KALEIDOSCOPE: How to Tie a Tie

Half Windsor Knot

The Half Windsor Knot, a modest version of the Windsor Knot, is a symmetrical and triangular tie knot that you can use with any dress shirt. It works best with somewhat wider neckties made from light to medium fabrics.

To tie the Half Windsor Knot, select a necktie of your choice and stand in front of a mirror. Then simply follow the steps below:

	1) Start with the wide end ("W") of your necktie on the right, extending about 12 inches below the narrow end ("N") on the left.
	2) Then cross the wide end over the narrow end.
	3) Bring the wide end around and behind the narrow end.
	4) Then bring the wide end up.
	5) Pull the wide end through the loop and to the right.
	6) Bring the wide end around front, over the narrow end from right to left.
	7) Again, bring the wide end up and through the loop.
	8) Then, bring the wide end down through the knot in front.
	9) And -- using both hands -- tighten the knot carefully and draw it up to the collar.

And there you are! Simply keep working on this necktie knot and be sure to practice a few times until you are really good at it.

Four in Hand Knot

The Four in Hand Knot makes for a narrow, more discreet and slightly asymmetrical tie knot. It is best suited for a standard button-down dress shirt and works best with wide neckties made from heavy fabrics.

While this tie knot can be worn by anyone, it looks especially well on men with shorter necks as the knot's rather narrow and elongated form stretches the perceived height of the neck a tiny bit.

To tie the Four in Hand Knot, select a necktie of your choice and stand in front of a mirror. Then simply follow the steps below:

	1) Start with the wide end ("W") of your necktie on the right, extending about 12 inches below the narrow end ("N") on the left.
	2) Then cross the wide end over the narrow end.
	3) Turn the wide end back underneath the narrow end.
	4) Continue by bringing the wide end back over in front of the narrow end again.
	5) Then, pull the wide end up and through the loop around your neck.
	6) Hold the front of the knot loosely with your index finger and bring the wide end down through the front loop.
	7) At last, remove your finger and tighten the knot carefully to the collar by holding the narrow end and sliding the knot up.

That's it! That is all there is to the Four in Hand Knot. You will quickly learn to tie this necktie knot in less and less time every time you practice it. Just keep going, my friend!

Windsor Knot

The Windsor Knot is a thick, wide and triangular tie knot that projects confidence. It would therefore be your knot of choice for presentations, job interviews, courtroom appearances etc. It is best suited for spread collar shirts and it's actually quite easy to do.

While just about everyone can use this tie knot to tie his tie, it looks especially well on men with longer necks as its wide form shortens the perceived height of the neck a little bit.

To tie the Windsor Knot, select a necktie of your choice and stand in front of a mirror. Then simply follow the steps below:

	1) Start with the wide end ("W") of your necktie on the right, extending about 12 inches below the narrow end ("N") on the left.
	2) Then cross the wide end over the narrow end.
	3) Bring the wide end up through the loop between the collar and your tie.
	4) Then bring the wide end back down.
	5) Pull the wide end underneath the narrow end and to the right, back through the loop and to the right again so that the wide end is inside out.
	6) Bring the wide end across the front from right to left.
	7) Then pull the wide end up through the loop again.
	8) Bring the wide end down through the knot in front.
	9) And -- using both hands -- tighten the knot carefully and draw it up to the collar.

Congratulations, you did it! You see, it is not rocket science after all. Simply keep practicing the Windsor Knot a few more times until you can tie this necktie knot within less than two minutes.

Pratt Knot

The Pratt Knot -- also known as the Shelby Knot -- is tidy and fairly wide, yet not as wide as the Windsor Knot. It is well suited for any dress shirt and somewhat wider neckties made from light to medium fabrics.

To tie the Pratt Knot, select a necktie of your choice and stand in front of a mirror. Then simply follow the steps below:

	1) Start with the necktie inside out, with the wide end ("W") on the right, extending about 12 inches below the narrow end ("N") on the left.
	2) Then cross the wide end under the narrow end.
	3) Take the wide end over and under the narrow end.
	4) Pull the loop down and tighten.
	5) Then, take the wide end over to the right.
	6) Pull the wide end up, behind the loop.
	7) And finally, bring the wide end through the knot and tighten gently.

Awesome, you did it! Always remember that with any necktie knot -- such as the Pratt Knot -- a little practice is all it takes to become a real expert at tying your tie in no time.

Bow Tie Knot

The Bow Tie Knot is used to tie a bow tie and is worn to give you a formal and elegant appearance. A "black tie occasion" such as a wedding is an event that you would commonly wear a bow tie at, along with a tuxedo.

The proper size should never be broader than the widest part of your neck and should never extend past the tips of the shirt collar.

To tie the Bow Tie Knot, select a bow tie of your choice and stand in front of a mirror. Then simply follow the steps below:

	1) Place the bow tie around your neck, situating it so that end "A" is about two inches longer than end "B".
	2) Cross end "A" over end "B".
	3) Bring end "A" up and under the loop.
	4) Now double end "B" over itself to form the front base loop of the bow tie.
	5) Loop end "A" over the center of the loop you just formed.
	6) Holding everything in place, double end "A" back on itself and poke it through the loop behind the bow tie.
	7) Adjust the bow tie by tugging at the ends of it and straightening the center knot.