How to tie a tie and do different tie knots
A tie is an indispensable accessory for a stylish appearance. Whether you wear a suit every day for work or for a formal occasion, a perfectly tied tie is the finishing touch to a smart outfit. In the following guide we will show you step-by-step how to do different tie knots and answer the most frequently asked questions about ties.
Contents
Step-by-step instructions on how to tie a tie
Step-by-step instructions on how to tie a tie
Ties can be tied in a range of different ways. Depending on the tie, the knot can be narrow or wide, symmetrical or slightly asymmetrical, simple or complex.
Four in hand knot
The four in hand knot is one of the most popular tie knots that looks simple yet smart. It has a slightly asymmetrical shape that makes it a little more informal.
Step-by-step instructions for a four in hand knot:
Put the tie around your neck so that the wide end is on the right (1). The narrow end should go down to your stomach button.
Cross the wide end over the narrow end on the left (2) and then behind the narrow end to towards the right again (3).
Now put the wide end back onto the left over the narrow end (4) and then up under the half knot (5).
Pass the wide end through the neck opening (6) from below and insert it through the resulting tie loop from above (7).
Hold the narrow end and tighten the tie at the wide end until the knot looks neat (8).
The four in hand knot suits almost any collar shape, for example, the classic Kent collar. As the resulting knot is quite narrow, the four in hand knot is also suitable for ties that are wide or made out of a thick material. Although this simple tie knot is considered by connoisseurs to be somewhat more sporty and casual than, for example, a Windsor knot. Nevertheless, it is still the perfect choice for many occasions and for work.
Half-Windsor knot
The Half-Windsor knot is a little more complicated than a four in hand knot, but it is still considered a simple classic. Compared to a Windsor knot the second crossover is omitted, so that the "single" knot looks a bit more compact.
Step-by-step instructions for a Half-Windsor knot:
Put the tie around your neck so that the wide end is on the right (1). The tip of the narrow end should go down to around your stomach button.
Put the wide end around the narrow end on the left and then guide it behind the narrow end back to the right side (2).
Now bring the wide end of the tie from the front up to the top (3), place it over the knot and pull it through behind the knot on the other side to the bottom left (4).
Place the tie again over the narrow end to the right (5) and loop it again from the bottom up to the top (6).
Now you just have to thread the wide end through the tie loop from above (7) and finally tighten the tie (8).
You can choose a slim or a normal sized tie and wear it with almost any collar shape. The narrower tie knot is also suitable for shirts with slightly narrower collars, such as button down shirts or shirts with Kent collars. The Half-Windsor knot is suitable for everyday wear but it is also great for formal occasions.
Windsor knot
A Windsor knot is an elegant and timeless classic when it comes to tie knots. It impresses with its perfectly symmetrical triangular shape. It looks larger in comparison to the other two types of tie knots and it is a great choice for formal occasions as it will make you look very smart. Although it is not the most complicated knot, it does still require some dexterity to tie a Windsor knot correctly.
Step-by-step instructions for a Windsor knot:
Put the tie around your neck. The wide end is on the right and the narrow end is on the left. The narrow end should go down to your stomach button (1).
Cross the wide end over to the left over the narrow end and then bring it up to the top (2).
Pull the wide end over to the left out of the top (3) and put it behind the narrow end on the right side (4).
Now bring the wide end up to the top again (5), thread it behind the knot and pull it out to the right (6).
Cross the wide end over to the left over the narrow end (7) and loop it through the top again (8).
Finally, put the wide end through the tie loop (9) and finally tighten your tie knot (10).
A Windsor knot is wider and thicker, therefore, it is best to go for narrow to normal sized ties. By choosing the correct size tie you can avoid the knot looking too big. This will also make it easier to make a neat knot. The large Windsor knot is best suited to wider collars, such as shirts with a cutaway collar.
Kent knot
The Kent knot is also called a simple tie knot or "Oriental knot". It involves only a few steps and therefore creates a very slim knot. Although it is an easier option, you will still need some skill to create a tidy looking knot.
Step-by-step instructions for a Kent knot:
Place the tie around your neck so that the seam faces forward. The seam will not be visible once you have tied your tie as it will disappear under your shirt collar. The wide end is again on the right and lower than the narrow end.
Bring the wide end behind the narrow end to the left side and then cross over to the right side.
Now pass the wide end through the top and through the tie loop. This is a quick and easy option, if you don’t have a lot of time on your hands!
