An impeccable tie knot conveys professionalism, confidence and attention to detail – three essential traits in any dapper look.
Donning your necktie, ensure its seam faces outward, with its thick end hanging 1-2 inches lower than you want it to end on your chin. Cross its thick end diagonally in front of its thin end for an X shape below your chin.
Basic Knots
When it comes to basic knots, most guys turn to the Four-In-Hand knot as their go-to choice. A timeless classic, it makes an excellent knot choice for slimmer collars while being an effective learning aid when first starting out with tie tying.
Start by looping the tie around your collar with its seam facing inward and the thick end on your left hanging 4-5 inches lower than your desired finishing position. Cross the thick end in front of the thin end from right to left so as to form an X shape below your neck.
Once the wide side is facing upward, pass it horizontally from right to left behind the knot horizontally from right to left. Next, pass thin end up through third loop of horizontal looping and tighten to secure. Slide knot upward with one hand while holding tails with another to maintain neatness and snugness of appearance. When finished, lower shirt collar to complete look.
Once you are familiar with the basics, try your hand at more intricate knots such as the Balthus Knot. This elegant knot features braid-like details that look great when worn with a patterned tie; additionally it makes an impressive first impression at formal events like fine dining dinners and theater or art exhibitions. When ready, challenge yourself further with more complex knots like Full Windsor and Pratt Knots for further expansion of your tie tying skills.
Diagonal Knots
One of the more complex yet rewarding ways to tie a fashion tie is with a diagonal knot, ideal for special events and especially effective with wide ties. Mads Mikkelsen who plays Hannibal Lecter in Hannibal TV series favours this style.
Start by draping your necktie around your collar, leaving its thin end hanging a few inches below where you wish to finish it. Next, cross the thick end under the narrow end from left to right to create an X. Flip thin end over front of knot slightly to the left; fold behind it left-to-right before finally bringing thin end back over top of knot while pointing its tip upward and towards your left shoulder.
Your result should be a small “horizontal leg”, defined by two diagonal legs and meeting squarely beneath your chin. Slip the thick end through this horizontal pass while tugging gently down on its thin side while tightening with your other hand to fine tune and secure its position.
Once your tie is finished, tuck its narrow end under its tie bar (or use one to assist), trim off any excess fabric, untie it and fold in half lengthwise, tucking its narrow end into its keeper loop to prevent unraveling and roll it up from its narrow end like a Swiss roll to form a compact bundle that’s easy to store either in your closet or hanging organiser.
Horizontal Knots
Donning the tie around your neck so its seam faces upward and its thick end droops four to six inches below your desired finished length, holding its thin end slightly below your collar with your dominant hand so it rests between its thick and narrow ends.
Step two is simple – cross the thick end over the thin end horizontally from shoulder side to opposite shoulder side, bring it back over front of knot, and slip your finger beneath this second horizontal loop created.
Pull the thin end upward through this small loop until a tight knot forms at your starting shoulder. Pull on this thread until tightness has been reached and tease out any uneven corners until an X-shaped fold forms evenly around you.
Next, pass the thick end in an horizontal motion from right to left behind the knot. Again, pass it under the knot’s front edge and then down over it with one hand while using your other to pull on thin end for tightening or tease it back out again and tease into an even shape using thin end pulls with one hand and thick end pulls with the other until your knot reaches your satisfaction in appearance. Repeat these steps until your knot meets your expectations in terms of appearance.
Bow Knots
Bow ties aren’t just timeless accessories; they also represent sophistication. From office meetings to formal affairs, knowing how to tie a fashion bow tie can help make an impactful first impression – knowing how to do it well should be practiced regularly for maximum effectiveness!
Start by draping the tie around your neck with seams facing inward and the thick end hung at about half-an-inch below where you want the final tie to hang. Next, cross thin over thick end creating an X shape under your chin before finally threading thin end back through horizontal loop behind X and tighten.
The trickiest aspect of this knot is maintaining equal dimensions between its front and back parts of the bow. To accomplish this goal, use a mnemonic to remember where the knot should be located – imagine that the string coming off of your loop forms a rabbit’s hole, with its narrow end running up and around your tree (or rabbit’s head). When pulling on this rabbit’s narrow end you will release its loose strings back down through its hole to form your bow.
The Four In Hand Knot is an effortless yet sophisticated way to complete a fashion bow. Ideal for beginners and easy to reposition if it moves out of place, the Four In Hand Knot can quickly add sophistication to any bow tie ensemble.
