Timelessness is an important factor when making a fashion-related investment – and the bow tie only seems to get better with age. A quintessential formal accessory, the bow tie dates back to the 17th century when Croatian soldiers would tie a lightweight scarf to keep together the collar of their dress shirts. At the end of the Thirty Years’ War, French soldiers brought the look back home with them, and by the 1700s neckties had been widely adopted by the aristocracy.
The look continued to evolve – from the stock tie of the early 1700s to the Ascot of the early 1800s – until, towards the middle of the 19th century, the classic, neat silhouette we all know came to the fore. Today, the bow tie adds an elegant final touch to formal dress codes like black or white tie. It’s also been adopted by a number of famous figures throughout history.
Charlie Chaplin often wore a bow tie, as did Fred Astaire. Winston Churchill, meanwhile, bought his trademark spotted silk bow tie from British shirtmaker Turnbull & Asser to remind him of his father, Lord Randolph Henry Spencer-Churchill, with whom Winston had had a difficult relationship. More recently, the style has been given a new lease of life by some of Hollywood’s best-dressed men.
Everyone’s favourite TV chef, actor Jeremy Allen White, showed off an elite-level accessories game , showed off an elite-level accessories game including a black bow tie on the 2024 Emmys red carpet in January. White, who snagged an Emmy for Ou.