Tying a tie takes less than a minute once you know the simple knot, also called the four-in-hand. It is the quickest knot, the one that works best with almost any tie, and the one we recommend if it is your first time wearing one.
It works just as well for a job interview, a wedding, or day-to-day office wear. Its slightly asymmetrical shape gives it a natural and elegant air, without looking forced.
Before you begin
Button your shirt up to the last button and turn up the collar. Stand in front of a mirror: the first attempts are much easier if you can see yourself.
Every tie has two ends, which in tailoring we call blades:
- Wide blade: the front part, the one that will be visible when you finish.
- Narrow blade: the back part, which will be hidden behind.
Place the tie around your neck with the wide blade on your right side and hanging significantly lower than the narrow one. As a reference, the tip of the narrow blade should be at the level of the third or fourth button of the shirt.
The simple knot, step by step
- Cross it. Pass the wide blade over the narrow one, forming an X just below your chin.
- Wrap around the back. Bring the wide blade under the narrow one, back to your right side.
- Cross over the front again. Pass the wide blade over again, from right to left. A horizontal band is formed over the knot.
- Go up through the neck. Pull the wide blade from behind, upwards, through the loop between the shirt collar and the tie.
- Down through the band. Lower the tip inside the horizontal band you formed in step 3.
- Adjust. Hold the narrow blade with one hand and slide the knot upwards with the other until it is centered and tight against your neck. Lower the shirt collar and you are done. -->
Each image corresponds to a step in the list: the colored wide blade is the only one that moves.
A trick to remember it: front, back, front, up, and down.
Tips for a perfect finish
- The correct length: the tip of the wide blade should graze your belt buckle. If it is too short or too long, untie the knot and change the initial height of the narrow blade.
- The narrow blade, hidden: tuck it into the loop on the back of the wide blade so it doesn't peek out.
- The dimple: just before tightening the knot, press with your index finger under it and pinch the sides. That small fold gives a polished touch.
- Proportion: a tie about 7 cm wide fits most lapels. With narrow lapels, choose a slimmer tie.
- Combination: if the shirt has stripes or a pattern, opt for a solid tie, and vice versa.
- Take care of it: always untie the tie when taking it off and store it hung up or rolled up so that wrinkles do not set in.
Practice and look your best
The first two or three attempts may come out crooked; that is normal. After a couple of days, you will do it without looking.
And if you are looking for the ideal tie for your suit, or want us to teach you other knots in person, visit us at our tailor shop. We will advise you so that every detail is tailored to you.