From social events to formal work occasions, learning how to tie different tie knots is helpful for any aspiring dapper gentleman. There are many options to consider in choosing which necktie knots suit you best. Profession, height, body frame and style — it's important to take them all into consideration when making your choice. We've compiled a list of five of the most popular ways to tie a tie and how to tie them.
Choosing a Tie Knot Style
Choosing your knot carefully and using a technique that allows you to flaunt your tie's best qualities is important. When you make the right choices, you highlight the qualities of the necktie itself and enhance your overall appearance. The best tie knots depend on the fabric of the tie, its width and its interior.
Let's say you want to tie a complex knot like the trinity. In this case, you should use a tie with slippery material and a light interior that allows it to take more turns. If the interior of your tie is heavy or made of tweed fabric, a better option would be to go with a simpler knot.
5 Common Ways to Tie a Tie
With more than 100,000 different ways to tie a tie out on the web, you may find yourself taking longer to decide which type of tie knot to go with each morning. We've created a list of the five most popular tie knots and a step-by-step guide on how to tie them. These tie knots include the double Windsor knot, half Windsor knot, Eldredge knot, trinity knot and four-in-hand. Knowing how to tie these knots can help you effectively enhance your look for many events.
Double Windsor Knot
The double Windsor knot is one of the most elegant knots you can use. It goes by names like the full Windsor knot, Windsor knot or Scappino knot. The double Windsor knot has a thick, wide triangular knot that radiates confidence. Best suited for men with larger necks and wide spread collars, the Windsor knot is an excellent option for formal occasions.
The Double Windsor Knot at a Glance
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Difficulty: Average
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Collar type: Wide or medium spread collar
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Knot size: Moderately large
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Symmetry: Symmetrical
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Occasion: Job interviews, presentations, weddings, important meetings and other formal events
How to Tie a Double Windsor Knot
- Start by draping the necktie around your collar, with the wide end on your left. The wide end should be 12 inches below the skinny end. This will allow you to use more fabric to tie your necktie. Be sure to keep this in mind when doing the double Windsor knot to ensure you always get the knot right on your first try.
- Cross the wide end across the skinny end. This should form an X-shape slightly below your chin.
- Bring the thick end up from underneath the loop, making it point upwards from behind the X, then pull it up and through the loop.
- Pull the wide end of your tie all the way down to your right-hand side.
- Bring the wider end behind the knot from right to left horizontally.
- Pull the thick end up from the front and tug it into the loop from the outside.
- Now, pull the thick end down from inside the loop to form the base of your double Windsor knot. The wide end should be to the left of the thin end.
- Wrap the thick end of your tie across the knot from left to right horizontally. This will form the horizontal band, which you will now hold in place by tucking a finger through it.
- Bring the wide end underneath the knot and then pull it up through the loop.
- Now, slide the tip of the wide end down through the horizontal loop you were holding in step eight.
- Pull the wide end of the tie all the way down to tighten the knot. Smooth out any creases in your knot while you do this. You can also create a dimple in your necktie below the knot by pressing your finger into it while you tighten your knot. This is a great extra touch you can add to your necktie that will make you look even more dashing.
Half Windsor Knot
The half Windsor knot is a classic knot that is both smaller than a double Windsor and larger than a four-in-hand. The knot forms an elegant triangle shape and requires only one singular knot. The half Windsor is still moderately thick and neat, adding a classy finish to your attire.
The half Windsor pairs well with a medium spread collar because of its size. It's an especially good option for semi-formal events or the workplace. If you have a slim body frame and a long neck, this tie knot may help accentuate your horizontal lines and make you appear broader.
The Half Windsor Knot at a Glance
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Difficulty: Average
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Collar type: Medium spread collar
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Knot size: Average
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Symmetry: Moderately symmetrical
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Occasion: Wedding receptions, daily work and presentations
How to Tie a Half Windsor Knot
- Begin by placing the necktie around your collar, allowing the wide end to rest on your right-hand side. The wide end of your necktie should be around eight inches below the slimmer end.
- Cross the thick end over the thin end to form an X-shape underneath your chin.
- Loop the wide end of the tie around horizontally behind the slim end.
- Pull the thick end up and through the X. The wide end should fall through and now be on your right side.
- Wrap the thick end across your knot, from right to left and then bring it under the knot on your left side.
- Bring the wide end up through the loop from behind while holding the triangle together with your left hand.
- Slide the thick end all the way through the knot.
- Tighten your knot while pressing your finger into the space below the knot to create a dimple. You may also adjust the horizontal loop by pinching the sides of the knot to ensure it is even and flat.
Eldredge Knot
If you're the type to dress boldly, the Eldredge knot is a great choice to help you stand out in a smart way. This complex knot layers four diagonal sections over one horizontal section, providing a fancy and dramatic flair to your ensemble.
