I’ve been eye-balling this knot for a while but can’t figure out which one it is.
It’s worn by Dylon McDermott in “The Practice”. It’s his standard knot which he appears to use on all ties in every episode. It appears to be triangular and pretty symetrical. But it is LONGER (top to bottom) than something like the Windsor knot. I’m having trouble finding a good close-up photo of it online. The following link is the best I could do. link
“The Practice” is on FX early morning Mon - Fri if any knot buffs want to see a better image.
I think it’s just a four-in-hand tied on a thin material. Odd choice, that. Four-in-hands are usually reserved for thick material. It seems to accentuate the elongatedness to do it with a lightweight tie.
I agree it looks like a four in hand. (I would disasgree that it’s used usually for thick material, though. Check out the models at Brooks Brothers, for example. You’ll see some Windsors but also some skinny four-in-hands.)
I wouldn’t have guessed the four-in-hand. I haven’t used that one in years, but when I did I don’t recall them as being as perfectly symetrical as “Bobby Donnell’s” usually appear. “Jimmy” appears to be using a simple knot (like the four-in-hand) and it usually appears just that: simple. Just something to get by. Bobby’s look precise, symetrical, and elegant.
It may be a "Half Windsor, which is less bulky and uses up less length than a full Windsor.
Is this actor very tall? Four-in-hand, and half-Windsors get used a lot by tall fellows, because a full windsor would not leave enough length to reach thier navel, much less the belt line.
The link above gives instructions for all the knots mentioned.
I can’t tell for certain from the pic, but it sure looks like the knot I use, which is a half-Windsor.
I’m just butting in to mention that he has the tie “correctly dimpled” (or whatever the term is) under the knot. I was taught that this is the “correct” way to finish the tie off, and is so very sartorially (?sp?) correct. Anyway, it is sometimes maddenlingly difficult to get this crease in the tie…for me, at least, but good on him!
I vote for a half Windsor, too. A four-in-hand looks more cylindrical than triangular. One side of his triangle is smaller, which you’d get with a half.
The key is to fold the tie into the proper shape before you start to tighten it. (while the “wraps/layers”) are still very loose. Then tighten them just a little and reshape the crease. Tighten a little more. Repeat until knot is of desired density and crease should be perfect. I too like a perfect dimple. To have anything but appears shoddy.
Bobby Donnel is a sneaky bastard! I’ve figured it out. It is a half-windsor. I had tried this knot before, but it never had the length (top to bottom) as Bobby’s. Mine was always smaller and more compact. But after thinking a moment, I realized the knot’s top-to-bottom length is a dependant on the width of the tie at the final wrap. Ties start to get to the narrow width around the knot tying area. His tie is wider at that point meaning either: a) his tie does not narrow as rapidly as most, or b) he’s tying it “short” (like in the 40’s/50’s). After watching several episodes, I noticed that anytime he has his jacket open, his tie is loosened and the top couple buttons of his shirt are undone. With the tie loosened it generally comes a little short of his belt. When its tightened it would probably come above his navel. I suspect that’s why he NEVER has the tie fully tightened while his jacket is unbuttoned.
I was also thrown off the idea of the half-windsor because it is not perfectly symetrical, and Bobby’s knots look so PERFECT. However the slight irregularity on one side is hidden by the collar when tightened and the knot looks perfectly symetrical.
I couldn’t find a good representation of his knot online, but I took a photo of the TV when the last episode came on.
I can’t do what he does, as I perform with my jacket unbuttoned. But wonder if I get ties designed for taller people if I could acheive the same effect. (I would of course have to trim the narrow end to avoid it hanging lower than the wider end.)
Not a clue. Got mine at Barnes and Noble NEW for less than 20 I believe.
It IS the half-Windsor. While true that the half-Windsor is asymmetrical (which you can see when Bobby Donnel’s knot is loosened), when the tie is tightened into position the top portion of the longer (asymmetrical) side is hidden inside the collar. It looks perfectly symmetrical.
