How to Put on a Bow Tie

Putting on a bow tie can be frustrating for newcomers to the art of male fashion. While it's easy to get the clip-on ties, putting on your own bow tie can lead to a sense of self-satisfaction. And there will be friends and family members who will be impressed that you've tied your own bow tie. There are a few simple tricks to tying your bow tie, and once you learn how to put one on, you'll be hooked on the bow-tie look.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Collar Shirt
• Mirror

1. Open up your collar by unbuttoning it and lifting the collar straight up so that the collar material is directly in contact with your neck. Make sure you're watching yourself in a mirror while putting on a bow tie, as the knot is fairly intricate.

2. Take your bow tie and bring the center of the length of material against the center of the back of your neck. Note that the bow tie is a long piece of material that is narrow along most of the center of its length with two oblong sections, one at each end.

3. Drape the oblong ends of the bow tie over your shoulders. Pull the ends of the bow tie back and forth to snuggle the center of the bow tie directly against the back of your neck. Slightly pull one end of the bow tie so that the material is longer as it drapes from one side of your neck as opposed to the other side of your neck, which will have the shorter length of tie.

4. Take the longer end of the tie and draw it over the midway point of the oval part of the shorter end of the tie. Continue with the longer end by wrapping it under the oval part of the shorter end and pulling it up at your chin. This creates a knot. Pull both ends of the tie to tighten the knot.

5. Take the midway point of the oval part of the shorter end and pull it toward the center of your neck, creating a fold in the oval part. Clinch this fold with your thumb and index finger.

6. Bring the longer end of the bow tie and hang in down over your thumb and index finger, which should be centered on the fold of the oval part of the shorter end of the tie. Extend your thumb and index finger over to the end of the oval part of the shorter end and pull it over the clamp shut the shorter end of the tie's oval part. Pull it to one side of your chest. You should now be clinching the shorter oval section of the tie to one side of the neck, exposing a loop under your neck.

7. Take the top part of the longer section of tie, nearest the neck, and tuck it through the loop under your neck. You should now have two loops, one on each side of your neck, along with two flat ends. Focus on the loops. You want to pull these, one to each side, to create your bow. Once you do that, flatten the ends behind the bows, and you're all set.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the color of your bow tie complements the color of your shirt.
• Tying a bow tie takes practice. Keep trying if your tie doesn't work out the first time.

Resources

• The Bow Tie Club