28 August: Bow Tie Day

The bow tie consists of a ribbon of fabric tied around the collar in a symmetrical manner such that the two opposite ends form loops. It has gone from a high fashion item to symbolising stuffy conservatism and more recently, quirky eccentricity, unless worn for a formal occasion. The bow tie originated among Croatian mercenaries during the Prussian wars of the 17th century: Croat mercenaries used a scarf around the neck to hold their shirt collars together. The fashion was soon adopted (under the name cravat, derived from the French for "Croat") by the upper classes in France, and was popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. Bow ties may be worn by professionals who need to look smart, but for whom wearing a dangling tie could cause inconvenience. Waiters, for example, don't want their ties dangling in people's soup. Bill Nye, a US television science programme host says: "If you're working with liquid nitrogen and your tie falls into it, it's funny in a way to the audience but it's also — pun intended — a little bit of a pain in the neck." 10 famous bow tie wearers:

1. Alexander Fleming (1881–1955), Scottish biologist, pharmacologist, Nobel Prize laureate.
2. Erwin Schrödinger, the father of quantum physics.
3. Charlie Chaplin, renowned comic actor of the silent film era
4. Stan Laurel, comedian, typically wore a bow tie when in character.
5. Sir Robin Day (1923–2000), British television commentator and interviewer; his BBC News obituary said "With his thick horn-rimmed spectacles and trade mark polka-dot bow tie, he was the great inquisitor".
6. Steve Jobs, Apple Computer founder, wore bow ties in the 1980s.
7. Winston Churchill, British statesman, prime minister, Nobel Literature Prize laureate.
8. Frank Muir, British comedy writer and broadcast personality.
9. Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld
10. Manolo Blahnik, shoe designer.