It is clear that, regardless of the color or material, width or pattern, a stylish necktie is an essential part of any man’s wardrobe. However, too many people spend time picking out the perfect tie only to give no thought to the way in which it will be tied. The slight variations in size and shape of a knot can be suited better to different circumstances, so it is important to have several knots at one's disposal. So, next time you need to wear a necktie, you might want to bear one of these knots in mind.
The Windsor Knot – A classic formal knot, notable for its width and triangular shape. The knot is tied by crossing the broad end of the tie in front, folding it over going back to front, wrapping it around the knot, folding it over front to back, wrapping it around again, and then threading it through the loop in the front of the tie.
The Pratt (or Shelby) Knot – This knot is unusual in that it begins with the necktie worn inside out. The broad end of the tie is crossed behind the thin end. It is then wrapped aro
und the left side of the collar loop, wrapped around the front of the knot, and then threaded through the loop at the front of the tie.
The Pendulum Knot – The secret to this knot is that the middle of the necktie is twisted several times. Keeping these twists tight, the broad end of the tie crosses over in front, is wrapped around the left and then right side of the collar loop, then is wrapped around the front and threaded through. If done right, the twisted tie will act as a sort of spring, twisting and re-twisting inside the knot as the tension is released, causing the necktie to slowly oscillate back and forth.
The Gordian Knot – Jokingly named for the “impossible to untie” knot from the legends of Alexander the Great, th
is knot is actually quite simple to untie. It is a variation on a slipped knot, tied by wrapping two folded loops of the tie around each other, so that a sharp pull on the tie will cause it to unravel. Although it is very easy to untie, it is ironically quite resistant to being cut with a sword.
The Chesterfield Braid – One end of the necktie is wrapped around the other and then folded over forming a loose loop, which the end is then threaded through and folded over forming a loose loop. This process is repeated some four dozen times, resulting in a chain of knots that is twisted around itself, resulting in a loop for the remaining tie to thread through. Once a popular style in London in the late 1870s, this knot is rarely used nowadays, as it takes fifteen or twenty minutes to tie and requires a special 18-foot-long necktie.
(NOTE FOR FRICTIONLESS NECKTIES: It should be noted that all of the above knots rely on friction to hold them together, so will not work on a tie made from a completely frictionless material. In such cases, the wearer should place a pin through the knot in order to hold it in place.)
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