neckcloth

Neckcloth is a piece of fabric worn around the neck as part of traditional men’s dress. In English fashion from the 17th to the early 19th century, a neckcloth was typically a rectangular length of linen or cotton, sometimes silk, that was folded, wrapped around the neck, and tied or tucked to form a collar-like appearance beneath a coat or waistcoat. It could be worn plain or starched to give stiffness and a crisply laundered look.

For formal wear, the neckcloth could be arranged into a variety of shapes, sometimes creating a visible knot or a broad “fall” that draped down the chest. It is a precursor to later neckwear such as the cravat and the necktie.

The term “neckcloth” is sometimes used interchangeably with “neckerchief” or “cravat” in historical texts; however in modern usage these terms have distinct meanings: a neckerchief is a triangular scarf; a cravat is a tied fabric around the neck; a neckcloth more often refers to the older rectangular form.

Decline and modern usage: By the early 19th century the neckcloth gradually fell out of fashion as new forms of neckwear developed; the cravat evolved into the modern necktie and bow tie. Today the term neckcloth appears mainly in historical descriptions or costume contexts.