Vintage Style Ascots

The ascot is descended from the earlier type of cravat widespread in the early 19th century, most notably during the age of Beau Brummell, made of heavily starched linen and elaborately tied around the neck.

Later in the 1880s, amongst the upper-middle-class in Europe men began to wear a more loosely tied version for formal daytime events with daytime full dress in frock coats or with morning coats. It remains a feature of morning dress for weddings today.

We offer a full line of men's period necktie styles which are suitable for movie and TV production, theatrical, living history and performing arts requirements, and are also perfect for giving a vintage feel to a modern wardrobe. Please contact us if you have any questions!

Vintage Style Ascots
Filter

Filter

19 products

Availability
Clear
Product type
Clear
Category
Clear
Color
Clear
Materials
Clear
Price

The highest price is $47.95

$
$
Clear
Decade
Clear
Remove all

Q&A About Vintage Style Ascots

The difference between an ascot and a cravat is largely regional terminology, as "cravat" is the British term while "ascot" is more commonly used in America for the same formal neckwear. Technically, an ascot is a specific type of cravat named after England's Royal Ascot horse race, featuring a wider cut that creates more fullness when tied.

Tying an ascot involves draping it around your neck with one end slightly longer, crossing the longer end over the shorter one, bringing it up through the loop at your neck, then folding it down and securing with a tie tack or pin if desired. The final step is adjusting the width and fullness of the ascot to ensure it sits comfortably while creating an elegant drape beneath your collar. More traditionally, an ascot would be worn outside the shirt collar, and tucked into the waistcoat. For more information, visit our <a href="/how-to-guides.php#howto">step-by-step tutorial on how to tie an ascot</a>.

To fold and tie an ascot, start by folding it in half lengthwise if it's particularly wide, then drape it around your neck with one end hanging about 4 inches longer than the other. Cross the longer end over the shorter one, bring it up through the neck loop, then fold it down over the front and adjust it to create a full, elegant appearance.

Another name for an ascot is a cravat, particularly in British English where the term is preferred over "ascot" for this style of formal neckwear. Additional alternate names include day cravat, casual ascot, or dress scarf, though these may refer to slightly different styling variations.

A scarf around a man's neck can be called an ascot, cravat, neckerchief, or bandana depending on its style, formality, and how it's tied. The more formal silk versions worn tucked inside a shirt are ascots or cravats, while more casual versions worn outside the shirt may be called neckerchiefs or dress scarves.

You can use a scarf as an ascot if it's made of suitable material like silk or fine polyester and has appropriate dimensions to create the desired fullness. A lightweight rectangular scarf can be folded and tied in the ascot style, though traditional ascots are cut specifically to achieve the proper drape and volume when tied.

You should wear an ascot for semi-formal daytime events such as garden parties, weddings, horse races, or sophisticated brunches where you want to appear polished yet distinctive.

The point of an ascot is to provide a sophisticated, elegant alternative to the standard necktie while filling the open collar of a dress shirt with a distinctive neckwear option. Ascots serve both functional purposes (keeping the neck warm, adding color) and aesthetic purposes (demonstrating sartorial knowledge, creating visual interest) for the discerning dresser.

Ascot ties are worn by style-conscious individuals, typically gentlemen attending formal daytime events, members of wedding parties, and those with an appreciation for classical menswear traditions. Notable ascot wearers include aristocrats, sophisticated older gentlemen, and younger fashion enthusiasts seeking to make a distinctive sartorial statement.

With an ascot, you should wear a dress shirt with a spread or cutaway collar that provides sufficient space for the ascot's volume. The ideal shirt will have a slightly higher collar stand to properly frame the ascot, with the collar wide enough to accommodate the neckwear while maintaining a clean, elegant appearance.

To choose an ascot color, consider complementing rather than matching your shirt and jacket, selecting hues that enhance your skin tone and coordinate with your overall outfit. The best approach is to pick a color that provides tasteful contrast to your shirt while incorporating subtle elements of your suit's color palette, with patterns adding visual interest.

The difference between a neck scarf and an ascot lies in both the material and how they're worn—ascots are typically silk, cut specifically for tying inside a shirt collar, while neck scarves are often longer, made from various materials, and worn more visibly outside the shirt. Ascots are considered more formal and are tied using specific methods, while neck scarves allow for greater variety in styling and presentation.

The history of the ascot tie originates with 17th century Croatian mercenaries whose distinctive neck scarves evolved into the cravat, made popular during the Regency era by none other than Beau Brummell. This cravat style evolved into the ascot, which gained popularity in the late 1880s and was named for the Royal Ascot race.

Need more information? Ask a question about our Vintage Style Ascots

Your Recently Viewed Items