I need to relearn how to tie a tie.

EmperorSeth · April 2009

I'm embarrased to admit this, but until this January, I worked as a programmer for six years, and there, it was considered "overdressed" if your shirt isn't full of holes. But I'm starting a temp job tomorrow, and it requires, among other things, a tie. I need to relearn how to do so, preferably with clear details or a video demonstration, and since I just learned about this job today, I didn't have time for an easier method. Where can I find some information, or can any of you help me yourselves?

The LandoStander · April 2009

It's the Half Windsor knot.. which is my preferred knot for use on the job.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FppCJ46C31A

RUNN1NGMAN · April 2009

This is the one I always use...it has videos and diagrams galore. I'll spare you the "let me google that for you" link, but for future reference it's the first hit if you google "how to tie a tie."

http://www.tie-a-tie.net/

EmperorSeth · April 2009

Thanks! I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow night. If I don't get back to you, assume I somehow managed to strangle myself.

Saddler · April 2009

Consider a clip on or one of those shirts that comes with the tie already tied if all else fails.

JAEF · April 2009

Saddler wrote: »

Consider a clip on or one of those shirts that comes with the tie already tied if all else fails.

No. No no no. This looks super tacky. Those shirts that come in boxes with ties are more often than not some garish off-color.

Shouldn't take you more than 30 minutes max to learn how to tie a reasonably ballin' half windsor.

Nappuccino · April 2009

JAEF wrote: »

Saddler wrote: »

Consider a clip on or one of those shirts that comes with the tie already tied if all else fails.

No. No no no. This looks super tacky. Those shirts that come in boxes with ties are more often than not some garish off-color.

Shouldn't take you more than 30 minutes max to learn how to tie a reasonably ballin' half windsor.

Yeah, these things are cool when you're a kid, but if you want to look professional (or hell, nice in a tie, you really should learn to time one yourself.

Like the above poster mentioned, it'll take no time at all to learn the knot and the lenght you need to tie that knot at.

Deadspace · April 2009

I recommend that tie-a-tie.net someone posted earlier. But I'd go for a full windsor... you do it right and get the lil nub in the middle and pimp'n... well at least it looks professional and wont come undon as easy as a half windsor. I wear ties all the time for work.. ok at least once a week or two.. and I prefer a full.

Blake T · April 2009

Good god.

A half windsor is a mis-weighted knot.

Spend the extra 20 second a tie a real windsor.

wasted pixels · April 2009

Blaket wrote: »

Good god.

A half windsor is a mis-weighted knot.

Spend the extra 20 second a tie a real windsor.

Asymmetrical knots are quite fashionable these days, though, particularly the four-in-hand.

MushroomStick · April 2009

I believe you need a wide spread collar for a full windsor to look right.

Cyvros · April 2009

Try learning the Windsor first, then once you've done that, you can always learn the others. Just a couple of weeks ago, I had no idea how to tie a tie. Then I grabbed this video, stood in front of the bathroom mirror and watched and practised it semi-obsessively until I knew the movements by heart (took me around twenty minutes to get to that point). That said, I still haven't figured out how to tighten it properly, although that may be because I just suck at thin ties.

DarkPrimus · April 2009

wasted pixels wrote: »

Blaket wrote: »

Good god.

A half windsor is a mis-weighted knot.

Spend the extra 20 second a tie a real windsor.

Asymmetrical knots are quite fashionable these days, though, particularly the four-in-hand.

I'm going to try the four-in-hand out next time for work.

MichaelLC · April 2009

Remember to reverse everything you've ever learned if you're a Leftie.

We are not second-hand citizens!

Everywhereasign · April 2009

RUNN1NGMAN wrote: »

http://www.tie-a-tie.net/

I just learned that I've been tying a Four-in-Hand and calling it a Half Windsor my entire life.

I've gotta call my Dad now.

bowen · April 2009

4 in hand knots and Pratt knots are the easiest to tie.

However full-Windsor exudes confidence. Best bet, tie something you know so you do it properly, or just practice until you're good. Half-Windsor is just slightly smaller than a full, same basic knot though. All of this is based on the fabric of the tie though. 4-in-hand works best on high quality, or thick ties.

Septus · April 2009

I dislike windors for the size of the knot. I want the attention on the length of the tie, not a huge knot at the top.

bowen · April 2009

Windsors are awfully gaudy, I agree.

cooljammer00 · April 2009

What the fuck have I been tying all my life? I just realized it's basically some bastardized knot.

*searches to find what his tying method is called*

edit: It was the four in hand. simplest, I think.

Simpsonia · April 2009

Septus wrote: »

I dislike windors for the size of the knot. I want the attention on the length of the tie, not a huge knot at the top.

