The History of Scarves: A Timelinere

From: scarves.net

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1350 B.C. Egyptian Queen Nefertiti wears a finely woven scarf topped by a conical headdress. ¹¹1000 B.C. Chinese sculptures feature scarf-like, fringed rectangular pieces of cloth. ²

230 B.C. Warriors of the Chinese Emperor Cheng don scarves made of cloth, which mark military rank. ²
10 A.D. Romans wear a linen kerchief or “sudarium” (Latin for “sweat cloth”) knotted around the waist or around the neck. ¹
60 A.D. The Emperor Nero rarely appears in public without a sudarium around his neck. ⁴
c. 1150 Eleanor of Aquitaine wear scarves in a “gossamer cascade” from the tip of a tall pointed hat, starting a noted fashion trend of the Middle Ages. ¹¹
1261 Egyptians adopt a dance style known today as belly dancing. Costumes include a scarf-like belt worn low on the hips. ⁶
1600 Croatian mercenaries wear scarves to signify rank. ¹
1786 Napoleon Bonaparte is said to send his first wife Joséphine de Beauharnais cashmere scarves from India during his travels. ¹¹
1783 The Third Duke of Krakow is said to invent the knit scarf in this year. ^{5 timeline1.gif}
1810 Renowned composer Beethoven falls in love with Therese Malfatti and in hopes to win her heart, adopts a new look including fashionable suits, shirts and silk neck scarves. ⁷
1837 Hermès, French ready-to-wear retailer famous for its graphic silk scarves, is born.
1837 Queen Victoria comes to throne and popularizes fanciful accessories such as scarves. In the Victorian era in particular, these accessories aid to differentiate between the upper, middle and lower classes. ⁸
1856 Burberry, maker of iconic plaid scarves, is founded. ⁹
1900 Isadora Duncan, considered by many to be the mother of modern dance, popularizes long flowing scarves. Ironically, Duncan died as the result of a freak accident during which her long scarf was caught in the wheel of an automobile. ¹¹
1914 The knitting of scarves becomes a patriotic war-time duty in the United States. ⁵
1930 Fur scarves are at the height of fashion in France. ¹⁰
1970 It is popular to wear scarves as a headband across the forehead and wrapped about the waist and chest as shirt.
2004 France passes a law that bans the wearing of Muslim head scarves in public schools. ¹²
2009 AffordableScarves.com goes live.

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Sources1 http://news.softpedia.com/news/That-039-s-A-Wrap-42072.shtml
2 http://www.scarfworld.com/scarf_information/history_of_scarves/index.cfm
3 http://books.google.com/books?id=yM8VGagfrxYC&pg=PA116&sig=DbFsRkWyPOLl9Pzs5k1yUJKwotQ#v=onepage&q=&f=false
4 http://www.amazon.com/dp/1437870775/ref=asc_df_1437870775910322?tag=stylefeeder-20&creative=380333&creativeASIN=1437870775&linkCode=asn
5 http://www.dresslikeme.co.uk/scarf.php
6 http://www.joyofbellydancing.com/bdhistory2.html
7 http://books.google.com/books?id=ENz8biaHjkgC&pg=PA47&sig=lVWTkglAfTUVUkcI7FaL5I7PrFM#v=onepage&q=&f=false
8 http://pilgrim.ceredigion.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2079
9 http://ezinearticles.com/?Quality-Burberry-Like-Scarves-and-Shawls&id=1476744
10 http://ezinearticles.com/?Quality-Burberry-Like-Scarves-and-Shawls&id=1476744
11 http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4AAUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=h4oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5152,2704270&dq=history+of+scarves
12 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article496774.ece

Men’s Scarves & History – Wear A Scarf With Confidence

Here’s a thought to brighten your morning ritual of slipping on neckwear:

You’re taking part in a manly 2,200 year-old tradition.

A tradition that many of history’s greatest warriors, statesmen, and artists partook in.

That’s right – the scarf (or variations such as the necktie and cravat) have been in our wardrobes for over two millenia.

Let’s start at the beginning.

Men’s Scarves & Ancient China

The first men’s neckwear we have solid historical evidence for was worn by Chinese soldiers in the 3rd century B.C.E.  The terracotta soldiers buried with Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of unified China, can still be seen wearing tied neck scarves.  These were used to denote rank in a form of early military insignia.

Chinese art from still earlier includes depictions of both men and women wearing fringed, rectangular pieces of cloth similar to scarves, dating back as early as 1000 B.C.E.

Men’s Scarves & Ancient Rome

A band of linen cloth known as a “sudarium” was part of a standard gentleman’s costume in the late Roman empire.  It was worn around the neck or knotted around the waist in the first century C.E. Emperor Nero (among other peculiarities!) wore a sudarium around his neck during almost all public appearances, and is even depicted with it on some coins from his reign.

Men’s Scarves & The Croatian Military

Soldiers in the Croatian military used scarves to denote rank, much like the early Chinese.  Historians do not know when the practice started, but it gained fame when Croatian soldiers impressed the French court of Louis XIII in 1636.

Men’s Scarves & French Fashion

By the reign of Louis XIV the neck scarf was a staple of the French court.  They were named “cravats” after the Croats that had introduced them.  Many paintings of noblemen at the time, including Louis XIV, include a brightly-colored cravat.

The style was spread across Continental Europe by military men, and was brought back to England by King Charles II when he returned from exile in 1660.

