What Makes a "Good" Tie Knot?

[zeero3]

From a guy that only has tied 4-in-hand and half-windsor, I've seen a few comments on the forum such as "that tie knot sucks" and "great tie knot." However, the two looked similar to me.

What makes a tie knot a sweet one? Is it mostly personal preference or are there some obvious "damn that doesn't look good" knots? Are there certain knots that are "in" and others that are "out"?

Are there certain knots that need to be on certain collars? I've looked this up, but seem to get a base "do this with that" from a "how to tie a tie" website. I'd much rather hear what the suave cats on SF have to say.......

 

[awxg]

A dimple smack dab in the middle of the tie goes a long way.

 

[Zenny]

A tie that is in scale with your face and collar, it is aesthetically pleasing but is not realised consciously unless you look for it.

A nice tight knot with a dimple and high up on your collar without looking 2D is perfect.

 

[Zenny]

Originally Posted by awxg

A dimple smack dab in the middle of the tie goes a long way.

A too perfect dimple defeats the purpose of the dimple, I prefer mine slightly asymmetrical.

 

[extempore]

Originally Posted by Zenny

A too perfect dimple defeats the purpose of the dimple, I prefer mine slightly asymmetrical.
My goodness, you've clearly given this some thought.

 

[John Ellis]

Personally I like the larger, but not gargantuan as in Prince Michael of Kent, four in hand. They work for most people although if you have a very small face you need to tone it down a bit. It needs to be nicely irregular with a sharp dimple. Finding ties that give you this look is not easy. Hilditch and Key, Drakes, Harvie & Hudson, Dunhill, Charvet all do a good job in that respect even with printed silk ties. I always tie a knot in the tie in the store before I buy it to ensure the right "look."

 

[ChicagoJohn]

TIGHT knots. Big bulb that dramatically tightens into narrow cinching, then the body of the tie.

I notice a lot of younger men (especially) not pulling their actual knots tight. I think they're going for the large, full-windsor look without realizing that it's a special knot to do that. They seem to believe it's a 4 in hand or half-windsor just not pulled very tight. Looks ridiculous. Tighten that damn thing!

 

[DoubleDomer]

Originally Posted by Zenny

A tie that is in scale with your face and collar, it is aesthetically pleasing but is not realised consciously unless you look for it.

A nice tight knot with a dimple and high up on your collar without looking 2D is perfect.

+1.

High and tight with a dimple is absolutely the perfect description of good knot. All the rest is personal preference.

 

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Zenny

A tie that is in scale with your face and collar, it is aesthetically pleasing but is not realised consciously unless you look for it.

A nice tight knot with a dimple and high up on your collar without looking 2D is perfect.

Curious I hate dimples...

 

[Zenny]

Originally Posted by extempore

My goodness, you've clearly given this some thought.

But I'm not one of those people who thinks wearing a windsor is only for cads. Actually, I've noticed alot of times my dimple is symmetrical, usually when I tie FIH.

 

[aldica]

Personally, I find the full-windsor too symmetrical. I would go for either the four-in-hand or the half-windsor, depending on the thickness of the tie's fabric, collar, face, lapels, and a host of considerations. Half-windsor means a larger knot and a deeper dimple.

 

[jhcam8]

Originally Posted by zeero3

From a guy that only has tied 4-in-hand and half-windsor, I've seen a few comments on the forum such as "that tie knot sucks" and "great tie knot." However, the two looked similar to me.

What makes a tie knot a sweet one? Is it mostly personal preference or are there some obvious "damn that doesn't look good" knots? Are there certain knots that are "in" and others that are "out"?

Are there certain knots that need to be on certain collars? I've looked this up, but seem to get a base "do this with that" from a "how to tie a tie" website. I'd much rather hear what the suave cats on SF have to say.......

Much depends on the tie material and lining. That's why it's important to try before you buy and avoid cheap materials. Most of the ties I've seen for sale here are at least good quality and most are much better.

 

[Studio27]

Obviously...

http://www.styleforum.net/attachment...5&d=1227561586
http://www.styleforum.net/attachment...6&d=1227561629

 

[wmmk]

Originally Posted by Studio27

Obviously...

http://www.styleforum.net/attachment...5&d=1227561586
http://www.styleforum.net/attachment...6&d=1227561629

better yet:

 

[yfyf]

Good tie knot is ...

1. Good quality tie (at least a bit of heft)
2. Appropriate knot for tie (depends on the heft of the tie, width of the tie, material of the tie)
3. Appropriate knot for face, body and shirt collar
4. Pulled tight
5. Cinched all the way up to the neck
6. Slight arc in the blade from the knot downwards

Dimple or no dimple, symmetrical or non symmetrical are subjective things but the few things above I think are essential.