How to Tie a Tie

There are about 85 different knots used to tie a tie. Each different knot can be used to best fit a certain type of suit or dress shirt. The most common type of knots are the Four-In-Hand, Windsor, and the Half Windsor. At some point in time every man will need to know how to tie a tie. It doesn't hurt to know for those "just in case" situations. These few simple knots are easy to learn and easy to remember after using them a few times.

When you tie a tie, it is best to stand in front of a mirror so you can see what you are doing each time. Most errors that are made are simple and easy to see. If you catch those errors while you are still putting on your tie you can easily fix them right then and there by backing up a step or a simple adjustment.

Four-In-Hand: The perfect knot for a basic button down dress shirt. Suited best due to its thin and asymmetrical looking knot.

Step 1: Bring the wide end of the tie under the narrow end of the tie.

Step 2: Round the wide end of the tie around the narrow end of the tie and then back to the left side.

Step 3: Swing the wide end over the narrow end, in front and the to the right, creating a loop.

Step 4: Bring the wide end up through the back.

Step 5: With your index finger, keep the front of the knot loose. Pass the wide end of the tie down through the loop in front.

Step 6: Tighten the knot and straighten.

Windsor: Symmetrical and triangular this is the perfect knot for any dress shirt.

Step 1: Bring the wide end of the tie over the narrow end.

Step 2: Pull the wide end up through the middle.

Step 3: Bring the wide end over to the left.

Step 4: Bring the wide end behind the narrow end.

Step 5: Bring the wide end up.

Step 6: Bring the wide end of the tie down, through the middle and then back to the front.

Step 7: Swing the wide end of the tie over in front and to the right.

Step 8: Bring the wide end up through the back.

Step 9: Hold the front of the knot loose with your index finger.

Step 10: Pass the wide end of the tie through the loop in front.

Step 11: Tighten and straighten.

Half Windsor: Just like the regular Windsor knot, this knot can be used with any dress shirt.

Step 1: Bring the wide end of the tie over the narrow end.

Step 2: Swing the wide end of the tie around to the back.

Step 3: Bring the wide end up.

Step 4: Put the wide end through the middle.

Step 5: Swing the wide end around to the front.

Step 6: Bring the wide end up through the back.

Step 7: Hold the front of the knot loose with your index finger.

Step 8: Pass the wide end of the tie through the loop in the front.

Step 9: Tighten and straighten the knot.

Atlantic: A wide and triangular knot best suited for spread collar shirts.

Step 1: Bring the wide end of the tie under the narrow end.

Step 2: Bring the narrow end up through the middle.

Step 3: Bring the narrow end back down.

Step 4: Bring the narrow end behind the wide end.

Step 5: Bring the narrow end up.

Step 6: Push the narrow end down through the loop in the back.

Step 7: Tighten the knot and straighten.

Diagonal: A classic knot. This knot can make any tie look classy - just remember to use a dimple.

Step 1: Bring the wide end of the tie under the narrow end.

Step 2: Bring the narrow end of the tie back around the wide end.

Step 3: Loop the narrow end around the wide end once more.

Step 4: Bring the narrow end up and through the middle.

Step 5: Pass the narrow end through the loop.

Step 6: Slide the narrow end behind the wide end.

Step 7: Tighten, straighten and dimple.

Like I said previously, there are many different ways to tie a tie and these are just a few. Using just these few knots will have you looking like a pro. It make take a few tries to get each knot right, but like anything else practice makes perfect.