Three Tie Knots You Should Know

Ike Behar’s How To:

     Ways to Tie a Tie

         Many men find tying a tie to be a surprisingly frustrating task. Not only are there many different ways to tie a tie, but certain knots are better for certain occasions or best used with certain fabrics, and knowing what knot to use when can be difficult enough without having to remembering how to tie each. Perhaps the three most useful knots for the average man to know are the four-in-hand, the half-windsor, and the full-windsor. Knowing these three basic knots will help make the most out of your tie collection, and give you a knot for each occasion.

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The Four-in-Hand:

            The four-in-hand knot can be thought of as the universal knot, in that it is both easy to tie, and can be worn with nearly every combination of button-down shirt, collar, and tie. The knot is both narrow and asymmetrical, and is therefore favored by many men with shorter necks. 

            The Four-in-Hand knot in six easy steps:

1. Begin with the wide end of the tie around one foot bellow the narrow end (the precise length varies from person to person, so remember that practice makes perfect).

 2. Cross the wide end over the narrow end.

3. Then wrap the wide end beneath the narrow end.

4. Cross the wide end over the narrow end again, before bringing it up and through.

 5. Hold the front of the knot loosely, and place the wide end through the front loop. Tighten slowly.

6. Hold the base of the knot, while slowly pulling on the narrow end, until the knot slides to the collar.

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The Half-Windsor:

            The half-windsor can also be worn with most combinations of dress shirt, collar style, and tie (though it often works best with ties made of light to medium weight fabrics). The knot is triangular and symmetrical, and is therefore optimal for those who like flexibility but find the four-in-hand too ‘uneven’ or ‘lopsided.’

            The Half-Windsor in six easy steps:

 1. Begin with the wide end of the tie around one foot bellow the narrow end. 

 2. Cross the wide end over the narrow end. Then wrap the wide end beneath the narrow end.

3. Take the wide end up, then down through the loop, and to the opposite side.

 4. Then cross the wide end over the narrow end again, before bringing it up and through. 

 5. Hold the front of the knot loosely, and place the wide end in the front loop.

 6. Tighten slowly, while sliding the knot up to the collar.

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The Full-Windsor:

            The full-windsor is the dressiest tie knot, and is best saved for big meetings, special or formal events, and other occasions that require a little extra touch of class. The knot is thick, triangular, and symmetrical, and should be worn with a spread collar.

            The Full-Windsor in six easy steps:

1. Begin with the wide end of the tie more than one foot bellow the narrow end.

 

 

2. Cross the wide end over the narrow end, before bringing it up and through. 

3. Bring the wide end down and behind the narrow end. 

4. Take the wide end up, then down through the loop, and to the side. 

5. Then cross the wide end over the narrow end again, before bringing it up and through.

6. Hold the front of the knot loosely, and place the wide end in the front loop.

7. Tighten slowly, while sliding the knot up to the collar.

Tip for the road:

            The best ties are an investment in your continued style, and should be maintained as such. After a long day, many men simply loosen their tie enough to slide it over their head, leaving it tied for the next day, not realizing that this can very quickly ruin a tie. The best way to maintain your tie is to unknot it after every use, taking care to smooth out wrinkles between the thumb and index finger before, loosely rolling the tie and storing it in a flat uncluttered drawer.