How to Tie a Necktie – The Half-Windsor
A Classy, Versatile, and Relatively Easy Knot for a Tie!
Oct 29, 2008
When it boils down to it, the half-windsor is an excellent knot for nearly all neckwear. It is comparatively easy to master, it looks fantastic – allowing for that expert touch of a dimple in the center – and it will always stand out in a crowd of inferior work and styling.
Beginning the Knot
Begin by placing the necktie around your neck, with the seam facing in towards your nape. You will have to adjust the length according to your height and the length of the necktie, but in general the narrow end of the tie should hang with an area between ones navel and the beginning of the ribs. This is true of both the four in hand and the half-windsor.
Bring the broad end of the tie across the front of the narrow end, pinch the two as they intersect near one's throat, and guide the broader end behind the narrow end. By now, you should be pinching the intersection of the two ends with your left hand, and be able to extend the broad end (tip) of the tie to your right, seam facing outward.
And Now, For the Twist!
Grasping the tip of the tie, bring the tie downwards through the loop around your neck, with the seam and the label both facing you. Now, if you let the tip of the tie hang, the broad end of the tie should be loosely hanging from your neck, with the label and seam facing outwards. The broad end of the tie should be just behind the narrow end of the tie, which should have the seam facing inwards, towards you.
With your right hand, between thumb and forefinger grasp the triangular knot you've formed at the top of the more narrow end – and with the left hand grasp the broader end of the tie and bring it across this triangle, horizontally, removing your forefinger for just a moment to allow the broader end to form the facing of your finished knot! Switch to holding the knot with your left hand, you'll need the right for this final step. By now, when the broad end is extended with your right hand, the seam and label should be facing you.
Finally, The Finishing Touches!
Simply bring the broad end of the tie upwards through the loop and let it fall down in front of the knot – it should be correctly facing outwards, with the seam facing your torso. Grasping the tip of the tie and supporting the knot with one's free hand – place the tip inside of the knot facing, then gently reach up into the knot, grasp the tip, and pull it through the knot facing.
The Elusive Dimple
With a bit of practice, one can even dimple the tie in the center! This produces a very refined and professional look, a detail that wows many and might even draw a few questions as to how to achieve this dimpling.
After the tie has been pulled through the facing of the knot, but before it has been pulled snug – grasp the fabric of the tie very lightly at the point where it just escapes the knot. The thumb should be on one side of the fabric, the middle finger on the other side of the fabric, with the index finger pressing somewhat firmly in the center of the fabric so that ridges form on either side of the index finger.
Pull the tie snug slowly while constantly applying this slight pressure. The dimple should remain in the center of the tie as you tighten it – creating a very soft textural detail!
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