This type of tie knot suits shirts with narrower collars, such as button down shirts. The Kent knot doesn’t look too long and it is also looks great on tall men. Choose a wider tie if you don't want the knot to look too slim compared to your height and build.
How long should a tie be?
A perfectly tied tie can make your outfit stand out, but it is also important to check if the tie fits properly. If the tie is too short or too long, it's considered a big fashion faux pas. However, how long does a tie need to be?
Fashion experts always recommend that your tie should cover about one centimetre of your belt or waistband. If the tie dangles around where your stomach button is it is clearly too short and it may look a bit odd. If it covers the waistband it is too long.
The length and tie knot will determine how long your tie needs to be.
Generally, standard tie sizes have a length of 140 cm and 150 cm and this is suitable for men who are between 190 to 195 cm. For men who are taller than 195 cm or have a large or sporty build there are extra-long ties that are 160 cm.
Tie knots can have slightly varying lengths depending on the material. Ties with lots of loops such as the Windsor knot will use up more of the tie, whereas simple knots such as the four in hand or the Kent knot use less material and they suit very tall men.
Important: The tie knot is always pushed up to cover the top button on your shirt and the tie will cover the entire button placket. The narrow end of the tie must always be behind the wider end of the tie.
Do not combine more than two designs, for example, a herringbone jacket, striped shirt and paisley tie.
Avoid choosing the same pattern for both shirt and tie, such as a small, checkered pattern or thin stripes. This way both patterns will go well together and it will almost create an optical illusion.
Which colour tie should you wear for special occasions?
When choosing the colour of your tie make sure that it matches with the rest of your suit. If you would like to wear a patterned tie, then make sure that your shirt has the same colour as one of the colours on the pattern.
If your shirt and jacket have plain colours you can use your tie to add a splash of colour. What is the best way to combine different colours and which colour tie should you wear for different occasions?
Black tie: an absolute very smart all-rounder for any occasion
White tie: simple, neutral and traditional for weddings
Grey/silver tie: very elegant, modern and goes with almost any suit colour
Blue tie: formal, versatile classic for an everyday business look or eveningwear and goes great with blue, black, grey or even brown suits
Brown tie: great for a smart casual look such as with tweed or corduroy
Red tie: a strong contrast with blue or grey suits and will make your suit stand out. Also popular for a smart business look or claret for formal occasions
Pink tie: jazzy and modern and goes great with white or light blue shirts that are perfect for spring or weddings
Other colours such as turquoise, green, orange or yellow are ideal for less formal occasions, for example, graduations, anniversaries and birthdays. If you combine these colours with the right suit they can make you stand out and look very stylish.
Which tie knot is easiest for beginners?
Beginners should choose tie knots that only have a few steps. The Kent knot and the four in hand knot, for example, are popular and are considered relatively simple tie knots.
Which tie knots are in?
The four in hand knot is considered a modern all-rounder thanks to its sleek, slightly asymmetrical look. Whereas a Windsor knot is a classic that has stood the test of time.
Which tie knot should you have for a wedding?
As the groom you can decide which tie knot you like the best. Thicker knots like a Windsor knot often look more elegant and are therefore always a good choice. If you would like to try something new, you could go for a knot like the Trinity or Eldredge knot, which look extravagant but also very classy.
Which type of tie knot is recommended for work?
In general, for work you can go for tie knots that are a bit simpler and less complicated. We recommend going for a simple knot such as a four in hand or Kent knot. However, the most important thing is that the tie looks smart, has a tidy knot and does not stand out too much.
What is a tie dimple?
A tie dimple is a small fold in the material that is below the knot. You can make a dimple by gently squeezing the wide end of the tie in the centre below the knot before tightening the knot. Whether you want to finish off your tie with a dimple or not is down to personal preference. However, this small fold can make the knot look larger and add the finishing touch to your look.
Conclusion: tying ties and smart tie knots for every occasion
Ties are a wardrobe essential for every man's wardrobe, therefore, it's a good idea to know how to tie a tie. Although there are countless tie knots you can try, you only need to learn how to do one or two that you can effortlessly do. For special occasions you can get more creative and with a little skill try out more complex tie knots.
______________________________________________
The image sources in this text are in chronological order:
Cover photo: C&A
1. Image in text: C&A
2. – 5. Images in text are from iStock.com/Valeriia Sivkova
6. – 9. Images are from C&A
