A bow tie is a kind of necktie that entered the scene of fashion back in the beginning of the nineteenth century. It came up as a modification of the cravat, its predecessor that had started losing its taste in the male world of fashion. It had become a staple and widely worn by men who were sensitive or conscious to fashion by the mid-1880s. Bow ties for men have undergone many changes since their introduction and are still under modification.

Bow ties did not undergo change in form only, but in function too. It has transcended the pure traditional and formal stereotypes partly due to the mass acceptance that it received since its introduction. People have changed their minds about how they view them. No one thinks of them as purely for formal occasions anymore. Current uses were not originally meant to be. For example, it is a common street style, uniform in some states, and a major celebrity fashion.

The rigid sartorial laws of former years do not apply anymore to these ties. They have become a fashion that people from both genders enjoy and are happy to be associated with. Any stylistically savvy person would be happy to include this piece of garment in their unique wardrobe any day of the year. Many celebrities like it and are seen every day wearing it in public occasions.

This tie consists of a ribbon that is symmetrically worn around the collar in a manner that the two ends create a loop. Traditionally, the tie did come as a strip of cloth that the wearer would have to tie themselves. They usually were referred to as freestyle, tie-it-yourself, or self-tie bow ties. This feature differentiates them from those that come already tied so that they can just be worn with less trouble.

The fabrics used to make the product are many and vary. However, most of them are made from cotton, polyester, silk, or a combination of more than one fabric in different proportions. Wool is commonly used for making the ordinary four-in-hand neckties, but its use in making bow ties is very limited. Modern products are tied using the ordinary shoelace knot.

Modern Western societies are accustomed more to traditional neckties. People wear them commonly in occasions like business meetings and formal meetings. On the other hand, fun-formal events like dinner and cocktail party are dominated by the bow tie. Wearing the bow tie with a suit retains a formal look for those who prefer it that way.

There are usually two major kinds of this product, that is, ready-tied and tie-it-yourself. People with less experience with this product tend to wear ready-tied type more. There are occasions where wearing a ready-tied tie would be considered armature. Some ready-tied kinds include clip-ons so that they do not go around the collar, but rather clips onto the collar at the front.

Self-tie models can be placed into two other sub-categories, that is, bat wing and thistle or butterfly. Besides the two, there are other shapes in use too. People choose the shape of their tie depending on their sense of style and preference.