The Battle of Steenkerque:  Beginning of the Modern Necktie

The Battle of Steenkerque in 1692 is remembered more for its fashion significance than its military impact:  the French army (led and heavily populated, at the time, by noblemen and gentlemen of class) was surprised by opposing forces, and the young men went into battle with their cravats hastily tied one end over the other rather than being done up in an elaborate bow.

The result was the “steinkirk,” an Anglicized spelling of the battle and the prominent form of menswear in England for a good thirty years after the battle.  It replaced much larger and lacier cravats with a simpler knot and plainer cloth.  The ends were twisted together and tucked through a buttonhole, creating a shape much more like our modern necktie.

Men’s Scarves & Beethoven

When Ludwig von Beethoven set out to woo Therese Malfatti in 1810 he adopted a new personal style, which included silk scarves to go with his new suits.

Men’s Scarves & Victorian England

Queen Victoria of England was a great proponent of fashionable accessories, including scarves for both men and women.  Neck scarves and cravats became a status symbol, with the material and even the knot of your neckwear indicating your social class.

Around this time coachmen and drivers also popularized the familiar “four-in-hand” knot as a way of tying their scarves while still holding the reins, i.e. the reins to four horses in one hand while you tie your scarf with the other.  This is still the knot many men use for their necktie today.

Burberry, still a source for iconic neck scarves, was founded in 1856 (though their distinctive tartan pattern was not created until the 1920s, and even then began as a jacket lining rather than a scarf pattern).

Men’s Scarves In Modern War And Aviation

By the First World War scarves were a staple winter garment for men.  Knitting them was a patriotic chore encouraged in both America and Great Britain during the war.  Art from the time depicts soldiers wearing scarves in the trenches (the iconic trenchcoat, fittingly enough, was also designed by Burberry for the war effort).

Early aviators considered scarves essential flight equipment.  They provided warmth at high altitudes and needed padding when pilots craned their necks back and forth to scan for other planes.  Scarves enjoyed popularity among young men in the 1920s and 1930s partly because of their military origins and most likely – as is today, their ability to transform an outfit from mundane to striking.

In Summary – The Scarf & History

The man’s scarf has been replaced as an item of daily business wear by the necktie.  Scarves are now an accent for men who choose them rather than a necessity that signifies your rank or class status.  The few associations left range from the ultra-formal white scarf worn over a tuxedo jacket to the striped scarves of clubs – although these are becoming more and more rare.

So while neckwear is a daily chore for some men, it is also a tradition dating back before the birth of Christ.  So tie a scarf on with confidence, knowing that over 80 generations before you have done so with gusto. And that’s something to cheer you up in front of the mirror each morning.

http://www.realmenrealstyle.com/mens-scarves-history/ 

Scarf History

Back to Scarf History a bit by reading this articles from Scarf World.com .
Now an essential fashion accessory, scarves have a long history of use. The scarf is believed to have originated in Ancient Rome, when Romans used a sudarium - Latin for 'sweat cloth' to wipe their faces after exercise. The sudarium soon became the latest fashion accessory, hung around the neck or knotted as a belt. Similarly, Chinese sculptures dating back to 1000 B.C. appear to be wearing fringed squares of fabric draped over them.

Due to their sheer versatility, scarves have found their way into traditional dress the world over. In hot, dry climates scarves are used to keep sand and sun off the face, in cold countries they are wrapped around for warmth. As a traditional head-covering, scarves have become a part of modest dress in many cultures. Their visibility means that scarves are an easy way to identify a group of people. Scarves have long been used to signify allegiance, from military ranks and revolutionary movements to modern day sports teams and school uniforms.

Along the way, people have naturally realised that a scarf is a striking addition to any wardrobe. Women have long loved scarves as a great fashion accessory, whether brightly coloured, made from fine silks, embroidered or beaded with glittering gems.

Scarves For Modesty

Wrapped around the body, scarves make great cover-ups for all sorts of situations...

Scarves As Uniforms

Scarves are easy to wear and see on top of clothing, making them perfect for showing...

Iconic Celebrity Scarf Wearers

Scarves are a brilliantly versatile fashion accessory and over the last century...

More Sudarium on my blog ...

More reading from Wiki

Ancient Rome is one of the first origins of the scarf, where it was not used to keep warm, but to keep clean. It was called the sudarium, which translates from Latin to English as "sweat cloth", and was used to wipe the sweat from the neck and face in hot weather. They were originally worn by men around their neck or tied to their belt. Soon women started using the scarves, which were made of cloth and not made of wool, pashmina, or silk, and ever since the scarf has been fashionable among women.^[1]

Historians believe that during the reign of the Chinese Emperor Cheng, scarves made of cloth were used to identify officers or the rank of Chinese warriors.^[1]

In later times scarves were also worn by soldiers of all ranks in Croatia around the 17th century. The only difference in the soldiers' scarves that designated a difference in rank was that the officers had silk scarves whilst the other ranks were issued with cotton scarves. The men's scarves were sometimes referred to as "cravats" (from the French cravate, meaning "Croat"), and were the precursor of the necktie^{[citation needed]}.

The scarf became a real fashion accessory by the early 19th century for both men and women. By the middle of the 20th century scarves became one of the most essential^{[citation needed]} and versatile clothing accessories for both men and women.

In recent years, scarves have experienced a revival.^[2]