How To Fasten A Tie

Many people have few occasions to wear a tie in their daily lives. In some instances where a tie should be worn, a person might have forgotten how to correctly knot one, or never known in the first place. Here is a step by step explanation of how to correctly tie a bowtie, as well as several common knots for regular neckties. The steps are the same, regardless of whether the tie goes with a costume or a business suit.

Things You’ll Need:
Bowtie or Necktie
Neck
Mirrior (Optional)

For Bowties
Step 1:
Hang the tie so it hangs down to the chest from both sides of the neck.

Step 2:
Pull one end in left hand down an inch further than the end in the right hand.

Step 3:
Cross the longer end over the shorter and pass it back up through the loop near the throat.

Step 4:
Form the front loop of the bow by doubling up the shorter end (Like tying a shoelace) and placing it flat horizontally across the points of the collar.

Step 5:
Hold the loop with thumb and forefinger of the left hand and drop the long end in the right hand down over the front. It should fall down to the upper stomach.

Step 6:
Grab the hanging part in the middle and pass it up behind the other loop and push it through the hole the two ends create.

Step 7:
Pull the folded ends of the bow to take up any slack and straighten the fabric near the knot to keep it from creasing. It should look great!

How To Tie A Windsor Knot
Step 1:
Start with the wide end of your tie hanging from the right side of the neck, and extending a full foot below the narrow end.

Step 2:
Cross the wide end over the narrow and pull it up through the loop against the throat.

Step 3:
Bring the wide end down, around, and behind the narrow end to come back up on the right side of the body near the shoulder. This should create a new loop at the junction in the center of the chest.

Step 4:
Pass the wide tip through the new loop and around the front of the tie. It should look very professional.

Step 5:
Pull the wide end up through the loop against the throat and complete the tie by slipping the end through the front of the knot.

Step 6:
Tighten the knot by pulling on the narrow end of the tie and snug it to the collar. It should look very professional!

How To Tie A Half Windsor Knot
Step 1:
Start with the wide end of your tie hanging from the right side of the neck, and extending a full foot below the narrow end.

Step 2:
Cross the wide end left over the narrow and back to the right from underneath.

Step 3:
Bring the wide end up and pass it down through the loop to be behind the narrow end.

Step 4:
Pass the wide end around to front from left to right.

Step 5:
Push the wide end through the loop again from underneath, the wide end should hang over the narrow.

Step 6:
Pass the wide end down through the front of the knot. Pull the narrow end to take in the slack and snug to the collar. It should look great!

How To Tie a Four-In-Hand Knot
Step 1:
Start with the wide end of your tie hanging from the right side of the neck, and extending a full foot below the narrow end.

Step 2:
Cross the wide end left over the narrow and back to the right from underneath.

Step 3:
Continue around, passing the wide end around the front from right to left.

Step 4:
Pass the wide end behind and up through the loop to lay over the narrow end.

Step 5:
Hold the front of the knot loose with the index finger and pass the wide end down through the front of the knot.

Step 6:
Remove your index finger and pull the knot tight carefully. Draw the knot tight to the collar by holding the narrow end and sliding the knot up snuggly. It should look very slick!

Tips & Warnings
While a mirror is not required for this, it often helps to watch yourself forming the knot.
Your necktie has been tied appropriately only if the tip of the fabric stops half an inch short of touching the belt buckle.
A Windsor knot is wide and triangular and used for widespread shirt collars.
A Half Windsor knot is average and triangular, used for normally collared shirts.
A Four-In-Hand knot is narrow and square shaped. Its used for small or normally collared shirts.
A person who is taller than average may require a tall man's necktie. They are typically five feet in length as opposed to the three and a half to four feet of a normal tie.
Pulling a necktie too tight can reduce circulation of blood to the head, be careful. The Four-In-Hand knot is particularly dangerous as the knot is easy to overtighten and difficult to loosen.