Any Cravat Wearers Out There?

[Davey_Speedstar]

I’m fairly new around here, and still finding my way around, so forgive me if I’m posting in the wrong place, or duplicating another thread (which I can’t find)

I’ve not been a big fan of wearing ties for a number of years, but I’m getting to the stage of life where I feel I ought to ‘tidy myself up a bit’. I like vintage clothing and have acquired a couple of sports jackets. I have also stumbled over cravats.

I’ve bought a couple of Tootal cravats off EBay, which I’m waiting on delivery, but I was wondering if there are any other cravat wearers out there?

Also are there any cravat suppliers out there? Although I love my vintage hunting, it is nice to have one or two ‘new’ items in my wardrobe.

 

[Two Types]

I’m fairly new around here, and still finding my way around, so forgive me if I’m posting in the wrong place, or duplicating another thread (which I can’t find)

I’ve not been a big fan of wearing ties for a number of years, but I’m getting to the stage of life where I feel I ought to ‘tidy myself up a bit’. I like vintage clothing and have acquired a couple of sports jackets. I have also stumbled over cravats.

I’ve bought a couple of Tootal cravats off EBay, which I’m waiting on delivery, but I was wondering if there are any other cravat wearers out there?

Also are there any cravat suppliers out there? Although I love my vintage hunting, it is nice to have one or two ‘new’ items in my wardrobe.

There are some threads you can search for that cover cravats. If you do a search use the term 'Ascots' since that tends to be the name used in North America. I have posted all of my cravats on there (mostly Tootal, but a few Sammy and Duggie cravats).

My favourite UK maker is David Saxby, mainly because of the density of the silks he uses. These hold themselves in place better than many other cravats and tend to be much more 'full' when protruding from beneath the shirt.
http://www.davidsaxby.co.uk/index.p...&category_id=4&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=2
He usually has a vast amount of colours/patterns in stock. You can see some examples of his cravats in my posts on the Ascots thread.
Good luck.

 

[Mrs Chaddsley_Corbett]

Ascots? Shmascots!

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?7027-Ascots

 

[Davey_Speedstar]

If you do a search use the term 'Ascots' since that tends to be the name used in North America.

Ahhh! Thanks for the hint Two Types.

I'll have a search and hopefully see you on the other side. Thanks also fot the link I'll spend some time checking that out as well.

 

[Spitfire]

Welcome Davey_Speedstar - yes we are a small group here!

 

[Edward]

eBay is a good option, and various vintage places. Some wedding stuff can be good - I have a nice satin one in a plain colour, great for wearing with patterned shirts, especially in a casual context. This was sold as wedding wear, relatively cheaply (about a fiver, I think). The maker clearly envisaged it being worn over the collar with a four in hand knot, which means there is a wonderful amount of length to it - I like to wrap it around my neck twice before folding it over on itself. In use:

Buying new tends to be expensive, as they're not common any longer and so you're normally into places like Hilditch and Key on Jermyn Street... and forty quid or so. Great stuff, but expensive. The Tie Rack, of all places, did a few a couple of years ago (no idea if they still do) at around the twenty quid mark, though not as nice as vintage that van be picked up online for half that. There does seem to have been a resurgence in interest in them as they seem to be selling for more now than was the case three or four years ago when I wore them almost all the time.

 

[Davey_Speedstar]

Buying new tends to be expensive, as they're not common any longer and so you're normally into places like Hilditch and Key on Jermyn Street... and forty quid or so. Great stuff, but expensive.

I guess quality comes at a price. But I might get one new one at some point, and wear it for 'best'

I think that for the most part I'll keep an eye out on The 'Bay, as well as hunting through the local charity shops.

Thanks for the tips, and I've found the Ascots thread now

 

[AntonAAK]

The Tie Rack, of all places, did a few a couple of years ago (no idea if they still do) at around the twenty quid mark, though not as nice as vintage that van be picked up online for half that. There does seem to have been a resurgence in interest in them as they seem to be selling for more now than was the case three or four years ago when I wore them almost all the time.

Tie Rack do indeed still sell both cravats and self-tie bow ties and while they might not be Jermyn St quality I have bought a couple of each just to support the fact that they are available on the High Street. Long may they remain so.

