Are there some tie knots that are more/less acceptable than others? I have an interview tomorrow, so I don't want to commit a fashion faux pas. It's at a tech startup, but I don't think that should matter, so even IB fashion advice should still hold. Also, are there any particular sites/videos you guys found really useful for learning how to tie a tie?
Feb 10, 2011
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If you have the right shirts/collars, go with Full Windsor. Looks the best I think. Just check out YouTube videos.
You're interviewing at a tech startup - are you sure you want to wear a tie?
I agree with CaptK here. Tech Startups are notorious for shunning the suit and tie crowd.
if you do end up going for a tie, it's about the shape of your face, not so much the collar. True, if you have a spread collar and a slim/long face, you can get away with a full windsor a little more. But still, in general - if you have a slender, longer face, go for a smaller knot.
Nice blazer, nice shirt, nice jeans. Go for quality in all three and spend as much as you would otherwise on a full suit. Top button of shirt undone, blazer unbuttoned. That's the classic tech valley look I think. Nice watch maybe also.
CaptK, I was thinking about that too. But, I really don't have anything else to wear (it was last minute and I'm broke). Also, I feel like it's better to be over-dressed than under-dressed (since I'm really not sure with this specific company).
^^ This...just make sure you don't have the shirt unbuttoned low (and PLEASE keep the collar within the jacket...you don't want to look like Joey Bag Odonuts. Techies won't give a fuck what you are wearing, just keep it simple - wear loafers instead of lace-ups.
Good idea, I didn't even think of that, haha. Thanks man.
Agree with op, better over than under dressed. You should've asked what their office attire is and if it's different for people interviewing. If you didn't get a clear answer, go suit tie and look sharp. If, as you walk in, see that everyone is way under dressed, just say that you didn't know what would be appropriate to wear/what you should expect and thought to be safe rather than sorry.
Out of the four knots below, which ones do you guys like? I know some people are voting for Windsor, but any other votes?
http://www.tie-a-tie.net/
Full windsor, symetrical and looks neat and balanced. Hate when tie knots look like right triangles or little tubes.
You do not select knots by "look" you select knots by the ties fabric.
Suit, no tie. Perfect for tech, especially start up.
If you're going to go for a tie, go four-in-hand. I've never understood why anyone wears a windsor knot, it reeks of supreme douchiness. Especially if you're interviewing at a low-key place like a start-up. I'm sure this has been quoted endlessly, but I'm going to do it again:
From the Ian Fleming's "From Russia, With Love":
“Bond mistrusted anyone who tied his tie with a Windsor Knot. It showed too much vanity. It was often the mark of a cad.”
Agree with this. Full Windsor knots are just so douchey its unbelievable. To wide and pompous. When in doubt go with a four-in-hand knot and put a dimple in it. Looks fine.
Half windsor, always.
Four in hand, dimpled.
Depends on experience doing tie knots. I'd start doing 4 in hand knots, then move up to half windsor knots.
Seriously, don't spend an hour triying to tie your tie. Videos available on youtube.
I wouldn't really over think it. Just show up and impress. They aren't hiring you to partake in Fashion Week.
Haha, thanks. Very true.
Now I know how to tie a tie, but I can't get it to look really nice? Honestly, the knot part kinda looks like sh*t. Any tips?
1) Pinch and form the knot part with your fingers
2) Practice tying a lot of knots
make sure the fat side is longer than the skinny side =P
DEEZ KNOTS!
Play it conservative. Wear a suit and a full windsor tie
Favorite Tie Brands and Knots (Originally Posted: 12/04/2011)
Curious to know what everyone's favorite tie brands are and what seems to be the preferred knots everyone likes? My go to combo is Hermes heavy silk ties and a simple half windsor. The heavy fabric pretty much makes a great dimple by itself; enough to look professional but not over the top ESPN football analyst style.
Drakes London
Heavier silk, four-in-hand.
Sears brand, clip-on.
i like Thomas Pink ties. Double windsor usually does the trick.
Haha, its so true about ESPN football analysts, those guys are crazy with how they dress. It seems the better the player an analyst used to be the crazier he dresses.
Full Windsor, Vineyard Vines (Century 21 for ~$35/each).
This deal is still good after 3 years. Thanks for the tip, I just bought one.
I couldn't even tie a tie until 20 mins before my first ib interview...that was a nervous 20 mins!
Thomas Pink has my favorite ties. I love their patterned selections, but take heed, the store options usually vary widely between location and versus what you can find at their online store.
The knot depends on my collar and what I'm doing that day. half-Windsor is the superior knot but most days I use a four-in-hand
Zegna. Half Windsor
Thomas Pink, tight full windsor
Not some fugazi Merrill Hodge look
Ha ha +1 for you for calling out that ass-fuck Merril Hoge. Not only is he a back peddling pussy piece of shit ("Tebow will never win a game as a starter,"), he also dresses like a fucking $2 gigolo. I have no clue what that knot is that he rocks every time I see him on TV, but it looks like dogshit.
Brioni, Ferragamo, Drake's, Charvet, Hermes (non-whimsical themed)
Four in hand, half-windsor
www.tradingevents.blogspot.com/p/uniform.html
Four-in-hand only. Don't like any kind of windsors at all.
I'm wearing a Drakes tie today. Favorites are Charvet, Drakes, Panta, Battistoni, Zegna, and Kiton. Don't own any T&A or Thomas Pink, but I've seen them around a lot and they look pretty nice.
Four-in-hand only for me as well. J Press and Brooks are my default, but Drakes and Charvet are nice as well.
