• Hi, I am the owner and main administrator of Styleforum. If you find the forum useful and fun, please help support it by buying through the posted links on the forum. Our main, very popular sales thread, where the latest and best sales are listed, are posted HERE

    Purchases made through some of our links earns a commission for the forum and allows us to do the work of maintaining and improving it. Finally, thanks for being a part of this community. We realize that there are many choices today on the internet, and we have all of you to thank for making Styleforum the foremost destination for discussions of menswear.
  • This site contains affiliate links for which Styleforum may be compensated.
  • We would like to welcome House of Huntington as an official Affiliate Vendor. Shop past season Drake's, Nigel Cabourn, Private White V.C. and other menswear luxury brands at exceptional prices below retail. Please visit the Houise of Huntington thread and welcome them to the forum.

  • STYLE. COMMUNITY. GREAT CLOTHING.

    Bored of counting likes on social networks? At Styleforum, you’ll find rousing discussions that go beyond strings of emojis.

    Click Here to join Styleforum's thousands of style enthusiasts today!

    Styleforum is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

What tie knots are best for what???

fashionsnob

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2008
Messages
97
Reaction score
4
Hi,

I recently started wearing ties and am still perfecting my tie knots. Currently I use the four in hand and the double Windsor.

I bought my first ties online. I don't like going shopping in malls and I think you get a much better overview of what styles are out there. I bought my ties at www.ties-necktie.com and overall had a good experience. Although they have pretty good instructions on how to tie a tie, I am not sure what tie knot to use for what type of tie. What type of style does each of the 4 or 5 basic tie knots compliment?

Looking forward to some answers!

Thanks,

FS
 

bowtielover

Distinguished Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2007
Messages
2,375
Reaction score
5
It's more the width of your shirt collar then the tie type that determines which knott you use. For example a wide spread or english spread collar you would want to use a windsor knott or a half windsor. for a slimmer width or a button down colar you might want to go with the pratt or four in hand knott. the key is to never have the knott of the ite over power the space it inhabits.
 

Metlin

Distinguished Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2008
Messages
3,043
Reaction score
20
Originally Posted by fashionsnob
Currently I use the four in hand and the double Windsor.

I'm not trying to nitpick, but there's no such thing as a Double Windsor -- there is the Windsor, and there is the Half Windsor.

Like the other poster mentioned, your choice of tie knots are entirely dependent on the width and spread of your shirt collar.

The other thing to keep in mind is that is that Four in Hand usually tends to have a comparatively tubular look, whereas the Windsors tend to be more triangular.

If you are built small, I would recommend going with something something like the Four in Hand or the Half Windsor simply because the knots tend to look relatively smaller. You could also try the Small knot, but I'm not a big fan of it.

If you are not of small build, your could try Pratt (also called Shelby, which is relatively wider, but works better with shorter ties), Prince Albert (which, once again, is similar to the Four in Hand and tends to be fairly tubular, if I am not mistaken) and of course the Windsor itself.

There are a slew of other knots that people far more knowledgeable than I could perhaps explain.
 

Mr T

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2007
Messages
858
Reaction score
1
It also depends on the thickness of the tie. I am not comfortable with a windsor in a thick tie like an Ike Behar. I see these overly large knots a lot these days and they make me cringe.
 

finch

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2008
Messages
126
Reaction score
0
I wear a smaller know with a pointed collar and bigger knot with a wider collar.
 

Brian278

Distinguished Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2006
Messages
3,543
Reaction score
17
Assuming this isn't spam...

I have not found any situation that the four-in-hand is not appropriate for.
 

MrDaniels

Distinguished Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2006
Messages
3,649
Reaction score
430
Originally Posted by Metlin
I'm not trying to nitpick, but there's no such thing as a Double Windsor -- there is the Windsor, and there is the Half Windsor.