The Eldredge knot is a particularly distinct tie knot style because it uses the tie's narrow end to tie the tie. This is contrary to the conventional tie knots, which secure the knot with the wider end. Due to its unique form, the Eldredge knot requires a broader spread collar and works best for casual to relaxed formal occasions.
The Eldredge Knot at a Glance
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Difficulty: Fairly challenging
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Collar type: Wide spread collar
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Knot size: Moderately large
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Symmetry: Asymmetrical
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Occasion: Evening events, social occasions or date nights
How to Tie an Eldredge Knot
- Drape the tie around your collar, positioning the wide end of the tie on your right side, as lengthy as you prefer your tie to be.
- Pinch the wide end of your tie to create a dimple, and cross the slimmer end over the thick end as horizontally as possible, just above the dimple.
- Wrap the thin end underneath the knot and bring it to your left-hand side.
- Pull the thin end up and through the loop, keeping it on your right side.
- Cross the slimmer end horizontally over the knot to your left side.
- Bring it up behind the loop and pull it over the loop to your right side.
- Wrap the slim end behind the knot all the way around to the front again to place it through the diagonal band.
- Pull the thin end into the loop and tightly pull it to your right. At this point, you should see a diagonal band on each side.
- Now, pull the slimmer end from inside the loop around the collar on the right side of the knot so that it is back in front.
- Bring the thin end over and through the loop again to emerge on your left side underneath the loop.
- Bring the thin end back to the center again so it is in front of the knot, and then pull it through the loop you created in the previous step.
- Now, tuck it to the right to tighten it and flip it over the loop around your neck.
- Lastly, tuck the rest of the thin end behind the thick end and adjust the diagonal bands to match the same width.
Trinity Knot
The trinity knot is a fairly recent tie knot innovation similar to the Eldredge knot when considering its uniqueness and complexity. This flashy knot, only slightly bigger than a double Windsor knot, consists of three parts that weave together to create exquisite triangular proportions. If you like to stand out from the crowd, wearing the trinity knot to social or semi-formal events is a brilliant way to do it. With such a voluminous knot, the trinity knot looks best using a thin, monochrome tie and pairs exceptionally well with a minimalistic outfit.
The Trinity Knot at a Glance
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Difficulty: Fairly challenging
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Collar type: Wide spread collar
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Knot size: Moderately large
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Symmetry: Asymmetrical
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Occasion: Date night, wedding receptions, evening events and social occasions
How to Tie a Trinity Knot
- Loop the necktie around your collar, with the wide end on your right side. Adjust the length of the wide end to where you would like it to end.
- Cross the narrow end over the wide end to your right diagonally to form an X-shape. Tuck the thinner end under the loop.
- Bring the slimmer end of the tie back over the top of your loop to the right.
- Move the narrow end behind the wide end to your left horizontally.
- Bring the slimmer end over the top of the loop on your left side.
- Pull it down inside the loop over to your right side.
- Now, wrap it across the front of the loop toward your left horizontally. Hold one finger under this horizontal band.
- Pull the slimmer end up into the loop from below and over the front straight through the horizontal band. Keep one finger underneath the vertical band just above the knot.
- Bring the narrow end down behind the wide end from right to left.
- Bring it up to the front from your left side and through the vertical loop you saved in step eight.
- Pull the slimmer end up diagonally to your right through this loop to tighten the knot.
- Tuck the remainder of the narrow end behind the thick end and adjust the three folds so that they are equal in size.
Four-in-Hand Knot
The four-in-hand knot is one of the most popular tie knots for beginners. Its simplicity makes it fast and effective to use, and, as a result, many people just starting out with using ties would practice this style. This narrow, asymmetrical knot suits men who want to accentuate their body's vertical lines and appear taller.
The Four-in-Hand Knot at a Glance
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Difficulty: Very easy
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Collar type: Medium or narrow spread collar
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Knot size: Slightly small
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Symmetry: Slightly asymmetrical
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Occasion: Evening events, social occasions, date nights and daily work
How to Tie a Four-in-Hand Knot
- Place the necktie around your collar with the thick end on your left-hand side, hanging around eight inches below the narrow end.
- Cross the thick end over the thin end of the tie.
- Wrap the wide end around behind the narrow end from right to left.
- Bring the wide end across the front horizontally to the right. Slip one finger behind this horizontal band.
- Bring the wide end up into the loop around your neck from underneath.
- Now, tuck the thick end of your tie down into the loop you've kept open with your finger.
- Pull the wide end all the way down to tighten the knot.
Spruce up Your Look With Dashing Matching Attire at Penner's
Whether it's for a formal or social occasion, the necktie style you use can easily enhance your wardrobe. Moreover, you get to use these knots on ties of different colors, fabrics and patterns, so you'll always find new ways to polish your look.
Now you've got the tie knot style down, but do you have the clothes to match it? At Penner's, we provide high-quality clothing that will complement each of the different tie knots you choose to use. From authentic guayaberas to dapper suits and sports coats, we provide some of the finest men's clothes. Feel free to browse our shop online or contact us at 210-226-2487 today.