Full Windsor's are not necessarily all that large if tied correctly. Methinks that you are simply thinking of the douchebags who purposefully don't tighten the knot. Evidence of a good looking windsor is as follows.

Personally though I still prefer the Pratt as I can get it to look like a full windsor, and just as symetrical, without having to be so dutiful in tightening the knot.

bowen · April 2009

Pratt is a great first knot. It's the one I prefer.

Sir Carcass · April 2009

RUNN1NGMAN wrote: »

http://www.tie-a-tie.net/

This.

I don't wear a tie often enough that I forget how to tie it every time, so I always Google this site when getting dressed.

Thanatos · April 2009

Seriously, people, half-windsor? Fuck that. Four-in-hand. It's the working man's knot. It exudes down-to-earthness, and a far more socially open front. Plus, you can learn to tie it in about a minute, and it's easy to do without a mirror (I can actually do it blindfolded).

Septus · April 2009

Also, the asymmetry of it should be hidden by the collars.

Thanatos · April 2009

And I will reiterate that zipper ties, clip-ons, and the shirts with the ties on them are totally classless. May as well grow a mullet.

RUNN1NGMAN · April 2009

Thanatos wrote: »

Seriously, people, half-windsor? Fuck that. Four-in-hand. It's the working man's knot. It exudes down-to-earthness, and a far more socially open front. Plus, you can learn to tie it in about a minute, and it's easy to do without a mirror (I can actually do it blindfolded).

It's all about the shirt collar. A four-in-hand can get lost if you use it with some shirts.

bowen · April 2009

Pratt will work in those open collar situations.

Six · April 2009

RUNN1NGMAN wrote: »

Thanatos wrote: »

Seriously, people, half-windsor? Fuck that. Four-in-hand. It's the working man's knot. It exudes down-to-earthness, and a far more socially open front. Plus, you can learn to tie it in about a minute, and it's easy to do without a mirror (I can actually do it blindfolded).

It's all about the shirt collar. A four-in-hand can get lost if you use it with some shirts.

And the quality of the fabric, as mentioned earlier. Many inexpensive ties with thinner, lighter fabric look silly with four-in-hand knots.

wasted pixels · April 2009

Six wrote: »

RUNN1NGMAN wrote: »

Thanatos wrote: »

Seriously, people, half-windsor? Fuck that. Four-in-hand. It's the working man's knot. It exudes down-to-earthness, and a far more socially open front. Plus, you can learn to tie it in about a minute, and it's easy to do without a mirror (I can actually do it blindfolded).

It's all about the shirt collar. A four-in-hand can get lost if you use it with some shirts.

And the quality of the fabric, as mentioned earlier. Many inexpensive ties with thinner, lighter fabric look silly with four-in-hand knots.

But the flip-side of this is that a nice tie will look fucking hyuuuuge with a full windsor.

Yar · April 2009

The small knot is by far the easiest for beginners, and looks pretty much like a Windsor. It tends to get a little crooked but that usually doesn't matter.

Six · April 2009

wasted pixels wrote: »

Six wrote: »

RUNN1NGMAN wrote: »

Thanatos wrote: »

Seriously, people, half-windsor? Fuck that. Four-in-hand. It's the working man's knot. It exudes down-to-earthness, and a far more socially open front. Plus, you can learn to tie it in about a minute, and it's easy to do without a mirror (I can actually do it blindfolded).

It's all about the shirt collar. A four-in-hand can get lost if you use it with some shirts.

And the quality of the fabric, as mentioned earlier. Many inexpensive ties with thinner, lighter fabric look silly with four-in-hand knots.

But the flip-side of this is that a nice tie will look fucking hyuuuuge with a full windsor.

True, but that can be made to look very good.

I use four-in-hands almost all the time, myself.

Midshipman · April 2009

A half-Windsor is a good middle of the road tie for general ties and collar types. Four in hand requires a certain thickness of tie, and a full windsor requires careful tightening and a larger collar opening. Also, historically full Windsors were used by posers trying to replicate the look of of Edward VII's ties, which used thick fabric, not a Windsor knot to achieve the look. I'd say that nine times out of ten, a full Windsor knot is going to look out of place unless worn with a very nice suit.

EmperorSeth · April 2009

Okay, people, good news! I'm not dead! Even better, I got the Windsor down enough to be presentable on day one. Only two learn that for day 2 on, I won't need a tie. Eh, better to err on the side of caution. Sadly, my "engine" light came on en route to work and I spent two hours getting it fixed before I could go home, but that's unrelated, unless the universe has a really weird karma system going for it.

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I need to relearn how to tie a tie.

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