Tracing the origin of the men’s and women’s bow tie is a complex task with several theories surrounding it. According to one of them, the bow tie appeared before the necktie. The piece of cloth was allegedly worn around the neck by Croatian soldiers during the Thirty Years’ War in the 17th century. It was used to fasten the shirt and looked more like a bow tie than a necktie.

Some say that this accessory is nothing but an evolution of the jabot, a lace ornament from the 17th and 18th centuries that was tied around the neck to add elegance to the outfit.

Others believe that we owe this invention to the famous English dandy of the 19th century, George Bryan Brummell, who reportedly created a more complex necktie knot that later gave birth to the men’s and women’s bow tie.