Posted by Cynthia
on 30/9/2009, 6:35:09, in reply to "Re: HRH The Duke of York in Luxembourg"
75.27.238.199
To go further OT: I started reading around on the subject as well, because of what you said. I noticed that the newer references used virtually the exact same wording (it was named for EVII, not EVIII), while the older ones were more varied but generally agreed that it was named for EVIII.
Here's an interesting article:
http://www.mensflair.com/news/menswear-myths-fact-and-fiction.php
I read through the whole history listing on the Wikipedia page on the Windsor knot. What a lot of changes for such a simple subject!
And the Merriam-Webster dictionary gives the earliest dates for the usage of the phrase Windsor Knot as 1945-1950! Alas, it wasn't listed in my Oxford English Dictionary, which to me would be absolute.
Stylistically, I don't see how they could have named it for EVII, since men's ties in those days were so different (thinner, shorter, etc.). Also, why Windsor and not Wales, and was he really such a fashion plate? His wife certainly was... and he was PoW for so long and not really associated with Windsor Castle...
I obviously find this an interesting subject. Thanks for your patience!