How to tie a skinny tie correctly: 9 options with step-by-step photos

The width of men's ties varied from one decade to the next. Throughout the world in the 1960s, it was fashionable to wear thin ties; closer to the 1980s, ties over 4 inches (10 cm or more) became popular. The history of changes in the tie is very varied.

Today, the most common ties are 3.25 to 3.75 inches (8.25 cm to 9.53 cm) wide, but thinner ties are no more than 2.5 inches (6.35 cm) wide. .) are increasingly gaining popularity among young people.

How to tie a thin tie is becoming an increasingly pressing problem, as the thin tie comes out of “fashion circles” and becomes an attribute of a man’s everyday clothes and wardrobe.

In general, there are no special technologies that allow you to tie a thin tie. The principle of forming a knot is exactly the same as when tying a regular tie. Therefore, you can safely use the guide where you will learn how to tie a tie.

At the same time, when purchasing a thin tie in a store, you cannot just wear it with a casual classic suit or jacket. Therefore, in this article we will talk about the features of using a thin tie and what knots are best for a thin tie.

What is a skinny tie?

A skinny tie is a very fashionable accessory, especially popular among young people. It is thinner than standard and measures 1.5 to 2.5 inches wide at its widest point. But at the same time its length is the same as that of a regular tie. This ultra-stylish tie is available in fabrics such as wool, silk, microfiber, cotton and jersey cotton.

Choosing the right skinny tie can add a touch of class and class to your look. A narrower tie shape will give a retro look, while a wider tie will suit a more traditional look.

Features of the herring tie

How to tie a skinny tie correctly? Considered a fairly universal accessory, it has an impressive range of features:

• The unusualness of the herring tie is that its width varies from 3 to 7 cm, while the width of a regular one is about 10 cm. A thin type of accessory nowadays looks much more modern than a regular one and will fit perfectly into a man’s look with style smart casual.
• The main rule when tying such a tie is maintaining proportions. The knots should be relatively small to make the overall look look complete.
• After tying, the edge of the tie should always be slightly higher than the level of the belt, otherwise you will look unattractive with any type of tie.
• When wearing this accessory, a belt is a must.
• If you want to wear a herring tie with a jacket, then you need to ensure that the sizes of the accessory itself and the lapels match.
• The best way to tie a narrow tie is to make a small and asymmetrical knot.
• Any type of tie needs to be studied first, because each of them can be combined with a certain wardrobe.
• Once you have tied a skinny tie once, you should not wear it the next day, as it will leave creases and may make your appearance look untidy. Or first iron the tie in place of the knot.

Variety of elastic ties

A modern tie with an elastic band, like a regular one, can come in a variety of sizes and shapes. These products are divided into wide and narrow. The choice of width is important so that you can tie the item beautifully, depending on the appearance of the garment

In this case, you need to pay attention to the lapels of the suit, that is, its width. This will help you choose the perfect accessory.

In addition, it is important to know that it is best for men with a large physique to opt for wide models, while people with an asthenic physique should focus on narrower products. To determine the length, you need to collect it and hang it around the man’s neck.

In this position it should completely cover the belt buckle. When choosing a color scheme, you should choose solid products without bright flashy shades, on which there are no inscriptions of any kind. Here you need to remember a certain rule, according to which multi-colored ties should be worn only with monotonous shirts.

Four

The first, and one of the most suitable ways to tie a “herring” is a four, or as it is also called, a quadruple knot. With it you can quickly and beautifully tie a narrow tie. In addition, if you have a wide neck, this method will perfectly hide this disadvantage.

1. Take the wide side and place it on the left for convenience. Bring the thick end lower than the narrow end.
2. Place the working end behind the narrow one and make a full turn - a loop is formed.
3. Place your fingers inside the loop and pull the long part of the accessory up through it from the inside.
4. Pass the wide end through the knot and tighten with the narrow end.

Interesting! The "Four" knot was invented by young Englishmen and comes from the word "Four-In-Hand" (Four in hand). This was the name of their club because they drove four-horse carriages. Due to the strong wind, their neckerchiefs and ties quickly came undone, so a way to tie the “Four” came to the rescue.

Some tips

A herring tie is not very demanding to wear, but it is worth remembering that it is more of a youth accessory than a classic addition to a business suit. The belt buckle rule applies to any neatly tied tie - the bottom of the wide edge should just touch the top of the belt buckle for regular-rise pants, and not reach it for low-rise pants.

With a variety of ways to tie a tie knot, everyone can perfect their look with this classic accessory. The concept of style and refined taste will help create a unique image. A narrow skinny tie is a limitless field for experimentation. Having mastered some standard manipulations with it, you can come up with an original knot and be irresistible.

Small node

The second, but no less successful idea on how to tie a narrow tie is a small knot (oriental). It can be tied as easily as a four. It is perfect for busy men who do not want to waste their personal time.

1. Take the narrow end of the tie and position it so that it is above the wide one.
2. Turn the wide part a full turn and pull it out from above, from the inside.
3. Now thread it through the loop and pull it under the top layer of the knot.
4. Pull the narrow part down and adjust to a position that is comfortable for you.

Half Windsor

Unlike the first two tying methods, the Half Windsor knot is slightly larger, but still works well with thin ties.

Please note: any type of tie, be it wide or thin, is more beneficial for a man to tie if at the final stage a “Dimple” is made at the base.

1. To start tying, place the narrow edge below the wide one by about 5 cm.
2. Cross the two ends, the narrow one should be over the wide one.
3. Fix the cross and turn the wide edge around the narrow one.
4. Now pull the wide end between the collar and the accessory.
5. Wrap the wide part around the narrow part again.
6. Pull it up, pulling it through the loop.
7. Thread the wide end through the loop and tighten.

This type of knot will be more difficult to tie than all those presented above. However, after practicing for some time, tying such a knot will not be difficult for you.

Types and choice of clothes for a bow tie

For most guys, a bow tie immediately evokes fear of being in an awkward situation. But there is no need to be afraid, there is always a time and place to wear this sophisticated accessory. Here are some examples of when it is correct to wear a bow tie:

• wedding or formal event. In this case, the outfits are often more formal, so you shouldn't be afraid of looking overdressed. In addition, most likely there will be many men in bow ties in the crowd;
• At work. After a certain amount of time has passed, you can determine whether this type of tie would be appropriate in the office. You can opt for a dark blue or gray butterfly with a thin stripe;
• at night time. A night out on the town would be a great excuse to try wearing a bowtie. For such an occasion, a casual style is suitable - a shirt with buttons, a vest and a bow tie. This is exactly the time to try a butterfly with pretty patterns or fun colors.

Now many men love to wear such ties. The biggest problem for them, however, is not only that they do not know how to tie a bow tie and what to do with it, but also how to wear it.

Basic rules for combining bow ties and other elements in clothing:

The bow tie. These ties pretty much follow the same rules as any other accessory, and rule number one is to wear a bowtie that is proportional to your body size. Another point to consider is the shine of the fabric. If the bow tie is shiny, it is formal, while matte bow ties are more casual.

Expert opinion. Helen Goldman. Male stylist and image maker. Black and white bow ties are intended exclusively for special occasions. A bowtie is a must have for a more colorful look in your everyday outfit and is a great way to add a pop of color to your outfit and enhance your look.

When creating your image, you should adhere to the recommendation that the shirt and bow tie be of two different colors. A good combination is considered if one of the elements is in a neutral color, and the second is brighter. Neutral colors are considered to be black, white, gray, ivory, khaki, dark blue. To make combinations safer, you can combine colors that are close to each other, such as red and orange or blue and purple. An alternative is to combine completely opposite color spectrums, such as red and blue or green and orange.

Another option for a bow tie combination is to wear one part in a solid color and the other with a print. For example, if you wear a purple shirt, you can decorate it with a butterfly that has a light purple, blue or light green pattern;

Two prints. To wear two patterns in an ensemble at the same time, you should remember the rule that the two print models must be of different sizes. This means that when wearing a shirt and bow tie with a stripe print, one part should contain a thick stripe and the other should contain thin stripes. This applies to any type of pattern, texture or print;

In winter, a gray cardigan or sweater goes well with a classic blue trouser suit, then you should choose a blue or gray-blue bowtie with a matching handkerchief in the front pocket;

With a deep blue suit and a light blue shirt, you should take a dark blue bow tie with yellow and red thin stripes;

Another win-win option is velvet. This ensemble is suitable for a wedding. Velvet is a great fabric choice for skinny guys. Black classic trousers with a black vest and a velvet jacket of the same color are suitable for this.

For a bow tie and handkerchief you need to pay attention to silk fabrics

For reference! A pattern is a symmetrically repeating design, a print is an image that has a clear composition, and a texture is a pattern that can not only be seen, but also felt.

Windsor

The next way to beautifully tie a narrow tie is the Windsor knot. As many people jokingly note, tying a knot will be quite easy if you choose from the list of the most difficult ones to tie. Using this knot you can make a good impression, as it will look voluminous and powerful. In fact, tying this knot is quite simple, since it consists of several repetitions of the same action.

1. Cross the thick edge over the narrow one.
2. Then wrap it around the resulting loop.
3. Pass the thick piece behind the narrow one and wrap it around the neckline again (turn the wide end around twice).
4. Place a wide piece on the resulting knot and wrap it around the loop again from the inside.
5. Thread the wide end through the loop and tighten.

Prince Albert

Prince Albert - unfortunately, this big name has nothing to do with the royal family, but is the prototype of the Victoria knot. This is an asymmetrical knot, which must initially be tied by pulling the tie tightly, otherwise the knot will become sagging and look sloppy.

1. Take the tie so that the narrower edge is on the right and the longer edge is on the left.
2. The edge of the narrow end should be higher, since you will need to work with the long part.
3. Tie a loop and cross the long piece over the narrow one.
4. Bring the working end of the tie in front of the narrow one.
5. Then pull the thick part of the tie out through the top.
6. Thread it through the loop created by the two turns.
7. Tighten your tie and adjust your collar.

If both ends of the tie do not touch, then you have made a mistake in some step of tying the tie. In this case, it’s better to start again, controlling the length of both ends as you go.

Interesting! A narrow tie goes with almost any clothing, but is not suitable for voluminous and wide body types. For men of large build, it is better to choose a wider model, otherwise the accessory will look like a rope.

Pratt

We suggest tying a narrow tie using the “Pratt” method - named after Jerry Pratt, who works for the US Chamber of Commerce. This unit is also often called the "American" or "Shelby" unit. The appearance of the knot is suitable for both an official business meeting and daily wear in the office, and tying it does not take much time.

1. Turn the tie over to the wrong side.
2. Bring the long section below the narrow one and lift it up.
3. Pass it through the inside of the neck loop.
4. Make a half turn with the thick end from right to left.
5. Lift it up again and bring it through the loop below that appears from the knots.
6. Tighten the accessory using the narrow edge.

Cavendish

The next way to properly tie a narrow tie is a knot called “Cavendish”. It got its name not from the famous physicist, but because of the scientists Thomas Fink and Yong Mao, who proved that you can tie a tie in at least 85 ways. At first glance, it may seem that this method was created only for the most gifted, but in fact it is an elementary repetition of the “Four” knot twice. After tying, the knot will have a slightly asymmetrical triangle shape.

1. To tie a tie correctly, take the narrow part in your right hand and the wide part in your left.
2. Cross the working segment beyond the narrow one.
3. After this, turn the working part around the narrow one, all the while holding the loop with your fingers.
4. Lift the working part up, threading it through the neck loop.
5. Now pull it out and lower it down through the loop created by the knot
6. Adjust the loop by pulling the narrow end.

Choosing a knot depending on the style of tie

How to tie herring ties

Narrow ties in the herring style are the most popular among modern men. The products are made of soft satin and are somewhat reminiscent of silk fabric. Small, tube-shaped knots look best with these ties. Ideal options are “Four” and “Half Windsor”.

Stylist Tip: The main goal when tying a tie is to ensure that the accessory hangs evenly and straight. In the case of the herring, on the contrary, it is recommended that the knot be slightly imperfect and loose. And instead of a neat dimple, it is better to get several folds at the knot - your image will only benefit from this.

How to tie narrow ties

The most preferred knots are “Four” and “Half Windsor”. A less popular but still acceptable option is Small Knot.

How to tie thin ties

A thin tie tied with a spectacular Christensen knot or one of its variants called Balthus will allow you to fully express your individuality.

Edbridge

The Elbridge is a really difficult way to tie a skinny tie. To tie it, you need to go through as many as 15 steps. The peculiarity is that the distance that you initially leave when tying near the neck will ultimately remain the same, and you won’t be able to tie the tie stronger at the final point. Therefore, initially you need to do everything closely.

1. To tie this knot correctly, the wide edge should be on the right, narrow on the other side.
2. Take the tie on the right side and make a fold on it.
3. Bring the narrow part from left to right, wrap it around the wide part from behind and tuck it inside the loop.
4. The narrow end should now be on the right side.
5. Bring it over the narrow one and then tuck it from the inside out into the loop.
6. Pull the narrow end to the left.
7. Then grab it from the inside. You need to tuck this edge into its own loop.
8. Now the narrow end needs to be brought under the part that wraps the neck. (repeat this step twice, leaving a small loop the second time)
9. We turn the narrow part from left to right only from the inside, under the wide end.
10. You must push the thin end on the right into the loop left earlier in step 8.
11. Now the remaining piece of the thin end needs to be hidden under the tie; it won’t be visible because of the collar.
12. Adjust any creases in the tie to suit your convenience.

