3 different ways to tie a tie – the only ones you will need!

Check out our book 'All Tied Up! A Practical Guide to Buying, Tying, Wearing and Caring for Ties' to learn everything you need to know about ties!

There is no going around this, if you are going to wear ties, you have to know how to knot them. It is part of your general culture. Thinking that you can get away with it by asking someone to tie it and then keep it tied in your closet is not acceptable!

Learning to knot a tie is like learning to ride a bicycle, it takes practice, but once you learn it, you will never forget it.

There are about 85 ways to tie a tie, according to one research, but you just need to learn three different ways to tie a tie!

Which one you will use depends mainly on the collar of your shirt, and in some cases the length of your tie and the way you are built.

Let's explain one by one, from the biggest to the smallest tie knot.

Windsor knot

This tie knot got its name by England’s duke of Windsor, sometimes called also Full Windsor. It is the most traditional tie knot.

The Windsor knot is the only tie knot that is to be used by all personnel in the Royal Air Force in the UK when wearing their black tie while in uniform as well as by the Canadian Forces, regardless of service.

One trivia associated with Windsor knot: James Bond never trusted a man who boasted a Windsor Knot; “Bond mistrusted anyone who tied his tie with a Windsor knot. It showed too much vanity. It was often the mark of a cad." -From Russia With Love.

Characteristics of Windsor knot:

• Bigger symmetrical, well balanced knot, therefore goes well only with wide spread shirt collars;
• It takes some more practice to do it right;
• Uses more of the material, so is good for longer ties and/or shorter men;
• When tied correctly the knot is tight and does not slip away from the collar during wear, therefore very comfortable to wear;
• Windsor knot best compliments a strong square or round face, or face with facial hair due to its size which distracts attention away from the wearer's face.

How to tie Windsor knot?

Half Windsor knot

Although called half Windsor, it is not actually 50% of the Windsor knot, but in size approx. 75% of the Windsor knot.

Characteristics of Half Windsor knot:

• Depending on the tie heaviness it will make medium (lightweight tie) to big (heavier tie) knots;
• Symmetrical look;
• Very versatile: looks good with any face shape and with almost any type of shirt.

How to tie Half Windsor knot?

‘Four in hand’ knot

The ‘four in hand’ tie knot is the most popular and if you know one knot, it is probably this one. It is also the easiest one to do.

Characteristics of ‘Four in hand’ knot:

• Small, tidy slightly asymmetrical triangular knot;
• Looks best with narrow shirt collars;
• Easy to tie;
• Uses the least of the tie’s length, therefore is good for shorter ties and/or taller men.

How to tie ‘Four in hand’ knot?