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-Stefania Pifferi in Miss CravattaWas the original tie merely a scrap of cloth used to close the shirt collar in order to ward off the cold? Or was the first wearing of a colorful piece of fabric around the neck actually a bit of Renaissance fashion inspiration?
Whatever the motivation, we know that the tie (or at least something vaguely resembling one) first appeared among the Croatian mercenaries who invaded Louis XIV's France in the mid-17th century. These soldiers' costumes were distinguished by the colorful pieces of fabric they wore tied at the neck. The French, fashion-aware then as now, were quick to note the sartorial effect of this early neckwear and soon adapted it to their own use.
As fashions came and went through the succeeding centuries, the tie evolved. Knots became more elaborate. Designs varied. Soon enough, gentlemen would not be seen in public without some form of neckwear. By the middle of the 19th century, the tie had evolved into a form closer to what we would recognize today -- a narrower piece of fabric wrapped around the throat just once and then tied at the neck.
The fabric of choice for ties, then as now, was silk. Because silk was once a costly luxury, the tie was originally regarded as an accessory of the elite, not worn by members of the working classes except perhaps for "Sunday best." But by the 20th century, the silk tie had become standard attire for well-groomed middle-class businessmen everywhere.
In our time, fabrics such as rayon and polyester have also been used in tie-making. But for the highest-quality ties, nothing compares with silk. Today, only the finest Italian silk and the most beautiful collection of designs are brought together in the studio of Paolo Pianezza to produce the incomparable, handcrafted Baldoria tie. May we create one for you?