Tying the Knot

Last week’s blog was on building the essential collection of ties to go with your men’s suits. If you work in an office, likely you need to wear business suits on occasion. Even if you don’t typically wear men’s suits, knowing how to make a proper knot for your tie is a must for any man past the age of 16.

“The Schoolboy”

This is probably the most widely used tie knot because it’s so easy to do.

Best looks: Works well with heavier material ties. Looks best with smaller spread collars.

How to tie:

1. Drape the tie around your neck. The wide end should extend about 12 inches below the narrow end of the tie. Cross the wide part of the tie over the narrow end.
2. Turn the wide end back underneath the narrow end.
3. Continue wrapping the wide end around the narrow end by bringing it across the front of the narrow end again.
4. Pull the wide end up and through the back of the loop.
5. Using your index finger, hold the front of the tie knot and bring the wide end down through the front knot.
6. Tighten the knot carefully by holding the narrow end and sliding the knot up. Centre the knot.

LGFG Fashion House offers custom tailored business suits. Hand tailored and delivered to your office.

“Half Windsor”

Not as large as the Windsor tie knot, but like the Windsor, you end up with a symmetrical triangle tie knot.

Best looks: Appropriate for lighter fabrics and wider ties. Best worn with a standard collar.

How to tie:

1. Drape the tie around your neck. The wide end should extend about 12 inches below the narrow end of the tie. Cross the wide part of the tie over the narrow end.
2. Bring the wide end around and behind the narrow end.
3. Bring the wide end up and pull it down through the hole between your collar and tie.
4. Bring the wide end around the front, over the narrow end from right to left.
5. Bring the wide end up back through the loop again.
6. Pull the wide end down through the knot in front.
7. Tighten the necktie knot and centre it with both hands.

“The Windsor”

The Windsor necktie knot gives you a wide triangular tie knot.

Best looks: Formal settings. Best worn with a wide spread collar

How to tie:

1. Drape the tie around your neck. The wide end should extend about 12 inches below the narrow end of the tie. Cross the wide part of the tie over the narrow end.
2. Bring the wide end of the tie up through the hole between your collar and the tie. Then pull it down toward the front.
3. Bring the wide end behind the narrow end and to the right.
4. Pull the wide end back through the loop again. You should have a triangle now where the necktie knot will be.
5. Wrap the wide end around the triangle by pulling the wide end from right to left.
6. Bring the wide end up through the loop a third time.
7. Pull the wide end through the knot in front.
8. Tighten the knot and centre it with both hands.

“The Shelby”

The Shelby knot is not that well known, and was made popular by anchorman Don Shelby in the 1970s.

Best Looks: Wider ties made from heavier material

How to tie:

1. Start with the tie draped inside out around your neck, wide end on the right.
2. Bring the wide end under the narrow end.
3. Bring the wide end up and pull it down through the loop between your neck and your tie. After you pull the wide end all the way through, bring it to the left.
4. Bring the wide end over the knot to the right.
5. Pull the wide end up through the loop between your neck and your tie.
6. Thread the wide end through the knot and pull tight. Centre as needed.

Now that you have the instructions on how to properly tie a knot for your selection of ties, the next time you have occasion to wear a men’s suit, you won’t be at a loss.

LGFG Fashion House delivers custom tailored, men’s suits. Highest quality and hand delivered.