to choose from when it comes to tying a scarf. Shorter is preferable for some people! For some, bulky neck scarves can be inconvenient! So just Consider a short scarf with a knot in the centre. The two short ends of the knot should ideally be of equal length. When worn with a trench coat or jacket, this scarf style looks fantastic.
- Cowl scarf
Normally, the cowl neck is associated with dresses and sweaters, but we lovingly refer to this design as ‘Cowl.’ It gets its name from the fact that it looks nice as a neck ornament. That’s not all! It’s a stylish and warm addition!
Simply loop the scarf twice around your neck to make it look bunched up and lovely! Isn’t this another wonderful scarf-wearing suggestion for men?
- The Front Knot
Wrap it around your neck once, then tie the ends in a loose knot the next time you wrap it around your neck. On a chilly winter day, layer this scarf over your sweaters and full-sleeve tees and you’re all set!
