The tie is one of those things that no one really teaches you – you just figure it out the night before something important and hope for the best. So here’s how to do it right, once and for all.
Start with Half Windsor. It is neat, symmetrical and suits almost all collars and occasions. Wrap the tie around your neck so that the wide end is on your right, hanging about 12 inches lower than the narrow end. Cross the wide end over the narrow one, pull it through the loop around the neck from the bottom, then across the front from right to left. Push it up through the loop around the neck once more, then push it down through the horizontal loop you just made on the front. Hold the narrow end and pull the knot up until it sits firmly on the collar—tight, but not tight enough to feel.
No one mentions the details now. The top of your tie should touch the top of your belt buckle. Not above him, not hovering under him. That single detail separates someone who knows how to dress from someone who just owns a tie. Once the knot is tight, pinch a little under it to create a small indentation in the fabric. It takes two seconds and makes the whole thing look deliberate.
Fabric is more important than people realize. Silk laces tie smoothly and respond well to gentle adjustments. Thicker fabrics like wool or tweed need a slightly looser touch because otherwise the knot shrinks and loses its shape.
Finally, untie it properly at the end of the day. Don’t pull it over your head. A tie that is pulled repeatedly loses its structure quickly, and a misshapen tie is frankly worse than not wearing it at all.
Author of featured image: Author of the photo Sara Kurfeß on To spray
