How to Tie a Tie
With numerous ways to tie a necktie, at 1st Choice Cufflinks we have provided detailed explanations and diagrams on how to do some of the most popular knots. Varying in difficulty and style, we have provided step by step guides on how tie the perfect knot no matter what technique you want to use.
From the fairly straightforward four-in-hand knot to the more complex Windsor knot, below you will find a range of ways you can tie a necktie to best suit your needs.
Four-in-hand Knot
Originating from England, the four-in-hand knot is most popular way to tie a necktie with over 80% of people believed to use this method. Its popularity is largely due to its simplicity and therefore being easy to learn how to do. Suitable for most occasions, it best suited when wearing a narrow or normal collar shirt.
1) Start by putting your necktie around your collar with the wide end on your right and then extend it about a foot below the narrow end.
2) Continue by crossing the wide end over the narrow end and back underneath.
3) Once you have done this, bring the wide end over in front of the narrow end again.
4) Then lift the wide end up and through the back of the loop.
5) While holding the front of the knot loose with your index finger, pass the wide end down through the loop.
6) Remove your finger and tighten the knot. Then slide to knot to your collar while keeping a hold of the narrow end.
Half Windsor Knot
A more formal alternative to the four-in-hand, the half Windsor is a medium triangular knot that can be worn on most occasions. Best suited with standard shirt collars, for optimum results use a wider tie that is made from a light material.
1) Start by putting your necktie around your collar with the wide end on your right and then extend it about 12 inches below the narrow end.
2) Continue by crossing the wide end over the narrow end and turn it back underneath.
3) Lifting up the wide end, place it through the loop and back down again.
4) The next stage requires you to wrap the wide end around the front from left to right.
5) Go back up through the loop again.
6) While holding the front of the knot loose with your index finger, pass the wide end down through the loop.
7) Remove your finger and tighten the knot. Then slide to knot to your collar while keeping a hold of the narrow end.
Windsor Knot
Usually used for formal occasions, the Windsor is a wide triangular knot that is best suited when wearing a necktie made with lighter material. Sometimes referred to as the full Windsor or double Windsor, it is designed to be used with wide spread shirt collars.
1) Start by putting your necktie around your collar with the wide end on your right and then extend it about 12 inches below the narrow end.
2) Cross the wide end over the narrow end and then up through the loop, bringing it back towards the front.
3) Continue by crossing the wide end over the narrow end, from left to right, and bring it back up through the loop again.
4) Bring it down through loop and then across narrow end from left to right
5) Lift the wide end back up again and put it through the loop for a third time.
6) While holding the front of the knot loose with your index finger, pass the wide end down through the loop.
7) Remove your finger and tighten the knot. Then slide to knot to your collar while keeping a hold of the narrow end.
Pratt Knot (Shelby Knot)
Invented by an American called Jerry Pratt, the Pratt knot is a medium sized knot that can be worn on most occasions and is suitable for majority of shirts. This knot is also sometimes referred to as the Shelby knot, after people mistakenly thought it was invented by Don Shelby due to him featuring it on a television show.
1) Begin with the inside of your tie facing outwards and wrap it around your collar. Then extend the wide end, which should be on your right, a foot below the narrow end.
2) Continue by bringing the wide end of your tie under the narrow end.
3) Then bring the wide end of your tie over the narrow end and lift it through the loop.
4) Pull wide end to the left and bring back through the loop.
5) While holding the front of the knot loose with your index finger, pass the wide end down through the loop.
6) Remove your finger and tighten the knot. Then slide to knot to your collar while keeping a hold of the narrow end.
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