What knot do you use?

[Carlo]

I think your knot looks great. And I like the tie.

[GrainReaper]

I think your knot looks great. And I like the tie.

Thank you!

[HarveyH]

I have only just caught up with this wonderful thread. I use a number of different knots depending on the tie, width and fabric. I like knitted silk ties and the Albert knot is wonderful for that - a long thin knot just revealing the multiple layers of the knot - also good for tartan ties.

Knots really used to be part of the fashion statement and if we can be traditional about kilts then I think the twentieth century predominance of the Windsor (named after the Duke/ Edward VIII) and then the half-windsor popularized by politicians like Nikita Khrushchev are rather a shame - very good to see a pretty knot like the Eldridge.

[Creag]

I am a gentleman of small physical stature, so I find the four-in-hand looks best because it is compact and neat. The narrow end of the tie is always long. But that's alright - I tuck it through the loop on the back of the tie and into the top of my trousers. Keeps the tie from blowing wild.

[PiperOfThePlains]

I use a Full Windsor, or a red clip-on bow tie.

[Jock Scot]

I use a Full Windsor, or a red clip-on bow tie.

Can I suggest that you learn to tie your own bow ties. It will serve you well over the years, if you do. There is a really helpful youtube film on how to tie them.

[artificer]

Can I suggest that you learn to tie your own bow ties. It will serve you well over the years, if you do. There is a really helpful youtube film on how to tie them.

Here, Here! Nothing beats a hand tied bow tie in the right setting. Self-tied (or clip-ons) have such a sterile look in comparison.

As far as ties go I grew up (in the 80s) having learned the Four-in-Hand knot which was ideal for the skinny ties of the time (and yes, I even had this one in both black and white versions)

t20306.jpg
What can I say, it was the mid-80s and I loved Two-Tone Ska?

As tie styles changed and got thicker I moved to a Windsor knot. Now I vary between Windsor, Half-Windsor and the occasional Bow-Tie.

ith:

[Felipe]

For me, there's no "speical knot", you see?
I go with what I think I look best. But I rather do a simple knot or a hand tie knot.. I don't know. Depends on my mood I guess

[McRoy]

One can't go wrong with the Double Windsor. Easy to tie and looks very sharp. ;-)

[OC Richard]

Wow I had no idea there were so many types of knots! You all amaze me.

I was taught the Windsor by my father and I've never known how to do any other sort.

Trouble is, it makes a thick knot which doesn't look right with the pointy collars which were nearly universal with American shirts until fairly recently.

I would admire Brits with their spread collars, with which the Windsor looks great. I would look through malls back in the 80s and not be able to find a single spread collar shirt. Now spread collars are widely available here. (Ditto striped ties going the British direction.)

This is cool...

http://www.ties.com/how-to-tie-a-tie