Of all the many necktie designs that have been made over the years none has been as divisive as the bow tie. It may look pretty cool on Oscar night as Hollywood's most celebrated actors walk down the red carpet, but most men feel a bow tie is an item of clothing to be ignored in favor of the regular style of necktieThe bow tie became a major accessory in the 17th century when during the Thirty Years' War, King Louis XIV of France became impressed with the Croatian army's dress design and requested that his tailors make something similar for his own wardrobe. Before long the bow tie was born and became standard dress code for upper class personnel on formal occasions. However, within recent years the bow tie has experienced resurgence in popularity. So let's take some time to reflect on a few of those most famous bow tie wearing gentlemen.
Winston Churchill The bow tie was an essential part of Churchill's many iconic outfits. It complimented the wartime Prime Minister's bespoke dress sense and gave him an extra look of velour. He most frequently wore a navy blue bow tie featuring a white polka dot design which created a great deal of color contrast in his outfits. Churchill's bow ties were so admired they are believed to have inspired the bow tie range known as the 'Blenheim' look. With his famous walking cane, cigar, and glass of brandy, Churchill's look became one of the most recognized in history. James Bond The James Bond tuxedo image just wouldn't be the same without a bow tie. Bond's midnight black bow tie positively oozes sophistication, and is synonymous with the look of the character.The bow tie did undergo various changes between actors playing the classic character, with Sean Connery wearing a moderately small and thin bow tie known as the 'Batwing bowtie', Roger Moore dressed in an oversized 'Butterfly bow tie' and the more recent incarnations of Bond having a more averagely sized tie to accompany cufflink boxes the more modern tuxedo designs.
Ultimately James Bond is and always has been cinema's best dressed gentlemen no matter what bow tie he wears. Sigmund FreudNo doubt he'll have a theory about why certain gentlemen choose to wear certain kinds of bow tie over others, but when it comes to wearing one himself there is barely an image in existence of the great Psychologist, Sigmund Freud, without one of his trademark bow ties which always perfectly complimented his smart shirts and waistcoats. Maybe it was what made him so intelligent?Abraham Lincoln The great US president's choice of wearing black bow ties with the collars turned down became a signature part of his iconic appearance. In fact they became so much a part of American history and culture that this particular style of bow tie is now actually sold in the USA under the name 'Lincoln Bow ties'.