Extraordinary Everyday: Men’s ties
4/29/202614 min
If you stop and think about today’s item, it’s one of fashion’s strangest inventions. We loop it around our necks, pull it into a neat little noose, and call it an accessory. Yet the humble men’s tie - this decorative strip of fabric - has survived centuries of reinvention. And somehow, it has come to symbolise masculinity more strongly than almost anything else you can wear.
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 00:00
[instrumental music] ABC Listen. Podcasts, radio, news, music, and more.
Anthony Burke· Host0:05
[instrumental music] The modern world is full of all kinds of gadgets, tools to help make life easier. But what's surprising to us today will be taken for granted in the future. So what do we take for granted now that once caused a stir? Welcome to Extraordinary Everyday, where we take the objects you may barely notice and trace their surprising and often delightful design evolution.
Melissa Bellanta· Guest0:38
Putting on my top hat, tying up my white tie.
Anthony Burke· Host0:43
If you stop and think about today's item, it's honestly one of fashion's strangest inventions. We loop it around our necks, we pull it into a neat little noose and call it an accessory. Yet the humble men's tie, this decorative strip of fabric, has survived centuries of reinvention, and somehow it has come to symbolize masculinity more strongly than almost anything else you can wear. Melissa Balansa, Associate Professor at the Australian Catholic University and expert in the histories of masculinity, dress, and fashion, is here to join me. Melissa, welcome.
Melissa Bellanta· Guest1:18
Thanks, Anthony.
Anthony Burke· Host1:19
Let's start back at the beginning. Is there an earliest recorded necktie, and is there sort of, is that the kind of history we can trace to the kind of necktie we see today?
Melissa Bellanta· Guest1:27
Yeah. Well, the answer's sort