I am pretty sure there is...
 

passingtime

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2006
Messages
526
Reaction score
7
Originally Posted by Brian278
I have not found any situation that the four-in-hand is not appropriate for.
I have english spread collars and the FIH is the only knot I use. Most of my ties are fairly heavy and a FIH fills up the space nicely. If the lining is thin this is more of a problem.
 

AlanC

Minister of Trad
Joined
Nov 7, 2003
Messages
7,805
Reaction score
97
Originally Posted by Brian278
Assuming this isn't spam...

I have not found any situation that the four-in-hand is not appropriate for.


Agreed. If you want a bit more bulk tie a Victoria, which is simply another pass around before finishing the knot.
 

TheFoo

THE FOO
Dubiously Honored
Joined
Feb 11, 2007
Messages
26,705
Reaction score
9,841
I use a four-in-hand for everything, include my very wide spread collars. I used to use a half-windsor, but I've seen decided it's too bulky. Also, with a really soft collar (regardless of spread), you probably want to stay away from really big knots since they tend to cause lots of rippling.
 

aragon765

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2007
Messages
567
Reaction score
63
Originally Posted by mafoofan
I use a four-in-hand for everything, include my very wide spread collars. I used to use a half-windsor, but I've seen decided it's too bulky. Also, with a really soft collar (regardless of spread), you probably want to stay away from really big knots since they tend to cause lots of rippling.

Where does it ripple? Along the top line of the collar (where it folds over), or on the shirt front?

I have found on softer collar shirts, I need to be very careful how much I tighten the knot, or it wrecks the roll of the collar, or worse, causes folds (ripples?) along the top of the collar (where it sits against my neck -- like the shirt is too big). Does that make any sense? It is hard to describe these things...
 

Film Noir Buff

Distinguished Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2005
Messages
6,113
Reaction score
19
Originally Posted by passingtime
I have english spread collars and the FIH is the only knot I use. Most of my ties are fairly heavy and a FIH fills up the space nicely. If the lining is thin this is more of a problem.

Speaking of the English, they largely reserve themselves to the four in hand (FIH) knot. In fact, it is so common for them that a lot of other knots are considered "suspect" and place you out of the "Chaps" or "Lads" set.

Also, a dimple is only considered necessary if the tie fabric itself seem to want to create one. Otherwise, they cant be bothered to ensure one is made.The English dont like a tightly fashioned or perfect knot; they consider that a sign of a man with a stick up his...

If youre interested with the English approach to ties and knots, you can find some of it here:

http://www.filmnoirbuff.com/article/...andards-part-1
 

Metlin

Distinguished Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2008
Messages
3,043
Reaction score
20
Originally Posted by Metlin
I'm not trying to nitpick, but there's no such thing as a Double Windsor -- there is the Windsor, and there is the Half Windsor.
Originally Posted by MrDaniels
I am pretty sure there is...


Oh?

As far as I could tell, a lot of places seem to call the Windsor the Double Windsor, and the Double Windsor knots seem to follow the same order as a Windsor (Li Co Ri Lo Ci Ro Li Co T or variants).
 

fashionsnob

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2008
Messages
97
Reaction score
4
Originally Posted by AlanC
Agreed. If you want a bit more bulk tie a Victoria, which is simply another pass around before finishing the knot.

Thanks! This is helpful! Can anyone tell me what the Victoria knot is? I know the FIH, Windsor and Double Windsor (or I guess Full Windsor).

Is the Victoria a good knot for the dimple?

Thanks again!
 

Featured Sponsor

How important is full vs half canvas to you for heavier sport jackets?

  • Definitely full canvas only

    Votes: 55 35.5%
  • Half canvas is fine

    Votes: 60 38.7%
  • Really don't care

    Votes: 17 11.0%
  • Depends on fabric

    Votes: 27 17.4%
  • Depends on price

    Votes: 28 18.1%

Forum statistics

Threads
505,174
Messages
10,579,196
Members
223,889
Latest member
CBDJointPlusGumy
Top