Ties are an essential part of any well-dressed man’s wardrobe, and we’re very excited to have our own carefully designed collection in store for you to browse. Tie your look together with one of our luxury, hand-made ties, crafted to the finest specifications in Italian silks and cashmere. Untipped and with hand-rolled edges, our ties will add an extra layer of craftsmanship to your wardrobe.

But where did the trusty tie come from, and why do we wear one? Well, the tie is thought to have originated in 17th century France, when Croatian mercenaries serving in France during the Thirty Years’ War wore pieces of cloth around their neck as part of their uniform, attracting the attention of French society. Ties were named ‘cravate’ as a nod to the Croatians, a word the French use up to this day. Over the centuries, the tie transformed. The 1920s were a particularly distinctive period for the tie, when a new construction based on three segments of fabric was invented, which allowed the cloth to return to its original shape after each wear. The Art Deco period saw wide, bright ties; the 1950s saw the emergence of much skinnier ties; in the 1960s and 70s, super wide ties were in vogue.

FOUR-IN-HAND KNOT

Since then, tie styles have levelled off. The new standard width for a tie, which is what we tend to create at Jack Davison, is just over three inches at its widest point. A ‘skinny’ tie falls at about two inches, but there is an in-between option, with ties just under three inches available. Of course, the wearer might want to factor in the tie’s width as compared to the width of his jacket’s lapels, so if the lapels are thinner, you might want a thinner tie.

Then, of course, there are the knots...A minefield, and enough to frustrate even the most patient of gentlemen. What are the knots to know? Let’s start with our two favourites:

FOUR-IN-HAND KNOT: nicknamed the ‘schoolboy knot’, this is the most usual way to tie a tie, and the easiest. The everyday knot.

DOUBLE FOUR-IN-HAND KNOT

DOUBLE FOUR-IN-HAND KNOT: the same as the four-in-hand, but the tie is wrapped around the knot twice, giving it a little extra something.

And now for some of the other classics:

PRATT or SHELBY KNOT: similar to the four-in-hand, but more symmetrical and triangular. You should see a dimple just below the knot, if executed properly.

HALF-WINDSOR KNOT: larger than the four-in-hand and the Pratt/Shelby knot, but neat and triangular. A solid, formal knot if you can get it right.

WINDSOR KNOT: the thickest of the four and with the most steps involved, this knot is usually reserved for a wider tie, and for very formal occasions.

But don’t tie yourself in knots over it; pop into Jack Davison Bespoke and check out what we have on offer. The winter collection is ready to browse now, but look out for our spring and summer selections, which will be arriving very soon.