Figure 1.-- The older American boy here wears a bowtie in the early 1900s. The portrait is undated, bur because it was a post-card format, we know it was taken some time after about 1904. This boy looks abouy 9 years old. He looks to be wearing a colorful patterned necktie.

We are not entirely sure of the origins of the bowtie. Neckwear in general seems to have evolved from the cravat. The steps in that process are not clear. We note boys wearing bowtie-like garments in the mid-19th century that seem to be associated with stocks. Large floppy bows were of course especially popular for American boys in the late-19th century. Just how the bowtie is related to these forms of necklwear we are not sure. We notice bowties being worn in the early 20th century just as large floppy bows were going out of style. We are also not sure of the relationship between neckties and bow ties. They seem to have becone popular at about the same time. We do not know, however, if they evolved independently or id ome evolved out of the other. We beleve that the bow tie is an especially American fashion. Bow-ties for formal wear have been worn globaly. Bow-ties for day to day wear are much less common. I have seen foreigners wearing bow ties, but not nearly to the extent that American wore them. The bow-tie was not a uniquely boyish style. They were also worn by men. The bow-tie was, however, widely worn by American boys during the 1940s-60s. They were especially popular for younger boys wearing Eton and other short pants suits. Regular ties were considered a bit too grown up looking for these younger boys.

Origins

We are not entirely sure of the origins of the bowtie. Neckwear in general seems to have evolved from the cravat. The steps in that process are not clear. We note boys wearing bowtie-like garments in the mid-19th century that seem to be associated with stocks. Large floppy bows were of course especially popular for American boys in the late-19th century. Just how the bowtie is related to these forms of neckwear we are not sure.

Chronology

We do not yet have a precisely chronology of bowties in the United States. We have, however begun to address the subject. Bowties may have appeared before the turn of the 20th century in the 1890s. Here we are not yet sure. Floppy bows were still very common for boys. We have not yet found a 19th century portrait with bowties. We do notice large numbers of boys wearing bowties being worn in the early 20th century just as large floppy bows were going out of style. We see quite a number of boys wearing them, but not as nmany as were wearing standard neckties. They continued to be popular through the 1920s. Usage declined in the 1930s, but have never entirely disappeared. We note quite a number of boys wearing them in the 1950s. We think that in part because clip ons bdecame available. Many boys did not know how to tie a necktie. We note that when the tewrm "geek" entered the lexicon we think in the 1980s that along with glasses and plastic pocket protectors, we see suspenders and bowties. We do continue to see little boys wearing them with junioe Eton suits.

Ages

The subject of age appropriateness is some what complicated. Unlike the floppy bow, it was not a specifically juvenile style. We see boys as well as men of all ages wearing them. We see boys wearing them as well as very old men. The bow-tie was not a uniquely boyish style. They were also worn by men. The bow-tie was, however, widely worn by American boys during the 1940s-60s. They were especially popular for younger boys wearing Eton and other short pants suits. Regular neckties were considered a bit too grown up looking for these boys. Thus at times very young boys have worn bow ties, boys of an age that did not wear neckties. At the same time.

Bowties and Neckties

We are also not sure of the relationship between neckties and bow ties. They seem to have become popular at about the same time, more or less thec turn of the 20th century. Floppy bows went out of style during the 1900s and were replaced by bowties and neckties. We do not know, however, if they evolved independently or if there was a common thread. Neckties were by far the most important of the two. Boys commonly wore suits and ties to school in the early 20th century and we usually see at least one boy in class portaits wearing a bow tie, sometimes more in the 1900s and 10s. This became less common by the 1930s, both because bowties became less populsr and suits began to be worn less to school. We are not entirely sure why neckties became the standard neckwear for both men and boys.

Size

Colors and Patterns

American Style

We beleve that the bow tie is an especially American fashion. Bow-ties for formal wear have been worn globaly. Bow-ties for day to day wear are much less common. We see neckties being worn throughout Europe. Bow ties were much less common. We are less sure about Canada. We have seen foreigners wearing bow ties, but not nearly to the extent that American wore them

Clip-on Bowties

An American reader tells us, "I remember these from when I was little in the 1950s. They were an easy and fast way to dress up a boy, and these ties didn't get in the way or get messy like neck ties can. Easy to attach, easy to remove."

Created: 1:54 AM 1/15/2008
Last updated: 7:55 PM 8/8/2008