No, the tie is not in danger of extinction. It may not be used as much as in other decades and wear it is no longer mandatory in some exclusive restaurants, political circles and private clubs, but that piece of knit, silk or other fabric representing values of seriousness and trust is still in good health.

The tie was introduced by Croatian mercenaries in the service of Louis XIII in the Thirty Year War, in the 17th century, as a complement to his uniform. Cravate was the way the French adapted the name of the hrvatska (Croatia's name in that language), and over the centuries it came to the 20th century, when the bustle of fashion that came from Britain and its use in English clubs and universities expanded all over the world.

Old dress, new uses

But while its shape design has hardly changed in the last 150 years, combinations of prints, drawings, dots, moles and colors can be infinite. And its use has also been modified.

"although there is a tendency to leave this garment aside, we cannot deny that it remains a symbol of business, and an accessory that perfectly completes the gap between the laptops of the suit and the collar of the shirt," explains Ana Iriberri, director of AI Iriberri.

For Josué Pardo, of VJ men's image Advisors, "the tie is not going to disappear, but recently it has been readjusted." While until just over a decade ago it was an indispensable complement to the suit or the American suit, "today its use depends on the occasion and style of the person".

Just to express an idea

The tie owes its raison d 'être to aesthetic symbolism, but it does not shelter, it does not protect from anything, it can be uncomfortable because it forces to be for several hours with the shirt buttoned and the knot little helps the flexibility of the neck. If used, it is to represent values of seriousness, trust and elegance.

But these symbolisms step side by side in favour of practicality. "there is a social evolution towards' being at ease', and the idea of comfort is more present. The new generations of professionals lead us to a point where being well dressed and comfortable is feasible, without the use of accessories such as the tie, "says Laura Costa, image consultant and personal shopper.

What's going on in the business world?

In the business world, the use of the tie is maintained when you have meetings with clients, meetings of senior executives or if agreements are signed in formal terms.

But the break-up of technology companies and start-ups has relegated the daily use of this complement. Even some great figures such as Jeff Bezos, Steve jobs or Elon Musk are often not remembered as usual bearers of ties.

In the offices "there are many managers who have hung the tie in the last decade. If it is carried out it is in events that require greater formality and professionalism, "says Costa.

In private events and clubs

In entertainment events (such as the Goya Awards), or in the halls of the Royal Theatre or Liceu it is no longer mandatory to wear this garment. If its use is still in force, it is more of its own free will than by specifying a regulation.

Some Spanish private clubs, in recent years, have also made their regulations more flexible with regard to this accessory. In the case of the Casino in Madrid they allowed the members to dispense with the tie on the nights of Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, as well as between the months of June to September, when the heat overwhelms and more centimeters of fabric means less comfort.

As for the Genoa Financial Club, the jacket and tie is still a mandatory set, except for some events.

Political values

In the political sphere, we still remember the riffrafe between the then President of Congress, José Bono, and former Minister of Industry Miguel Sebastián, when the former accused him of attending plenary sessions without ties.

That was not long ago, in 2011, while in the new legislature there were several deputies who not only left this garment aside, but even changed their shirt to vindictive T-shirts.

In politics, the use of a tie (or banishment) is linked to the image to be projected towards citizens. "if you want to give a more conservative, classic or formal message the tie helps more," says Josué Pardo.

On the contrary, if you want an image closer to the people, "the tie used in a purest way can confer a more distant image," says Laura Costa.

What to choose

And whatever the scope, the choice of tissues and prints becomes a transmitter of ideas. The use of silk brings more elegance and seriousness than the point; color combinations balance informality with good presence; stronger tones attract looks, but excess can lead to ridicule.

Same as the prints. They can be a double-edged sword, because extravagant drawings (not to mention comic characters or popular culture like Star wars) can condemn any meeting or job interview.

The first point is to know which image you want to project. And from there, take out that long fabric again-and a bit rebellious when it comes to tying a knot-but it will not cease to be fashionable. At least for the next few years.

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