It’s a sad fact but it’s true; there are fully grown men who don’t know how to tie a tie. Even if a man does know how to tie a tie, their knowledge is often limited to one necktie knot.
So, how many different knots do you know?
Like most men, you’ve probably learnt one simple way to tie a necktie at some point in your life. From then on you most likely never bothered to teach yourself another kind of knot other than one you can do quickly.
Well, did you know that certain knots go better with certain outfits? Certain necktie knots should be used with specific shirt collars and tie fabric materials to get the best look.
If you don’t know how to tie a tie at all, or you want to expand your knowledge and learn a new type of knot, we’ve included a list of instructions and some YouTube videos from artofmanliness.com to help you.
The Windsor Knot
The Windsor necktie knot is a thick, wide and triangular knot that’s suitable for formal settings. It’d therefore be your knot of choice for meetings, job interviews, presentations and anywhere else you need to look presentable. Therefore this is definitely a knot that every man should learn and it’s quite actually easy to do. Due to its size this tie knot is best worn with a wide spread collar shirt.
1) Wrap the tie around your neck. The wider end on the right should extend about 12 inches below the narrow end of the tie. Cross the wide part of the tie over the narrow end.
2) Pull the wide end of the tie up through the gap between your collar and the tie. Then bring the wide end back down toward the front.
3) Bring the wide end behind the narrow end and to the right.
4) Bring the wide end through the loop again. You’ll notice that you now have a triangle where the necktie knot will be.
5) Bring the wide end across from right to left. Then pull the wide end up through the loop again.
6) Bring the wide end through the knot in front.
7) Tighten the knot and draw it up to the collar using both hands.
The Half-Windsor Knot
The half-Windsor knot, an easier version of the Windsor knot, is a symmetrical triangle tie knot that you can wear with any dress shirt. Not as large as the Windsor knot, it works best with wider neckties made from light to medium fabrics and looks best with a standard collar. Due to its simplicity, there’s a good chance that you’ll rely on it pretty heavily.
1) Wrap the tie around your neck. The wider end on the right should extend about 12 inches below the narrow end of the tie. Cross the wide end of the tie over the narrow end.
2) Bring the wide end around and behind the narrow end.
3) Then bring the wide end up, and pull it through the loop and to the right.
4) Bring the wide end around the front, over the narrow end from right to left.
5) Again, bring the wide end up and through the loop.
6) Pull the wide end down through the knot in front.
7) Tighten the knot and draw it up to the collar using both hands.
The Pratt or Shelby Knot
The Pratt knot, also known as the Shelby knot, is tidy and fairly wide, although not as wide as the Windsor knot. It’s looser to wear and not as time consuming to tie. It is well suited with most dress shirts and rather wider neckties made from light to medium fabrics.
1) Wrap the tie around your neck with the seam (the end with the tag) facing outwards. The wider end on the right should extend about 12 inches below the narrow end of the tie. Cross the wide end of the tie under the narrow end.
2) Take the wide end under and over the narrow end and through the loop to form a knot. Pull the loop down and tighten.
3) Take the wide end over to the right. Then pull the wide end up, behind the loop.
4) Finally, bring the wide end through the knot and tighten gently.
The Four-in-hand Knot
Also known as the schoolboy knot, this is probably the most widely used tie knot as it’s so easy to tie. It’s a good knot to wear with a casual dress shirt and looks best with smaller spread collars and wide neckties made from heavy fabrics. This tie knot will come in handy when you’re in a rush too.
1) Wrap the tie around your neck. The wider end on the right should extend about 12 inches below the narrow end of the tie. Cross the wide end of the tie over the narrow end.
2) Turn the wide end back underneath the narrow end.
3) Continue wrapping the wide end back over the narrow end by bringing it in front of the narrow end again.
4) Pull the wide end up through the loop around your neck.
5) Hold the front of the tie knot with your index finger and bring the wide end down through the front loop.
6) Remove your finger and tighten the knot carefully to the collar by holding the narrow end and sliding the knot up.
How to Choose a Tie
When choosing a tie, you should look for three things; quality, material and color. Silk ties are always best, but make sure you pick one that is just the right thickness and length.
The rule for tie length is that when tied in a properly fitted knot, the triangular point at the wide end of the tie should be able to meet your belt buckle. So, if you’re tall, go for a longer tie.
When deciding on a knotting style, consider the thickness of the tie. Some ties are too thick and make most knotting styles other than the four-in-hand look disproportional. Some ties are so thin that a Windsor knot is needed to add the extra bulk so that the knot is noticeable.
You should also consider your face shape and skin tone. If you have a strong angular face, striped ties will suit you best. Dotted patterns will suit you if you have a round face, while solid colors can be worn by everyone. And as you would match the shirt and suit to your skin tone, follow the same principles when selecting a tie.
Now that you’ve read this article, make sure you practice and master the four traditional knots to ensure you always look your best.
