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Men's Ties 1920-1970s

  • 1920 Look 1

    1920 Look 1
    Men's neckwear was available in such a wide range of colors, forms, and designs throughout the teens and much of the '20s that we would consider this to be the finest age for men's ties. It was also the beginning of the contemporary necktie in the form that we are familiar with today.
  • 1930s Look 2

    1930s Look 2
    By the 1930s, scarf ties and bow ties had fallen out of favor, and the silk necktie had risen to the top of the fashion hierarchy. The designs on the shirts were a mishmash of colors and patterns including stripes, plaids, checks, windowpane, miniature paisley, and large dots in various sizes and shapes. Menswear was particularly wild and vibrant during this time period. Predominant colors were fall and summer colors, with vivid blues, reds, greys, and black.
  • 1940s Look 3

    1940s Look 3
    Neckties were traditionally knotted in a Windsor knot in the early 1940s. This large knot complemented the broad spread collars of dress shirts as well as the wide lapels of business suits well. The only options were solid or striped ties in maroon-red, blue, white, and black, with the exception of a few others. The center striped tie, which consisted of a single long vertical stripe running down the middle of the tie, was a short fashion fad about 1942.
  • 1950s Look 4

    1950s Look 4
    After first being wider, wide ties progressively became narrower by the mid-1950s. Bow ties have shrunk down and straightened out to become the slender ribbon tie. 1950's ties provided a variety of visible textures on solid colors while remaining true to the classic silk and wool looks. Continental ties were popular for a short period of time in the late 1950s. At the neck, a black satin or silk ribbon was tied with a pearl snap or pin, which was secured with a pearl snap or pin.
  • 1960s & 1970s Look 5

    1960s & 1970s Look 5
    Ties continued to get narrower until the 1960s, when the ultra-thin 2 inch skinny tie became popular to match with slim suits and blazers. Up until 1968, when the broad tie made a triumphant comeback, this was the case. The neckerchief was a new kind of tie that became fashionable in the 1970s. It was customary to wrap a square silk scarf around the neck and secure it with either a square knot or tie ring with the ends pointed to the sides.