NECKPIECES

Cravats

Big in the eighties and nineties, the cravat is still a popular choice for male Wedding Party members in spite of the emergence of the ruche. Essentially, the cravat features two wide strips of material connected to one another via a thin piece that is just long enough to go around the neck. Unlike a necktie which gradually gets wider, the cravat extends very quickly and features flat, as opposed to pointed, ends. Always worn with a waistcoat, when tied, the cravat will leave very little of the shirt exposed and is normally accompanied by a small tie pie which is positioned about an inch or so below the top button of the shirt. The cravat first emerged on the scene in the mid-17^th century and as such has a more traditional look – it works well with a winged collar shirt and is particularly effective with Frocks, Tailcoats and Prince Edwards.

Ruches

Also known as the ‘scrunch tie’, the ruche is now the most popular neck piece worn by Grooms and Groomsmen up and down the country. The ruche is tied in much the same way as a normal necktie, but when worn has more of a crumpled appearance that is becoming synonymous with 21^st Century weddings. Like the cravat, the two wider pieces of material that hang down are connected by a thinner piece of material that is just long enough to go around the neck – this looks particularly effective when worn with a winged collar shirt that will leave this uniform piece of material exposed. The ruche can be worn with a tie pin positioned in the knot about an inch below the top button of the shirt, but often this is omitted. Ruches are the most popular choice for Grooms plumping for Prince Edwards, Tailcoats or Frockcoats.