The necktie (or tie) is a long piece of cloth worn around the neck, resting under the shirt collar and knotted at the throat.
Regardless of the fact that the definition of the necktie in most dictionaries states “a large band of fabric worn around the neck under the collar and tied in front with the ends hanging down as a decoration”, its history says a lot more.
Men have always found it necessary to tie something around their necks. The earliest historical example is in ancient Egypt. The rectangular piece of cloth that was tied and hung down till the shoulders was a very important part of an Egyptian’s clothing because it showed his social status. In China, all the statues around the grave of Emperor Shi Huang Ti bear a piece of cloth around their necks, which is considered an ancestor of the modern necktie.
In art from the Roman Empire, men are also depicted bearing neck-wear that much resembles the contemporary necktie.
Nowadays, the necktie is an essential part of a tailored business suit or a tailor made designer suit.