Ascot tie


An ascot tie, or simply ascot, is an article of neckwear with wide pointed wings at the end, wrapped around the neck and draped down the chest to cover the front placket and button line of a dress shirt. A similar form of neckwear is called a modern cravat, worn for different occasions than an ascot. Both ascot ties and cravats are in the lexicography of British English and American English, and they should not be used interchangeably. The key distinction between an ascot tie and a modern cravat is how they are presented visually around the neck – an ascot features a distinctive knot, while a modern cravat forms a solid band across the neck. Generally, an ascot is worn around a buttoned winged shirt collar and tied at the front, whereas a modern cravat is worn untied underneath an unbuttoned, open shirt collar. This wider relative of the necktie, an ascot tie is folded over, and usually fastened with an ascot tie pin, tie clip, or an ascot ring to secure the folds beneath the knot. It is usually reserved for formal wear with morning dress for daytime weddings being worn with a cutaway morning coat and striped grey formal trousers. Ascots are traditionally made of patterned silk. While earlier cravats were only found in certain colors due to the difficulty of obtaining and manufacturing pigments and dyes, today's ascot ties can be found in nearly any colour, but is usually seen in neutral tones to match with the dress shirt and suit jacket or dinner jacket, with which it might be paired.

Derivations

"Ascot"

  • The more formal wear neckwear is called the "ascot". This form of neckwear is usually tied with a form of knot at the neck, and either pinned at the centre with an ascot pin, or gathered with an ascot ring below the knot. When worn with an ascot pin, ascots can form a solid depression in the centre with winged edges near the suit lapels. However, when worn, ascot ties can form an appearance similar to very large neckties. Often, this form of neckwear is called a "formal cravat".

"Modern cravat" or "day cravat"

  • The more casual dress form of neckwear is called a "modern cravat", or sometimes referred to as a "day cravat" to distinguish it from the cravat of the Regency period. The casual form is made from a thinner woven silk that is more comfortable when worn against the skin, often with ornate and colourful printed patterns. This cravat is tucked underneath the shirt collar, with the front button or front two buttons of the dress shirt undone. It is often difficult for others to distinguish the modern cravat from a scarf or a neckerchief, and therefore the day cravat is reserved for casual occasions, and is rarely seen at formal society functions. Sometimes, this form of neckwear is called an "ascot tie".

History

The ascot tie is descended from the earlier type of cravat widespread in the early 19th century, most notably during the Regency Age, made of heavily starched linen and elaborately tied around the neck, popularised by Beau Brummell. Later in the 1880s, amongst the upper-middle-class in Europe men began to wear a more loosely tied version for formal daytime events with daytime full dress in frock coats or with morning coats. It remains a feature of morning dress for weddings today. The Royal Ascot horse race meeting at the Ascot Racecourse gave the ascot its name, although by the Edwardian era, such ties were no longer obligatory with morning dress at the Royal Ascot races, being supplanted by long ties. The ascot was still commonly worn for business with morning dress in the late 19th and very early 20th centuries.

Military use

Students at the United States Army Officer Candidate School wear ascot ties as part of their uniform, black for basic officer candidates, blue for intermediate candidates, and white for senior officer candidates. Pararescue trainees are given a blue ascot.
In the United States Navy, the ascot is now worn for ceremonial purposes with Uniforms of [the United States Navy|"Enlisted Full Dress Whites"] and "Enlisted Full Dress Blues" in the Ceremonial Guard.
In the Dutch Army, it is a part of the uniform, for barrack use, the cravat is often in the weapon colours, and with a logo, and when in combat uniform, a DPM or desert version is used.
Likewise, the Royal Danish Army employs a cravat for the ceremonial version of the barrack dress, its colours vary between each company.

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