Tie knots - does it really matter?

[artificer]

I vary knots based on several things:

1) Cut of the shirt collar, points get Four-In-Hand or 1/2 Windsor, spread collars get 1/2 or full Windsor.

2) The cut of the suit itself - a long, thin lapel doesn't usually want a fat knot.

3) The tie itself. I've got thin ties that go with more Modern suits (60s) that I'd never tie in a Full Windsor, likewise I've got some very lush, thick silk ties that would look ridiculous with a Four-In-Hand knot.

[Jock Scot]

I have absolutely no idea what the tie knot I use is called, it might be a four in hand, but I really don't know. The one thing I do know, it is not a full Windsor knot. In my youth, the wearer of a Windsor knot was regarded with great suspicion by the older generation, I am not sure that applies these days though.

[Peter Crowe]

I have absolutely no idea what the tie knot I use is called, it might be a four in hand, but I really don't know. The one thing I do know, it is not a full Windsor knot. In my youth, the wearer of a Windsor knot was regarded with great suspicion by the older generation, I am not sure that applies these days though.

My late Grandpa (born 1906) told me it was seen as 'racy' and not quite respectable by those who disapproved of the Duke of Windsor and his friends.

[werewolves]

Because I'm fairly tall and finding extra long ties can be a challenge, I usually use a Pratt knot. It has a nice shape, but leaves a bit more length to the tie. On the couple of extra long ties I do have, I like the Windsor. Honestly though, barring the four-in-hand, I doubt most people can tell the difference at a glance. And like one poster stated, the type/width of tie makes a big difference in the choice.

Good resource: http://www.tie-a-tie.net/

[creagdhubh]

My late Grandpa (born 1906) told me it was seen as 'racy' and not quite respectable by those who disapproved of the Duke of Windsor and his friends.

Yes, or those who typically wore the Windsor knot may have been untrustworthy politicians!

[Tobus]

Hmm. Predictably unpredictable results to my question!

I do find it humorous that even a necktie knot can have political connotations. *face palm*

The majority of my ties are silk, and can produce extremely small knots if I want them to. Even with a Windsor. I used to like small, tight knots. Mainly because that's what I knew, and I figured it was correct to have a tight, tidy knot rather than a large bulky one. But now I'm appreciating the more bulky Windsor over the Half-Windsor. I hadn't really given it much thought before in terms of making it look well-proportioned with the collar style or suit cut. You folks have given me quite a lot to consider!

I have tried tucking the tail into my shirt between the buttons, but I don't like doing it. It never really lays like I want, and seems to make me feel lopsided. I'm always worried that people will be able to see it and think it's odd. I've also considered just taking the time to manually shorten all my ties by several inches (though that would be quite an effort, as I have over two dozen ties that I wear on a fairly regular basis).

[Kilted Cole]

I'm a big fan of the Selby or Pratt knot. its more symetrical than most and for men who arn't the largest of gents its not as wide as the full windsor.

[Lime]

I seem to recall reading somewhere that the late Duke didn't actually wear a Windsor knot but I don't expect that this is entirely true: it is much more likely that the real answer is that he wore different knots with different shirts and ties depending on the cut and material.

I personally don't really wear a Windsor knot and confess that I do view it as being slightly "racy" but it is also partly because none of my shirts have a wide cut away collar and partly because the even appearance of the knot itself doesn't add enough visual interest for me... however it is purely my opinion on what looks good on me with my ties and shirts (others probably have an entirely different opinion!) and I do see other people wearing a Windsor knot and think it looks good on them with their ties and shirts.

Interestingly there was a post on the late Duke's ties recently on:

http://asuitablewardrobe.dynend.com/

Scroll down to "on red ties knotted imperfectly"

I find, with some amusement, (it is always interesting to view how your own culture is perceived by others) that non-British commentators knock British Style on the head when they say it is the art of being well but imperfectly dressed.

It is something that many Brits seem to know intrinsically (bottom waistcoat undone, tattershall check with regimental stripes, mismatched tweed, chalk stripe with brown brogues, pocket handkerchief which matches neither tie nor shirt nor jacket, garters not matching tartan etc and so forth) and something which Jock Scot and others describe when handing out gems of advice.

In short I wouldn't worry very much about having the right tie knot; work towards the easy elegance of being slightly imperfect!

[Bugbear]

As long as it isn't a pre-tied, or clip on tie, the knot doesn't really matter....

My father never learned how to tie a neck tie, and always wears clip on ties. This inspired me to learn how to make a few knots and especially tieing a bow tie when I was a kid.

I like the asymmetrical aspect of the four-in-hand knot, and use it on ties made of thick material, or some wide ties; otherwise I might use a half Windsor.

[EHCAlum]

I personally hate a four in hands and use a pratt or a half windsor. I will use a full windsor on a spread collar or for an interview.