LIBERTY OF LONDON Tie Set of 2 Men Silk USA Necktie 3.5" Paisley Geometric Ties (SET OF 2) Black and Navy with floral paisley geometric style pattern designs. THE NECKTIE : A necktie, or simply a tie, is a piece of cloth worn for decorative purposes around the neck, resting under the shirt collar and knotted at the throat, and often draped down the chest. Variants include the ascot, bow, bolo, zipper tie, cravat, and knit. The modern necktie, ascot, and bow tie are descended from the cravat. The necktie traces back to Croatian mercenaries serving in France during the Thirty Years' War (16181648). These mercenaries from the Military Frontier, wearing their traditional small, knotted neckerchiefs, aroused the interest of the Parisians. Because of the difference between the Croatian word for Croats, Hrvati, and the French word, Croates, the garment gained the name cravat (cravate in French).