Which Knots for Tie?

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?

113 Comments
 

You're interviewing at a tech startup - are you sure you want to wear a tie?

- Capt K - "Prestige is like a powerful magnet that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. If you want to make ambitious people waste their time on errands, bait the hook with prestige." - Paul Graham
 

I agree with CaptK here. Tech Startups are notorious for shunning the suit and tie crowd.

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

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.

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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).

 
econCaptK, 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).
Dude go suit no tie. You'll look professional, without being over the top.
- Capt K - "Prestige is like a powerful magnet that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. If you want to make ambitious people waste their time on errands, bait the hook with prestige." - Paul Graham
 
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CaptK
econCaptK, 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).
Dude go suit no tie. You'll look professional, without being over the top.

^^ 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.

"Jesus, he's like a gremlin; comes with instructions and shit"
 

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.

 

Full windsor, symetrical and looks neat and balanced. Hate when tie knots look like right triangles or little tubes.

"One should recognize reality even when one doesn't like it, indeed, especially when one doesn't like it." - Charlie Munger
 

You do not select knots by "look" you select knots by the ties fabric.

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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.”

Hi, Eric Stratton, rush chairman, damn glad to meet you.
 
Otter.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.

 
DJ Long StraddleI 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?

 
econNow 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

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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

 
adapt or dieThomas 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.

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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.

Hi, Eric Stratton, rush chairman, damn glad to meet you.
 
ensaladaFour-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.

Hi, Eric Stratton, rush chairman, damn glad to meet you.
 

Haines and Bonner. $15 at Marshalls/TJ Maxx. Twice as thick and better knot than my Brooks Bros ties.

"For I am a sinner in the hands of an angry God. Bloody Mary full of vodka, blessed are you among cocktails. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death, which I hope is soon. Amen."
 

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?

 
Ace RothsteinI 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.

Hi, Eric Stratton, rush chairman, damn glad to meet you.
 

it also depends on the type of shirt you are wearing. I.e. spread collar - full Windsor, etc.

------------ I'm making it up as I go along.
 

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?

 

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.

 

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.

"For I am a sinner in the hands of an angry God. Bloody Mary full of vodka, blessed are you among cocktails. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death, which I hope is soon. Amen."
 

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.

 

Half windsor usually. Don't really see the point in anything else, it's the best compromise between looks and complexity.

"When you stop striving for perfection, you might as well be dead."
 

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.

 

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