What is the history of the cravat?
Many gentlemen wear a casual day cravat with a smart blazer, velvet jacket, tweed jacket or a smoking jackets and formal cravats are worn for weddings and formal occasions, but do you know where they originate from? Read below for find out the history of the cravat.
The day cravat or casual cravat. Below are just a few men's cravats currently offered for sale at Tweedmans.
The cravat is seeing a revival in popularity with many young celebrities now wearing them to red carpet events and the likes.
What is a cravat, or an ascot as they are known in America?
Well, a cravat is a wide neckband that originated as military wear and from which the neck tie we know today was originally conceived.
The word “cravat” comes from “Croat”, as the first cravats were worn by Croatian mercenaries in the court of King Louis XIII of France.
The Serbo-Croat word for “Croatia” is “Hrvatska”, meaning “Tie-land” hence the name.
Originally these neck ties were known as a cravate, and early examples of cravats had laced edges, while an upper class gentleman's cravat could be completely made of fine lace.
The English took whole heartedly to the cravat, it is now seen as a symbol of British elegance and distinguished style. It is also often worn with a tweed jacket as elegant country gentlemen's wear.
Until the nineteenth century the cravat was always white, but the English introduced coloured cravats in a variety of patterned fabrics.
In the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's cravats saw a huge surge in popularity. In 1950's & 1960's the cravats were often made of rayon silk in paisley, geometric patterned or polka dot prints.
However in the late 1960's and 1970's as glam rock fashion became more flamboyant, hippies were paving the way forward, and shopping on Carnaby Street and the Kings road become a celebrity way of life in London out came even flashier and bolder patterned cravats and clothing, many pieces emerging in psychedelic colours and really out there prints.
Many of the dandy 70's males wore outlandish cravats to really liven up their outfits and stand out from the crowds, which wasn't easy with all the bright colours and bold statement pieces being worn at the time.
Cravats are available in a wide range of elegant designs and styles, and in silk, satin or cotton and are available in self-tie and pre-tied styles. Casual self tie day cravats being for day wear and formal cravats for formal events, most often worn for weddings.
At Tweedmans we always have a great range of men's casual modern classic, retro cravats, vintage cravats and formal wedding cravats for sale ... do take a look!
Buy Men's Cravat Online At Tweedmans - Best UK Vintage, Retro, Designer & Second Hand Clothing Shop For Men.