Tying a cravat

Here’s a little bit of trivia for you to impress the guests at the wedding – the word “cravat” is derived from the French word la croate meaning Croat. Apparently back in the 1600s some Croatian mercenary soldiers did a decent job as part of the war effort against the Ottoman Empire and on their victory visit to Paris were seen sporting some rather fetching handkerchiefs fashioned out of silk around their necks. No stranger to fashion, French lothario Louis XIV, took a shine to them and they caught on. The Croats it seems are pretty pleased with this achievement, claiming they gave the world what is now the common tie. So much so that they actually have a national day to celebrate it as an element of national heritage! No kidding!  If you are ever in Croatia on October 18 then you too can join in the celebrations of their gift to the world!

How to tie a cravat, step by step

Tying a cravat looks fiddly, but it’s just a couple of wraps and a tuck. Give yourself a practice run the night before rather than learning it at 10am on the big day.

1. Collar up. Put your shirt on, do up the top button and turn the collar up.
2. Drape it round your neck. Hang the cravat round your neck with the patterned side facing out and one end hanging a third longer than the other.
3. Cross over. Bring the long end over the short end, just below your chin.
4. Wrap it round. Take the long end behind the short end and back across the front again, so it’s wrapped round once.
5. Up through the loop. Push the long end up through the loop at your neck from underneath.
6. Drop it over the knot. Let the long end fall down over the front so it covers the knot, then pull gently on both ends to snug it up. Not too tight: you’ve got a speech to make.
7. Arrange the folds. Puff the front out a little so it sits full, then tuck both ends into your waistcoat.
8. Pin it. Slide a cravat pin through the front to hold it all in place, then fold your collar back down.

Short on time or patience? Pre-tied cravats fasten at the back of the neck and look the same once your waistcoat is on. Nobody will know.

Any way, if you want some advice on tying a cravat then follow the helpful gent’s advice below. Oh, and if you want to know what the picture is below that – an image of the installation “A Cravat Around the Arena” on October 18, 2003 – we did tell you they were very proud!

“A Cravat Around the Arena” taken on October 18, 2003. in Croatia These boys sure are proud of their ties!