Neckwear is clothing or accessories worn around the neck, typically for decoration, warmth, or formal dress. The word covers everything from ties and bow ties to scarves and bandanas.

For centuries, different styles of neckwear have marked important occasions and social roles. Business professionals wear neckties to job interviews and important meetings. Judges wear special robes with distinctive collars. Clergy members wear distinctive collars or stoles. Cowboys traditionally wore bandanas to protect against dust. In colder weather, people wrap thick scarves around their necks for warmth.

When people get dressed up for a wedding or formal event, choosing the right neckwear completes the outfit. A well-tied necktie or a carefully chosen scarf shows attention to detail and respect for the occasion.

Different cultures have developed their own styles of neckwear over time. Some are practical, like winter scarves. Others are purely decorative, like the elaborate cravats wealthy Europeans wore in the 1700s. Today, neckwear ranges from casual (a colorful scarf tossed over your shoulders) to very formal (a perfectly knotted silk tie).