Tie knots - does it really matter?

[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!

[Jack Daw]

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!

I alternate between long and bow. The bow doesn't accidentally get dropped in soup or get guacamole dropped on it. And, if your a paper-shuffler like me at work, the bow avoids getting tangled in the desk work. (I also get nice comments from the ladies.)

[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.

[Tobus]

That's just ...wrong! The thought of wearing wood suspended from my neck makes me cringe. If we're being silly, though, why not a tie made of chain mail? Or maybe beads woven onto strings? Oh, I know... leather!

[CDNSushi]

That's just ...wrong! The thought of wearing wood suspended from my neck makes me cringe. If we're being silly, though, why not a tie made of chain mail? Or maybe beads woven onto strings? Oh, I know... leather!

Chain mail ties and leather ties do exist. And some of them look quite neat!

[Brian K]

That's just ...wrong! The thought of wearing wood suspended from my neck makes me cringe. If we're being silly, though, why not a tie made of chain mail? Or maybe beads woven onto strings? Oh, I know... leather!

And I bet your wife would make the most splendid leather tie anyone has ever seen!

[flyingshamrock]

I was taught both the half and full windsor. I personally use the full windsor, I love the look of a bigger knot.

[highlander999]

Well, I grew up tying a full Windsor in the 70's(we all loved the big knots on the big ties). But with the differing styles, and in the 80's loving the collar bar under my tie, opted for either the four in hand or half Windsor depending on the tie. The four in hand always comes out a little askew for my taste, but is a good looking knot anyway. For me the half Windsor usually comes out the right length and looks good with the button down pinpoints that I usually wear. If I wear a spread collar shirt I usually go back to a Full Windsor.

[Sir William]

It really all depends on the collar. When I was a kid I learned the four-in-hand as thin ties were popular and the knot didn't overwhelm the width of the tie or the close spread of the typical shirt collar at the time. When I went into the Marines they taught us the half-windsor, which I still prefer. I've tied a full windsor but I don't like the wide spread collars it needs to look right.