How to Tie Four Classic Tie Knots: Windsor Knot, Half Windsor Knot, Pratt Knot, Four in Hand Knot
Tie, also known as necktie, is an indispensable piece in every gentlemen's wardrobe. Two Cambridge fellows once published a book named 85 Ways to Tie a Tie (Buy this book>>) to prove there are exactly 85 ways of tying a necktie and enumerates them. Although we do not need to try all of the ways, it is necessary for a men to master at least one way of tie a tie. Here we will introduce you four classic knots and how to tie them: Windsor Knot, Half Windsor Knot, Pratt Knot, Four in Hand Knot.
A. Windsor Knot
Name: The Windsor knot, also known as a Full Windsor or as a Double Windsor
Features: wide and triangular tie knot, symmetrical, well balanced, and self-releasing. The tie used for a Windsor Knot should be about 40 cm longer than a conventional tie. It is very comfortable to wear, as the knot itself will hold the tie firmly in place while still keeping space between the collar and the neck.
Collar: normally used to match spread collar shirts.
Occasions: Formal, Business
Background: The knot is named after the Duke of Windsor (Edward VII), the grandfather of the Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII before his abdication). The Windsor knot is the only tie knot that is to be used by all personnel in the Royal Air Force in the UK when wearing their black tie while in uniform. The Windsor knot is the tie knot used by the Canadian Forces, regardless of service. (Wikipedia)
How to Tie A Windsor Knot:
B. Half-Windsor Knot
Name: The half-Windsor knot, also known as the single Windsor knot
Features: larger than the four-in-hand knot and Pratt knot but smaller than the Windsor knot. The half-Windsor is derived from the full Windsor in that it is only brought up around the loop on one side rather than both. It works well with light- and medium-weight fabrics.
Collar: goes with any dress shirt collar, perfect match for standard collar
Occasions: Formal, Business
How to Tie A Half Windsor Knot: Start with the wide end of the tie on your right and extending a foot before the narrow end, Cross wide end over narrow and turn back underneath, Bring it up and turn it down through the loop, Pass the wide in from the front, from the left and to the right, Then, end up through the loop, and put it down through the knot in the front, tighten the knot carefully and draw it up to the collar.
C. Pratt Knot
Name: also known as the Shelby knot and the Pratt-Shelby
Features: It uses less length than the Half Windsor or Windsor knots, and so is well suited to shorter ties or taller men. Unlike the Four in Hand knot, the Pratt method produces a symmetrical knot. It is of medium thickness.
Collar: spread collar, white collar dress shirt
Occasions: Formal, Business
Background: The knot was invented by Jerry Pratt, an employee of the US Chamber of Commerce. He had been wearing his tie in the Pratt knot for some twenty years before it became popular after TV personality Don Shelby wore it on air. The New York fashion press then promptly (and mistakenly) attributed the invention of the knot to Shelby.
How to Tie A Pratt Knot:
D. Four In Hand Knot
Name: also known as a simple knot or schoolboy knot
Features: the four-in-hand is considered as the most popular and simplest method of tying ties
Collar: Button-down collar, best match for oxford shirts
Occasions: Formal, Business
Background:
Simple and stylish, the four-in-hand is considered as the most popular method of tying ties. It's originated from the Four-in-Hand Club in London, where the members began to wear the neckwear, making it fashionable.
How to Tie A Four In Hand Knot:
