How to Tie a Tie 

Four Methods:Four-in-Hand KnotHalf Windsor KnotTraditional Windsor knotPratt Knot

Have you tried to knot a tie, only to end up with a horrible tangled tie? Starting with these instructions, a sharp-looking tie, a mirror and some patience, you can become an expert in tying a fabulous tie. Because there are several different ways to tie a tie, we\'ve listed several methods, starting with the easiest tie to tie.

It also helps to not untie it and pull it down so you can put it on and pull it back up

Stand in front of the mirror. Your collar should be up, your shirt buttoned all the way to the top, and the tie around your neck. The wide end of the tie should be on the side of your dominant hand. So if you\'re right-handed, the wider end should be hanging on your right side. If you\'re left-handed,the wider end should be hanging on your left side.

Move the wide end over the narrow end so they cross each other on the seam.

Bring the wide end around. It should be facing off to your left.

Pull the wide end of the tie under the loop around your neck.

Tighten the knot by sliding it up the narrow end. Make sure your tie is straight and the length is appropriate.

The four-in-hand knot is a little asymmetrical at the neck. Don\'t worry about this; it is normal.

Many men with shorter necks prefer the four-in-hand, because the knot at top is very narrow and has a slimming effect on the rest of the neck.

Choose the Half Windsor as an alternative to the Four-in-Hand method of tying a tie. The knot is bigger, resembles a triangle, and is considered to be more distinguished than the four-in-hand (but not as distinguished as the full Windsor). Most men tend to prefer the half Windsor because it isn\'t as bulky to wear.

Place the tie around your neck with the wide side on the right side of your body. Adjust the tie so that the length of the wide side is about three times the length of the narrow side.

You may need to experiment with this step to achieve the right length for the sides of the ties. Some people prefer having the wide side about 12 inches (30 centimeters) below the narrow side.

Cross the wide side of the tie over the narrow side.

Bring the wide side around and under the narrow side.

Take the wide side over the loop around the neck. Tighten a bit.

Bring the wide side over the narrow side, out front, moving from right to left.

Slide the wide side up through the loop around your neck.

Bring the wide side through the knot in the front.

Tighten a bit and shape the knot into a triangle shape. You want your knot to look a bit wider than the Four-in-Hand knot.

Tighten the tie around your collar by pulling on the narrow side of the tie (which should now be hidden underneath the wide side of the tie). If your tie has a loop underneath the wide side of the tie, you may slide the narrow side through that loop to prevent it from "peeking" from behind the wide side of the tie.

Choose the traditional Windsor knot as a more formal alternative to the Half Windsor. The Duke of Windsor started the trend for this knot back in the 1930s. It has remained popular to this day because it projects a statement that suggests the wearer is elegant and has confidence. It\'s more dignified than the Four-in-Hand knot, but a little harder to tie. This knot should be worn with a spread collar.

Put the tie around your neck. One end should be considerably wider than the other. Make sure the wider end is on the right, and about a foot (30cm) lower than the thinner side on the left.

Bring your tie back down. The wide end should be resting to the left of the narrow end.

Pull the wide end through the loop, this time on the right side. The wide end should now be inside out.

Cross the wide end over the thin end again, from right to left.

Fold the wide end through the loop and into the knot at the front of the tie.

Tighten the knot into a triangle using both hands. Slowly tighten the narrow end to bring the tie closer to the neck.

For a more modern, fashionable and casual look, make the knot a good few inches or centimeters down below the collar. For all formal occasions, however, keep the knot at the traditional distance away from the collar.

Start with the tie inside out. The wide end of the tie should be hanging on the right, and the narrow end on the left.

Bring the wide end over the loop around the neck.

Pull the wide end under to complete the loop around the neck. Tighten.

Bring the wide end over the narrow end, from left to right.

Bring the wide end down all the way through the knot in the front.

Shape the knot into a triangle shape and pull on the narrow end to fasten the tie along the collar.

There are different types of knots you can tie, some of which are more appropriate to formal occasions (like the Windsor knot), while others are casual.

In general, the wide end of the tie should hang twice as low as the narrow end.

To make a dimple, hold the top blade on both edges and then pull it down gently until the top blade starts to tighten. A slight convex should appear close to the knot. Use your thumb and forefinger to press the bottom of the knot into a V-shape and the convex will deepen to form the dimple.

Make a mnemonic device to help you remember, such as the word OUAT, which is an acronym for over, under, around and through.