Who Brought Bowties Back? Prominent Bowtie Wearers Who Influenced Bowties’ Increased Popularity

For quite some time, bowties were the domain of stuffy college professors, grooms and prom-goers in rented tuxes, and any fictional character designed to be a nerd. Professor Indiana Jones wears a bowtie in the classroom, distinguishing his academic persona from his tough, treasure-hunting side. Bill Nye the Science Guy was rarely seen without a bright patterned, red, or yellow bowtie peeking out from beneath his lab coat. But when did bowtie wearing shift from older, distinguished intellectuals to the general public, including the trendiest twenty-somethings?

Reemergence of the Bowtie

In 2005, The New York Times ran an article focusing on a then-rising conservative commentator’s neckwear choice: the bowtie. At that point, sources referred to the accessory as annoying, provoking, and definitely not in style. However, four years later in 2009, Karen Civil observed a bowtie “epidemic” among celebrities, mentioning Chris Brown’s appearance on Larry King Live in a blue bowtie. In 2010 Minneapolis Star Tribune ran an article declaring that bowties were back beyond the rich and famous, too, noting that younger consumers were showing an increased interest. This article gave partial credit for the bowtie’s resurgence to professional athletes such as LeBron James and Kevin Durant. 

In Britain, The Telegraph credits Dr. Who’s Matt Smith with sparking the bowtie trend in 2010, noting that one clothier aimed at a Who-watching demographic saw its bowtie sales rise by 94%. Smith’s character frequently asserts the coolness of bowties, and young men in both Britain and the US seem ready to agree. 

Early experimenters in the return of the bowtie pled that they were wearing the pieces “ironically,” but it can be safely said that bowties have been worn by many trendsetters in all seriousness. George Bulanda noted that appearances of celebrities such as Jude Law and Ashton Kutcher enhanced the credibility of the bowtie. Darren Chris’s character from Fox’s Glee deserves some mention as a pioneering bowtie wearer, and Justin Timberlake has embraced the bowtie trend as well. When members of the hit boy band One Direction started sporting bowties, they were bound to be noticed as well.

Connotations of the Bowtie

Many fashion observes have linked the bowtie to non-conformity and individualism. This is likely due to the ties’ relative rarity throughout the later part of the 1900s. Someone who wore a bowtie was perceived to be bucking a trend or intentionally separating himself from the masses. Now that bowties have regained popularity, is this still the case? Commentators still agree that choosing a bowtie over a traditional tie indicates a willingness to take a fashion risk. Many wearers note that bow ties often serve as conversation starters, and that they receive far more comments than a long tie.

If you have ever wanted to give bowtie wearing a try, now is the time. Whether you want to make a statement or simply try something new, you’ll be in good company in a bow tie.

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