How to Tie a Wide Necktie

If your necktie is wide, you will need to use a large knot to complement the tie. The most well known of large knots is the Windsor knot. With some practice, you will soon be able to tie a Windsor knot for your wide necktie.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Necktie

1. Drape the tie around your neck, with the wide end of the tie resting on the left side of your chest, and the narrow end of the tie resting on the right side of your chest. The wide end should hang about a foot lower than the narrow end.

2. Cross the wide end over the narrow end about 6-inches-below your throat. The wide end and narrow end have now switched places--wide end on the right, narrow end on the left.

3. Wrap the wide end behind the narrow end and bring the wide end up through the cross from back to front.

4. Let the wide end come completely through the cross and let it hang. You have now effectively tied a loose overhand knot. The wide end should again be hanging on the right side of your chest.

5. Wrap the wide end behind the knot to the other side of your chest. The wide end is now "inside out" and on the right side of your chest.

6. Fold the wide end around the front of the emerging knot so that it is now "right side out" and on the right side of your chest.

7. Repeat Step 3: Wrap the wide end behind the narrow end and bring the wide end up through the cross from back to front.

8. Almost done. Just thread the wide end down underneath the outermost layer of the emerging knot.

9. Cinch the knot up to your throat. You did it!

10. To untie the knot, grip the knot in your left hand and hold the right side of the narrow end above the knot in your right hand, and pull the two apart and until untied. The knot should fall apart beautifully.

Tips & Warnings

• No need to tie the knot too tight. The whole point of the Windsor knot is bulk. Tie it just tight enough to stay together. This will also reduce wrinkles.
• If the wide end hangs higher than the narrow end, or if the wide end hangs too low for your style, start over and try again. Two factors determine the relationship between the length of the narrow end and the length of the wide end: their difference in rise in Step 1, and how high or low you cross them in Step 2. Keep practicing, using trial and error in Steps 1 and 2, until your finished knot produces the right lengths. If you can repeat a perfect Windsor knot for your necktie three times in a row, you're golden.

Resources

• Diagram for Tying a Windsor Knot