What tie knots are best for what???

[Always Suited]

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.

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.
There is a double windsor. I wore it frequently myself until rececently.

 

[misterjase]

i am a convert to the four-in-hand for all approach. sometimes with a dimple, sometimes without a dimple. i find this will be determined by the particular tie.

 

[greyinla]

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.

This is good advice. Unless you are going for a particularly stylized look, smaller knots in general are better for a small frame/face. One thing to keep in mind is that the tie you are wearing might determine the knot; a thinner (or longer) tie might want a 1/2 windsor, while a thicker tie a 4-in-hand.

 

[misterjase]

i'll second that. i have found that the four-in-hand is more suitable for my smaller frame/face.

 

[houserichichi]

If you take a Windsor knot and double up all the crossings then I suppose you'd have yourself a double Windsor....but it would be a behemoth and would require an incredibly long tie to get a "proper" length. I myself use what Mao and Fink call the 7,3 that I mistakenly thought was the Hanover and/or Balthus at different points. Truth be told I like a more substantial knot and wear exclusively full-to-overkill spread collars where I both understand and believe that a larger, more full knot is appropriate.

 

[John Ellis]

Originally Posted by Mr T

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.

Knot size fashions tend to come and go. On the whole over large knots look better than those tiny ones that were fashionable at one time. Basically the best knots are on the large size, but not gargantuan, and with some sculpturing of the shape which means a 4 in hand which also allows the dimple. The big disadvantage of the windsor to me is it's blandness, it's awfully boring, although I'll concede it works well with a full spread collar but then so does a 4 if the knot is reasonably bulky.

 

[RichmondStyle]

Very well done

. Other spammers should take note that this is how it's done.

 

[akj27]

There's no such thing as double windsor.

 

[adamsnez]

im of small frame and love the pratt. the only thing i find is that it is loose, not in the knot itself, but where the backside (the side of the tie that sits behind) slips through the knots. so sometimes my tie doesnt stay snug around the neck and loosens up a bit. is there a cure for this in the pratt?