I've long been a fan of the fabulous fabulous bow tie, but lately more and more people are showing this old fashioned accoutrement the love. We've seen it on all types, from hipsters to Tom Ford models, to street fashion savants.

According to Wikipedia:

"The bow tie originated among Croatian mercenaries during the Prussian wars of the 17th century: the Croat mercenaries used a scarf around the neck to hold together the opening of their shirts. This was soon adopted (under the name cravat, derived from the French for "Croat") by the upper classes in France, then a leader in fashion, and flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries."

Now when you're talking about bow ties, it's near impossible to not mention Alber Elbaz and the influence he's had in bringing the bow tie into the forefront of high fashion for men. A bow tie is part of his uniform just as much as a skinny tie and gloves are a part of Karl Lagerfeld's. His influence has often spilled over into the work of fellow designer Lucas Ossendrijver who frequently uses bow ties in his collections for Lanvin Menswear. I have included several Lanvin bow ties below because they are often my favorites, and of a superior quality.

The bow ties below range in style, shape, and price from $20 to $450. If there's any you think should have been included or you want to know how to get one, let us know!