 

[Edward]

Tie Rack do indeed still sell both cravats and self-tie bow ties and while they might not be Jermyn St quality I have bought a couple of each just to support the fact that they are available on the High Street. Long may they remain so.

Absolutely.... and they certainly are plenty wearable on a daily basis. Always hoping to stumble across a half price sale on them... Actually, when I first saw them selling in there, I did wonder whether there is a much bigger market for cravats than I realised.... The bows of all colours will be worn with various interpretations of black tie during the party season, but a cravat? That's something different altogether....

 

[Fifty150]

Hugh Hefner wore them. But would Steven Seagal?

 

[HodgePodge]

Hugh Hefner wore them. But would Steven Seagal?

If you saw Steven Segal wearing an ascot and decided to challenge him on it, you would be a braver man than I...

 

[Spitfire]

If I saw Steven Segal wearing a cravat (ascot - to some), I would stop wearing them.

 

[Shangas]

there's a question I'd like to ask the men here.

Is there a specific shape to a cravat? For example, a tie has a fat end that tapers to a thinner end. Is the cravat styled or shaped in the same way? Or is it just a single piece of same-widthed fabric, the whole way along?

Could one conceivably just use a silk scarf of decent width as a cravat? I like the scruffy look of the cravat and I've been reading up on them out of curiosity...

 

[Davey_Speedstar]

As far as I can see my cravats (I've acquired 3 so far) are of universal width, however they are gathered or rouched in the middle...for the bit that sits around your neck.

I can't see any reason why a silk scarf couldn't be used, although most are longer than a cravat (my cravats are about 44 inches long)
Of course I could be completly wrong, and if I am I'm sure there'll be someone along very soon to correct me

 

[Shangas]

I ask because I'm beginning to fall in love with cravats. I like the kinda scrunchy, casual look. And I have the opportunity to buy a nice, patterned red silk scarf on the cheap. I figured I could use that and just tie it up, cravat-style. I don't see why I can't. I doubt the finished result would be any different from a proper cravat.

 

[AntonAAK]

You certainly can wear a silk scarf as a cravat, I have done so in the past. If the weather is warm however a 'proper' cravat is more comfortable as there is not quite as much material wrapped around you.

 

[Shangas]

Hi Anton, thanks for the contribution!

Well, I'll pick up the scarf tomorrow and try it out. If it works out well, I'll buy it.

 

[Two Types]

I ask because I'm beginning to fall in love with cravats. I like the kinda scrunchy, casual look. And I have the opportunity to buy a nice, patterned red silk scarf on the cheap. I figured I could use that and just tie it up, cravat-style. I don't see why I can't. I doubt the finished result would be any different from a proper cravat.

If you look on the 'Ascots' thread you will see that cravats/ascots come in a variety of styles. Some are shaped to be thinner in the centre (where they are tied) others are pleated and stitched to gie the same shape. Both are traditional styles although I find that the pleated and stiched neckpiece gives a firmer hold on the neck, preventing the cravat from being too wayward. There are also silk squares (which I have little experience of) which are simply pieces of silk designed to be worn around the neck, beneath a shirt. As for your point about silk scarves: I agree. There is no reason you should not wear a silk scarf under your shirt, as if it were a cravat. The size of the scarf means the knot is fuller and is less likely to slide down inside the shirt. When you see photographs of wartime RAF pilots with prominent cravats appearing from beneath their shirts, it is likely these are actually scarves.
The bottom line is this: if the scarf looks good under your shirt, wear it. That's the only rule you need to know.

Good luck - and welcome to the world of cravat wearers.

 

[Shangas]

Oh gosh. A welcome!

Thanks, TwoTypes. I've been watching videos on YouTube about how to tie a cravat. There's a specific style I wanted to attempt, and I think I've figured out how to do it, now. I can't wait to try it out and see what the end result is.

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

I don't wear them and never tried to. So I can only hand over some second hand knowledge. You should have a look at this blog by a fellow FL member:

http://chwolfenbloode.wordpress.com/2010/09/06/how-to-make-an-ascot-tie/

Also mixing up the formal and the informal version did lead to this.:
http://chwolfenbloode.wordpress.com/2012/03/09/abolition-of-the-ascot-tie-or-formal-cravat/