Lately I’ve been wearing ties to the office, and found myself getting tired of the same old four-in-hand knot I’ve used since high school. Today I decided to try a half-Windsor and found, hey, much snappier, and symmetrical to boot!
Long ago I tried doing a full Windsor but only ended up with a squarish baseball sized piece of cloth resting under my chin, so I can’t say I’ve ever successfully worn it. And there are some styles I have yet to try, such as the Pratt knot and the small knot.
So, what styles have you successfully worn in the past? What do you prefer, and why? Stories?
My grandfather showed me the full window years ago (30 years ago to be exact) - still use it - looks smart when done right - but never looks right when done in a hurry
My usual knot is the Windsor; it’s what I learned as a boy and I can (and usually do) tie it half-asleep.
I do have some ties that are just too short/too bulky to do up in a Windsor so I learned the Pratt knot for those occasions. I also find the Pratt a lot easier to tie on someone else from the front, i.e. certain co-workers that had ties as part of their uniform but always depended on asking someone else to tie it.
The half-windsor is symmetrical? Mine are always a little bit off - I thought that was the point, and if you wanted symmetrical (but big) you used a full windsor.
I’ve rarely ever used a four in hand, but I gather it’s more popular in the states.
I used a four-in-hand when I first started wearing a tie regularly, in graduate school on days I taught. Eventually, when I started working, I moved on to a half-Windsor, and used it for many years.
About six months ago, I got curious, and found several videos on the Web demonstrating how to tie a full Windsor.
I’ve used the full Windsor ever since, unless I am wearing a knit tie, which is too bulky.
I have taught my son to tie a four-in-hand. I sort of figure it is a young man’s tie, and he should move on to a Windsor (full or half) when he gets older.
I have a very long torso. So I have to use knots that take up the least amount of fabric possible, or they don’t reach past the bottom of my ribcage. Its always been a four-in-hand knot for me. Not that I wear ties all that often anymore anyway. They are not required for work, school, or any of my regular social activities. And I don’t attend church.
Always Four-in-Hand, it’s worth mentioning that at least up until I retired the Four-in-Hand was the mandatory knot for any of the Army Service Uniforms (Green / White / Blue.) There is a new design for the blue ASU that has been released (you can typically see top brass who appear before congress wearing them) and will replace all the other ASUs which will be discontinued. The blue during my time also required the four-in-hand knot just like the green / white. There was also a bow tie which was specified after retreat (although not usually required IME.)
Small knot or a Pratt, depending on the thickness of the tie. Both can be tied without a mirror while racing to debate rounds, so they are what I teach my students.
I used to be much fatter and so I have a lot of neck ties that were meant for a bigger neck. I now use a Prince Albert knot because it has a double wrap and takes a little more material.