A bow tie is a short necktie consisting of thin fabric tied in a knot around the collar. You can tie bow ties in multiple fashions; some may be loose and floppier, others may be tight and cinched. Bow ties are an essential part of a formal tuxedo, but you can wear casual bow ties in various colors and patterns.

The history of the bow tie dates back to the seventeenth century and has evolved throughout history:

- __Croatian collars__: Bow ties originated as scarves in the seventeenth century. Croatian mercenaries wore tied scarves to hold the opening of their shirt collars together. 
- __The cravat__: This scarf then evolved into the cravat, a fashion staple of French aristocrats. 
- __Professional attire__: Into the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, bow ties became fixtures of professional menswear. Bow ties became popular attire for professors and a symbol of intellectualism. Pediatricians also began wearing bowties out of practicality—children could not grab at the shorter bowtie.
- __Formalwear__: Today, bow ties are common at weddings and other special events, worn with dress shirts by people of all genders to give outfits quirky, formal, and individualized looks.

Ensure the bow tie style you choose works with your [collared shirt](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/types-of-shirt-collars). A wingtip collar or straight collar looks best with bow ties for formal events.
Wear bow ties to give some extra flair to your outfit, whether you're wearing a suit, tux, or a more casual ensemble:

1. __Wear it with a tuxedo__. Black bow ties are a crucial part of the tuxedo. You can wear a white bow tie with your black tuxedo for a white tie event.
2. __Go jacketless and wear a bow tie with suspenders__. You do not need to wear a bow tie with a [blazer](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-wear-a-blazer) or suit. You can tuck in a button-down shirt into your dress pants and put on suspenders and a bow tie to create a more casual going-out look.
3. __Match it to your pocket square__. Bow ties provide a central focus and a pop to your outfit. Bow ties can complement other parts of your ensemble, including accessories like the pocket square, belt, or cufflinks, to bring them all together.
4. __Add a patterned bow tie to your wardrobe__. A colorful, polka-dotted, or paisley bow tie can be a fun addition to your formal wear. Try it on for weddings with a less formal dress code, or wear it to your office to give your workwear a preppy look. 

If you are new to wearing bow ties, consider wearing a pre-tied bow tie or a clip-on bow tie that fastens at the collar. These easy-to-wear bow ties come in many different styles.
Get a [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) and let Tan France be your very own style maestro. *Queer Eye*’s fashion guru spills everything he knows about building a capsule collection, finding a signature look, understanding proportions, and more (including why it’s important to wear underwear to bed)—all in a soothing British accent, no less.
Bow ties are neckwear for semi-formal occasions, black tie events, and casual day-to-day wear, the dress code dictating the needed bow tie style.

Bow ties are neckwear for semi-formal occasions, black tie events, and casual day-to-day wear, the dress code dictating the needed bow tie style.

How to Wear a Bow Tie: 4 Types of Bow Ties

A bow tie is a short necktie consisting of thin fabric tied in a knot around the collar. You can tie bow ties in multiple fashions; some may be loose and floppier, others may be tight and cinched. Bow ties are an essential part of a formal tuxedo, but you can wear casual bow ties in various colors and patterns.

What Is a Bow Tie?

The history of the bow tie dates back to the seventeenth century and has evolved throughout history:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Croatian collars: Bow ties originated as scarves in the seventeenth century. Croatian mercenaries wore tied scarves to hold the opening of their shirt collars together. </li><li class="">The cravat: This scarf then evolved into the cravat, a fashion staple of French aristocrats. </li><li class="">Professional attire: Into the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, bow ties became fixtures of professional menswear. Bow ties became popular attire for professors and a symbol of intellectualism. Pediatricians also began wearing bowties out of practicality—children could not grab at the shorter bowtie. </li><li class="">Formalwear: Today, bow ties are common at weddings and other special events, worn with dress shirts by people of all genders to give outfits quirky, formal, and individualized looks. </li></ul>Ensure the bow tie style you choose works with your <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/types-of-shirt-collars' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/types-of-shirt-collars","linkCopy":"collared shirt","category":null}'>collared shirt</a>. A wingtip collar or straight collar looks best with bow ties for formal events.

A Brief History of the Bow Tie

Wear bow ties to give some extra flair to your outfit, whether you&#39;re wearing a suit, tux, or a more casual ensemble:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Wear it with a tuxedo. Black bow ties are a crucial part of the tuxedo. You can wear a white bow tie with your black tuxedo for a white tie event. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Go jacketless and wear a bow tie with suspenders. You do not need to wear a bow tie with a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-wear-a-blazer' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-wear-a-blazer","linkCopy":"blazer","category":null}'>blazer</a> or suit. You can tuck in a button-down shirt into your dress pants and put on suspenders and a bow tie to create a more casual going-out look. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Match it to your pocket square. Bow ties provide a central focus and a pop to your outfit. Bow ties can complement other parts of your ensemble, including accessories like the pocket square, belt, or cufflinks, to bring them all together. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Add a patterned bow tie to your wardrobe. A colorful, polka-dotted, or paisley bow tie can be a fun addition to your formal wear. Try it on for weddings with a less formal dress code, or wear it to your office to give your workwear a preppy look. </li></ol>If you are new to wearing bow ties, consider wearing a pre-tied bow tie or a clip-on bow tie that fastens at the collar. These easy-to-wear bow ties come in many different styles.

4 Ways to Style a Bow Tie

Get a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> and let Tan France be your very own style maestro. Queer Eye’s fashion guru spills everything he knows about building a capsule collection, finding a signature look, understanding proportions, and more (including why it’s important to wear underwear to bed)—all in a soothing British accent, no less.

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Bow ties are neckwear for semi-formal occasions, black tie events, and casual day-to-day wear, the dress code dictating the needed bow tie style.

Bow ties are neckwear for semi-formal occasions, black tie events, and casual day-to-day wear, the dress code dictating the needed bow tie style.
