Are you all thumbs, or completely in the dark when it comes to tying a necktie? You're not alone. Although it's an extremely important fashion skill for a well-dressed man, the real art of tying neckties seems to be lost in today's society.
There are, in fact, over 180 ways to tie a necktie. If that number sounds intimidating, relax. Most of these methods fell by the wayside decades ago and there are very few knots actually used today in most circles. Still, a necktie is a central part of dressing for success, and making it look right is equally as important. So, with all these options, what's the simple answer? It comes in a knot developed long ago by one of the oldest and most fashion-conscious societies of our world.
Remember the adage, "Necessity is the mother of invention"? British horsemen needed a way to tie their scarves while holding the reigns of four horses. This need was filled by a knot that could be quickly and easily tied with one hand while the horses were controlled with the other. Voila - or more appropriately, By Jove! The famous Four-in-Hand necktie knot was born.
Because of its simplicity, the Four-in-Hand knot is still in use today and is actually one of the most commonly used methods to tie a necktie. It creates a well-balanced, uniform knot that's easily adjusted for comfort and the size of the knot can be varied to match any outfit in your wardrobe. This time-tested knot can be mastered with very little practice and is very well suited for the novice. While it's easy enough to tie one handed, we recommend using both hands, unless, of course, you have horses to hold. It may be the only knot you ever need to tie your neckties.
"And how", you may well ask, "is it done?" As promised, quite simply: Start with your collar buttoned and flipped upward. Your tie should be draped right-side-out around your neck with the wide end at your dominant hand. (We'll assume here that you're right-handed, so southpaws will need to reverse these directions horizontally.) Leave a little more length on the wide end - you'll learn with practice how to adjust this for your height.
Pass the wide end over the narrow and back under it so it's pointing to your right and the seam is now out. Then pass it back over the narrow end again and upward through the loop you've formed around your neck. The wide end then comes down through the outer loop you formed around the narrow end. Grasp the narrow end, which should now be underneath the wide one, and slide the knot upward with your other hand to draw it tight.
That's it. Pulling the wide end downward will tighten the knot and make it smaller. Pull the narrow end to tighten it around your neck. If the knot doesn't appear completely symmetrical, don't panic, it's normal. Remember, this knot was created for simplicity. Tied loose, it creates a casual look and pulled more snugly it's acceptable for most formal occasions.
Practice a little and you'll soon find that you can tie the Four-in-Hand in just a few seconds. You'll be ready for that heavy date or your sister's wedding in no time!
Hendrik Pohl is the owner and founder of http://www.ties-necktie.com/
Ties-Necktie offers a wide range of quality handmade silk ties, as well as useful dress code tips for men, men's fashion advice, necktie knot instructions, and more.
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