(I) The cravat, introduced in the mid-17th century, is the
ancestor of the modern necktie. (II) Legend has it that
the origins of the cravat lie with an army regiment from
Croatia that was fighting with the French during the
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48). (III) The soldiers in this
regiment wrapped a long scarf loosely around their
necks, supposedly to protect themselves from sword
blows. (IV) When the Croatian soldiers visited Paris, the
French were captivated by their neckwear and began to
adopt it for their own use. (V) Nevertheless, the soft and
easy-to-tie cravat was a great improvement in fashion
industry and it was worn by both men and women.