A tie reveals a lot about its wearer, his social position, his aesthetic tastes or political stance. From the early 17th until the beginning of the 20th century, a diverse combination of fabrics, colours and knots adorned the male - and occasionally also the female - neck. Today, the tie is back in fashion and as an accessory newly interpreted, traditions are questioned, and so is the appropriate context for wearing a tie.

This new book draws on the vast collection and archives held at the Swiss National Museum in Zurich. Coinciding with a major exhibition at the museum, The Tie features a wealth of images documenting the history and ever changing aesthetics of the neck tie, but also of designers' and manufacturers' sample collections, art works, and a photographic essay by Swiss photographer Walter Pfeiffer. Essays are contributed by international authors including scholars, fashion critics, and journalists.