I have a few Brooks left over from the beginning of college but I'm slowly phasing them out as I don't think they knot as well as my others, but they're definitely a go-to standard. I like my J. Press ties too, especially because they have them on sale a few times a year for ~$20, so I stock up then.
Haines and Bonner. $15 at Marshalls/TJ Maxx. Twice as thick and better knot than my Brooks Bros ties.
Robert Talbott and J Press. Half-Windsor only.
Half-Windsor for normal collars, full for spread. Either way, I really like Ferragamo ties- they always make a great knot, and they stay fixed. I have a couple Hermes, but I just don't like them as much.
As an aside, buy your ties second hand. You can get authentic Ferragamo/Charvet/Borrelli/Hermes for prices that give Sears a run for its money. Think about it: men get ties for father's day, birthdays, christmas, etc...but after a few years, do you really need another?
They end up on Ebay and in yard sales often. I got my first real tie (a Borrelli) from a yard sale in the nice part of town my freshman summer back from college. I think I paid $10?
I tie a four-in-hand with all but my widest collars, for which I tie a Windsor. There's no reason not to learn both of these knots, unless you only own shirts of a common collar width.
Some people definitely wear windsors, but I would rather just tie a double four-in-hand to get a thicker knot to wear with a wider spread collar. I associate windsor knots with negative things for whatever reason, which is why I don't like to wear them. Doesn't have as much to do with the actual look of them, I guess.
NexT, Drake's, Charvet, Hermes, Four in Hand
http://www.styleforum.net/t/90886/info-best-ties-list
Turnbull & Asser for school / university / club ties, otherwise Charvet, Hermes, Ferragamo.
Half-Windsor or Four-in-Hand.
Sam Hober or bust, boys
+1 for Brioni
What tie knot do you guys go with? (Originally Posted: 11/17/2013)
I usually use a four-in hand, it's just what my dad taught me growing up. But I tried practicing the half-windsor yesterday and was having trouble making sure it was crisp. It looked a little bulky when I was doing it. It might have been the type of tie I was using (Joseph A. Bank)?
Wondering what you guys go with.
i go with the half windsor
it also depends on the type of shirt you are wearing. I.e. spread collar - full Windsor, etc.
I usually go with half Windsor, Pratt or Four in Hand. For spread collar as Cornelius mentioned full Windsor is a must.
just don't do this...
What's wrong with this? Looks sharp enough to me, could use a little more triangular shape, but nothing too terrible in my opinion. Is this considered sloppy?
Always something different. Have a full windsor right now wearing a spread collar
That is not horrible, I have seen a lot worse. Just needs to be tightened a bit
Thank you.
full windsor harvey specter knot
Actually, that's the only thing that's "off" in my opinion with Harvey's appearance. That fat knot should belong to Louis only. Harvey would look more dashing sporting a smaller, slightly askew tie knot.
http://boston.barstoolsports.com/random-thoughts/merril-hoge-and-his-gi…
Are you kidding? That look a knot a clown tied...
half windsor.
Four in hand for most. Pratt for spread collar, just use a thicker tie.
Half windsor because it's the only one I know how to do. Just use a thicker tie if I'm wearing a spread collar.
The fact that kids think that looks fine is the problem. If you don't want to look like a clown, then don't do the full windsor. Just stick with the half windsor.
Whatever comes out when I tie at 5:30ish in the AM on the way to work as long as it looks reasonable.
What tie knot do you use? (Originally Posted: 11/17/2013)
I usually use a four-in hand, it's just what my dad taught me growing up. But I tried practicing the half-windsor yesterday and was having trouble making sure it was crisp. It looked a little bulky when I was doing it. It might have been the type of tie I was using (Joseph A. Bank)?
Wondering what you guys go with.
Tight half windsor, NOT Merrill Hoge stuff
I feel bad for MH's personal battles...but that knot I will never understand
half windsor
full windsor.. not too sure of the social protocol for each type of knot.
i go with the half winsor
Half windsor usually. Don't really see the point in anything else, it's the best compromise between looks and complexity.
Prince Albert
Why did you make two threads?
Sorry about that, I think I posted one, didn't think it went through and then posted again
Half windsor with a spread collar.
4 in hand ftw
Eldredge knot ftw. I'm actually a fan of a full windsor with a spread collar shirt.
half windsor
Another vote for the half windsor.
Half windsor
What kind of tie knot is this? (Originally Posted: 11/06/2011)
http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lu8zaaP39F1qzleu4o1_500.jpg
four-in-hand
I thought 4 in hands were asymmetrical
Double four-in-hand. Just a four-in-hand but you wrap it around twice, leading to the second layer peeking out in the back. And it is asymmetrical
I wanna send my boss a tie with dicks on it.
.
This is a Prince Albert knot. Tie it like a four in hand, but wrap it twice. When you create the knot, make sure the tie goes through both loops.
Tie knot for CV book (Originally Posted: 09/03/2012)
I am taking a photo tomorrow for my b-school CV book. Do you guys think companies notice (give a crap), about what tie knot you have?
Any suggestions?
As long as it's not a double windsor, it's fine. Generally, for male fashion you should look to Prince Harry and Prince William. You can't go wrong copying either of their styles.
looool
Merril Hoge or bust.
there is absolutely no way I will ever dress like an NFL commentator, especially Hoge. Those dudes take business formal (or whatever they call it) to a whole new level that I just can't pull off.
standard noose should be OK
My advice is that it depends on the tie knot you use should depend on the collar of the shirt you wear.
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