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Franley
Guides

How to Tie a Knot

Three knots cover every occasion you will realistically dress for. Here is when to use each, and how.

A man adjusting the knot of a burgundy silk necktie
  1. Knot 01

    Four-in-hand

    The everyday knot. It sits a little off-centre by design, which is the point — it looks worn rather than arranged. Best on a narrower blade and with a shirt whose collar points sit close together.

    Difficulty
    Easiest
    Shape
    Narrow, slightly asymmetric
    Best collar
    Point and button-down collars
    1. 1Wide end on your right, hanging about 30cm below the narrow end.
    2. 2Cross the wide end over the narrow end, then wrap it fully behind.
    3. 3Bring the wide end across the front again, left to right.
    4. 4Pass it up through the neck loop from underneath.
    5. 5Feed it down through the front loop you just made, and draw it tight while holding the narrow end.
  2. Knot 02

    Half Windsor

    The knot to use when you are not sure. Balanced enough for a meeting, not so wide that it swamps a standard collar. If you only learn one knot after the four-in-hand, learn this.

    Difficulty
    Moderate
    Shape
    Symmetrical, medium triangle
    Best collar
    Most collars — the safe default
    1. 1Wide end on your right, roughly 30cm lower than the narrow end.
    2. 2Cross wide over narrow, then bring the wide end up through the neck loop.
    3. 3Pull it down and around behind the narrow end, right to left.
    4. 4Bring the wide end back up through the neck loop again.
    5. 5Feed it down through the front loop and tighten, sliding the knot up to the collar.
  3. Knot 03

    Full Windsor

    Formal, deliberate, and hungry for length — start with the wide end lower than you think. Worth it for weddings and anything photographed. On a narrow collar it will look crowded.

    Difficulty
    Hardest
    Shape
    Wide, fully symmetrical triangle
    Best collar
    Spread and cutaway collars
    1. 1Wide end on your right, hanging well below the narrow end.
    2. 2Cross wide over narrow and pass it up through the neck loop.
    3. 3Bring it down on the left, then behind and up through the neck loop again on the right.
    4. 4Pull it across the front, right to left.
    5. 5Bring it up through the neck loop once more, feed it down through the front loop, and tighten evenly.

One last rule

The tip of the blade should finish at your belt buckle — not above it, not over it. And put a dimple under the knot. It takes one second and it is the difference between wearing a tie and having one on.

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