Knowing how to tie a tie is an important skill that everyone should learn, but you don’t have to stop there. Countless types of tie knots exist, and each one is unique. In fact, one mathematician calculated 177,147 different ways to tie a tie!
Learning to tie different knots can help you stand out from the crowd and make an impression. If you switch up your tie knot on a regular basis, people will notice your great sense of fashion and the effort you put into your appearance, which may help you earn their respect or admiration.
If learning different tie knots seems complicated, don’t worry! This article will help you learn about some of the types of knots you should consider learning and offer a brief explanation of each.
15 Different Tie Knots to Try Out
It’s never been easier to learn how to make necktie knots. With the help of the internet, you can access video tutorials and articles with animations that show you how to do it step by step!
Which tie knot should you learn first? That’s for you to decide, but here are 15 of the best tie knots we recommend exploring!
The Simple Knot
Despite being one of the easiest tie knots, the simple knot isn’t actually all that popular. The reason is that this knot isn’t self-releasing, meaning it’s a little trickier to untie than other styles. If you can get over this flaw, the simple knot is great for beginners.
Still, this small knot is a great choice for tall people who don’t have a long tie to work with since it won’t shorten the overall length of your tie as much as other knots. The simple knot is also ideal for thick ties since these may end up being too short with more complex knots.
The Windsor Knot
You wouldn’t expect a knot inspired by the Duke of Windsor to be one of the easiest knots to learn, but it is, especially with the help of this tutorial! The Windsor is famous for its deep dimple and medium-sized knot. Wear it to the office or formal occasions.
The Double Windsor Knot
The double Windsor is wider and more symmetrical than the regular Windsor knot. As a result, it’s considered to be a bit more formal.
We recommend wearing it when you have a spread-collar dress shirt and want to make a statement. Since it uses more fabric, it’s also a good choice for shorter men who find their ties a little too long. This tutorial can help you master the double Windsor!
The Four-in-Hand Knot
Simple, versatile, and self-releasing, the four-in-hand is a knot that everyone who wears ties should learn. In fact, if you only want to learn one knot, this would be a good choice. The four-in-hand is also slender, meaning that it works with most shirt collar styles.
The Bow Tie Knot
The bow tie knot is the standard at white or black tie events, but you don’t have to reserve it for formal occasions. Learning to tie a bow tie allows you to sport this fancy knot in more casual situations and show off your fun personality. It may take some practice to get it right, but it’s not all that difficult to tie a bow tie with the right tutorial.
The Eldredge Knot
If you’re up for a challenge, give the Eldredge knot a whirl! With 15 steps, it’s one of the most complex tie knots you could try. To complicate matters further, the Eldrege involves manipulating the small end rather than the wider one. The result is an impressive and unusual style with a knot that is even larger than the Windsor. Wear it when you really want to impress someone or start conversations, such as at a dinner party or cocktail wedding.
The Pratt Knot
If you want a medium size knot that is elegant and appropriate for most occasions, the Pratt is a great choice! It works best with a light to medium-weight fabric (such as silk ties) since thicker materials will end up producing a larger knot than desired.
The Oriental Knot
The Oriental knot gets its name from its popularity in Asia, especially in China. It’s small, versatile, and elegant, meaning you could wear it on any occasion. Plus, using it in the West will likely get you noticed since it’s not that common.
The Trinity Knot
This modern knot is similar to the Eldredge in that it’s complex and uses the smaller end of the tie as the active one. Learning how to tie a Trinity knot can take some time, but the large rounded shape is very elegant and a great style to break out when you want to stand out from the crowd.
The Van Wijk Knot
The Van Wijk knot is taller and more slender than any other knot, making it an interesting choice for formal events. However, it’s a bit much for a day at the office, so reserve this one for special occasions. It goes best with a narrow shirt collar since the shape would create a large gap with regular collared shirts.
The Balthus Knot
Even larger than the Windsor knot, the Balthus knot has a cone shape that must be used along with a spread collar due to its size. You might want to use an extra-long tie for this knot since the length of the tie will likely end up being too short once you wrap the wide end around the narrow end as many times as needed to make the Balthus. Yet, when this knot is done right it looks artsy and grabs the attention of others.
The Kelvin Knot
The Kelvin is a classic knot. It resembles the simple knot, and like it, isn’t self-releasing and has an inverted tail. However, the Kelvin knot is fuller and has a more angular shape when it’s finished, resulting in a whimsical look that makes the wearer appear carefree. If you want to appear confident and charming, the Kelvin knot is one you could wear every day.
The Shelby Knot
The Shelby knot is another name for the Pratt knot, so there’s no difference in how it looks. Jerry Pratt was the creator of the knot and wore it every day for decades. Then, he taught it to Don Shelby, a television reporter who wanted to look more presentable on the air. No matter what you call it, the result is the same — a symmetrical and precise knot that looks neat!
The Prince Albert Knot
Another classic knot that is suitable for your day-to-day attire, the Prince Albert knot is a little bulkier than the Four-in-Hand due to the fact that the active end is passed through the knot twice. However, when it’s pulled tight, it has a more slender look and gives off a classy and refined appearance.
The Cross Knot
This is an uncommon type of tie knot that you could make your signature style if you want to be different. It gets its name from the two overlapping layers of fabric that form a gentle cross. However, it’s not nearly as showy as the Trinity or Eldredge knots, meaning that it works for both laid-back and formal looks.
Try Your Hand at Every Knot with PRIME Neckwear’s Ties
After reading about these 15 different necktie knots, there’s no reason to stick to the same-old knot you use every day. Have fun trying out new styles according to the occasion and watch the compliments roll in! You’ll likely have a lot of fun too.
If you’d like to get started with some simple, yet attractive knots, we invite you to check out our blog. There you’ll find several tutorials that can help you learn different tie knots and men’s style tips. And if you need some new ties to get started, browse our best-seller collection!
