The cravat, a voluminous neckscarf, has a historical lineage distinct from the modern necktie. Its use has been documented on figures such as President Abraham Lincoln and entertainer Liberace, and later popularized by Madonna and Diane Keaton.
The term "cravat" originated from the French "cravate," tracing back to the 17th-century battlefields of Europe. Military historian Filip Hren notes that the cravat's wider European recognition began during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), a conflict between Catholics and Protestants.
Croatian mercenaries, serving the Holy Roman Empire during the war, were recognized for their fighting ability and their distinctive red neck-scarves. These scarves, made from silk or cotton, reportedly offered practical benefits such as protection against cold and smoke, and could be used as bandages for injuries. According to historian Vladimir Brnardić, the scarves also carried symbolic meaning, with legends suggesting they were given by women to soldiers as tokens of trust and love.
The French military observed the Croats' skills and attire, leading to the recruitment of many into elite cavalry regiments named the Royal Cravates. King Louis XIV subsequently introduced the cravat into French fashion, from where it diffused across Europe. The Oxford English Dictionary recorded the earliest English use of "cravat" in 1656 by Thomas Blount.
The 19th-century Industrial Revolution saw the emergence of the modern necktie, which became a symbol of professionalism. Many European languages retain an etymological link to "Croats" in their words for "necktie" (e.g., German "Krawatte," Spanish "corbata," Italian "cravatta," Greek "gravata").
The modern necktie, as recognized today, was patented in the early 1920s in New York by tailor Jesse Langsdorf. Langsdorf's design enabled the tie to maintain its form, distinguishing it from softer silk scarves. The invention of polyester fabric after the Second World War made neckties more widely accessible and allowed for diverse patterns and colors. Igor Mladinović, co-founder of the Cravaticum Museum, notes that while materials and designs have changed, the production method has remained consistent for the past century. The necktie has developed as a symbol of success and status, and has also been the subject of critical perspectives regarding power and control.