Silk Cravats & Ascot Ties for Men

The cravat closes the gap between an open shirt collar and a necktie. It is laid loosely around the neck, the ends crossed over one another and tucked into the collar, with no knot at all. The same piece is also called an ascot, after the racecourse west of London, and both words mean the same thing here.

At John Crocket the cravats are made from 100 percent silk, 122 centimetres long, with a blade 15 centimetres wide. The silk gives the fabric its sheen and lets it fall softly once the cravat sits in the collar. Paisley and medallion patterns carry the selection, joined by small-scale geometric designs.

A cravat belongs where a necktie would be too formal and a bare collar too casual: with a soft-collared shirt, under a cardigan, a jacket or a tweed coat, in autumn as much as on a cool summer evening. It asks for no jacket, but takes one well.

Silk does not go in the washing machine. Have stains dry-cleaned and store the cravat loosely rolled or hanging so the weave settles again. The same silk goes into our silk ties, bow ties and pocket squares. In our shop on Friesenstraße in Cologne you can take the cravats in hand and hold them against a shirt and jacket.

FAQ

Cravat, ascot or plastron: what is the difference?

Cravat and ascot describe the same piece: the wide silk scarf worn inside an open shirt collar. A plastron is something else. It is the broad, usually pale tie worn with morning dress, sitting over the shirt front and held by a pin. The plastron belongs to formal daywear, the cravat does not.

How do you tie a cravat?

It is not really tied. Lay the scarf around the neck, cross one end over the other and pull it up through the loop that forms, then tuck the ends into the shirt collar. A tie pin holds the folds in place, but it is not required.

What are the cravats made of and how big are they?

Every cravat from John Crocket is made from 100 percent silk. They are 122 centimetres long, and the blade measures 15 centimetres at its widest point.

What do you wear a cravat with?

With a shirt worn open at the collar, under a cardigan, a jacket or a tweed coat. It fits where a suit and tie would be too formal but an open collar on its own looks unfinished.

How do I care for a silk cravat?

Do not put it in the washing machine. Have stains dry-cleaned, smooth the scarf out after wearing and store it loosely rolled or hanging.