Tie knots - does it really matter?

[English Bloke]

Full windsor always for me. Has been for about 25 years. I like the symmetry of it. Much smarter than a tie knot scooting off at an odd angle. Almost as bad as a tie not done up fully, leaving the fastened top button exposed. Drives me to distraction that does.

[Brian K]

When I was a teen (40 years or so ago) I always tied a Windsor (named for Windsor Castle in honor of its resident George V, not his wastrel son) or a half Windsor mainly because it was in vogue in the 70s and fit in well with the wider lapels and wide ties of the time. As I got older I abandoned the Full Windsor and went mainly with the half Windsor. For the last 20 years ago I have stuck with the four-in-hand. In its simplicity and asymmetricality it has an elegance, rather than a showiness, that I truly like. If you buy a nice enough tie with substantial enough fabric (I look in discount places for my ties because I can't afford the retail price of most nice ties) the knot will still be large enough to not look too small, but it will also be small enough and restrained enough to not mark you as a peacock. With a slightly off center dimple it's perfect for most occasions.

As mentioned earlier in the thread, the four in hand is damned near impossible to tie symmetrically, and that is a big reason I like it. If your knot is as perfect as an isosceles triangle and the dimple is perfectly centered it looks like you either fussed and fretted over it too much or you bought it pre-tied. A well tied four-in-hand gives you the air of casual insouciance that is just right for almost any occasion.

Brian

[auld argonian]

A well tied four-in-hand gives you the air of casual insouciance that is just right for almost any occasion.

Brian

...and anyone who's spent any time in this forum knows that we only have two kinds of kilties here: the insouciant and...the souciant...I guess...

I've been following this thread and I guess that I realize that there may be some generalizations about what knot goes with which collar and what width of tie but there are no hard and fast rules; if it looks good, it goes.

Best

AA

[Tobus]

f your knot is as perfect as an isosceles triangle and the dimple is perfectly centered it looks like you either fussed and fretted over it too much or you bought it pre-tied.

Oh, I don't know about that. To me it looks like you just know how to tie a good knot and you pay attention to detail. For me, tying the knot only takes a few seconds, and getting the dimple just right takes a few second more (the trick is to pull it and tighten it with the right amount of pressure in the right place on the hanging portion). Really, the most time I spend tying a necktie is not getting the knot "just so". It's getting the length right where I want it. And that will be a trial-and-error process no matter what knot I use.

But having a nice, tidy, symmetrical knot is just as important to me as making sure my shoes are clean and polished and my hair is combed. If one wants to go for a decidedly non-symmetrical and non-perfect look, then as you said, the four-in-hand works well. But personally, I just can't stand the idea of wearing a necktie with a knot that perpetually hangs crooked. For me, that would be like wearing my shirt tucked in unevenly or wearing my belt with the buckle far to one side. It would drive me nuts.

[Brian K]

... a nice, tidy, symmetrical knot is just as important to me as making sure my shoes are clean and polished and my hair is combed.

Hmm...I seem to recall something about having to comb my hair...ages ago

[Father Bill]

I find that no matter what knot I tie, a tie looks rather silly with my clerical collar, but I was used to a full Windsor; half when collars got much smaller, but much to make it look perfect.

The biggest difference I find since ordination is that I can't see as well. I used to clean my glasses on my tie.

[Jack Daw]

I say avoid this stress and invest in bow-ties.

[auld argonian]

I say avoid this stress and invest in bow-ties.

In keeping with that, turtlenecks are always an option....but with a kilt....?

Naaaah.

Best

AA

(...and PLEASE don't feel obliged to post your photos of you in a kilt AND a turtleneck...I've seen them...sorry, still doesn't work and I'd like to spare Jock Scott the pain of having to look at them.)

[Tobus]

I say avoid this stress and invest in bow-ties.

I'm wading cautiously into those waters, having bought my first non-formal bowtie a few weeks ago. But I'm still not convinced that bowties agree with me. I like the clean lines and vertical aspect of a long tie. Bowties tend to make for a very different visual effect, accentuating things horizontally instead of vertically. I'll just have to get used to it before being as comfortable seeing myself in a bowtie as I am in a regular necktie.

But still, I don't see bowties completely replacing neckties for me. That's just crazy talk!

[cck]

I generally let the thickness of the tie material determine the type of knot. Also the shape of the collar may influence the knot choice.