What we call a “bow tie” today is the descendant of a style of neckwear once worn by Croatian mercenaries for practical purposes. It served as a fastener that kept the collars of the shirt tight and was more like a short scarf than an ornamental piece as we see today. The French fashionistas came up with how best to tie this short scarf. In time, the knot and bow develop into something playful and its function was replaced by form.