Step-by-step description of the process

For everyday bows, simple knots are usually used, and for important events, more complex and formal ones are used.

The most commonly used everyday options are:

• light or simple knot:
• Pratt node;
• Windsor knot.

Complex knots (butterfly):

• Elridge node;
• Trinity node;
• Christensen knot;
• Wismar node.

The last options listed require more insight and experience.

Light knot

The pattern for tying a light knot will be as follows:

• We unfold the product with the wrong side up, place the wide end of the tie on the left shoulder, and place the narrow end on the right;
• we bring the wide end to the right, the narrow end to the left above it;
• We throw the wide end over the narrow one in the form of a loop, pull it through the neckline onto the chest, insert it into the resulting loop at the narrow end from top to bottom, tighten the knot to the required diameter.

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Pratt knot

The Pratt knot will differ in that when the wide part is thrown over the narrow part, the loop is wrapped towards the neck from top to bottom, only then from right to left, thus forming a double knot.

Double Windsor

The Double Windsor got its name from the fact that, in addition to the usual throwing of the wide end over the narrow one and wrapping the loop to the neck, a double wrap around the narrow part of the tie is used.

Butterfly

The butterfly has always decorated costumes at official events and holidays; for everyday wear it is usually not tied. The instructions will be as follows:

Elridge is perfect for an important social event; for a business meeting it will be too smart;

Grantchester

The last one on our list is step-by-step instructions on how to properly tie a Grantchester knot. It has an average difficulty of tying and is one of the varieties of the “Four” knot. Suitable for men of average height who can afford to wear fairly short ties. The main feature is that work starts from the wrong side.

1. Narrow in the right hand, wide in the left.
2. The narrow section is thrown over the top of the wide end.
3. The thick one wraps the thin one twice, in a full turn.
4. Then pass the wider part through the neck loop from bottom to top.
5. It should be under the narrow one, and then turn it around the narrow one again
6. Pass the working part through the neck loop and push it into the knot created by the wrapping.
7. Tighten the tie for your convenience.

Who suits a skinny tie?

A skinny tie may not suit everyone. So it’s not enough to just learn how to tie a narrow tie correctly, you also need to figure out whether it suits you or not.

It will look best on thin and tall men. The main thing is to make sure that you do not choose an ultra-thin tie, as it will make you look slimmer than you actually are. Shorter guys can also benefit from skinny ties because the thinness of the tie detracts attention from their height and puts emphasis on their face, thus making others think they are taller. Guys with heavy builds should avoid wearing a skinny tie. A narrow tie will only emphasize their already impressive shape.

Choosing the color and complexity of the node

If the accessory is made of thin fabric, it is better to choose a straight knot, for example, the “Quarter” knot. Otherwise, folds and dimples may form at the base, which will look untidy. For complex multi-layer designs, choose plain fabrics with a discreet pattern so as not to distract attention from a large, bright print.

Tying a men's skinny tie beautifully is not that difficult if you practice. It is important to follow a few more rules. You need to fix the accessory around your neck so that its long end reaches the level of your trouser belt. Short men are better off choosing complex knot options. Moreover, the more intricate the knot, the longer the model it is advisable to choose, since you will have to make two, three or more turns.

What accessories to choose and how to wear?

Another interesting question is what accessories go best with skinny ties? Many people mistakenly believe that they are a sufficient decoration in themselves, and there is no need to complement the image with anything, but this is not so. With a skillful combination of a tie and a miniature brooch, your appearance will only improve.

When tying skinny ties, small accessories look best. Due to its small width, bulky decorations look awkward. It is imperative to use a clip with this type of tie; as you may have guessed, it should also be small in size. It is necessary not only for a beautiful look, but for your convenience, because this type of tie is much lighter than a regular one and can dangle in the wind.

Interesting! If we turn to etiquette, the clip is approximately 70-75 percent of the entire width of the tie. In addition, it must be located between the fourth and fifth buttons of your shirt.

There are three types of clips: clip, clothespin and chain clip. The best option for a narrow tie is a clip, since both sides of the clip are not jagged.

It is advisable to have cufflinks and a wristwatch in your arsenal. It is recommended to select cufflinks so that they are in harmony with the clip, for example, silver or gold colors. If you are not going to an official reception, then the use of bright and unusual accessories is allowed.

All boys and men should be able to tie a tie beautifully, because it is an indispensable attribute in their lives. Thanks to this accessory, any look will look stylish and fashionable, because nowadays the official style is coming back into fashion.

Accessories paired with a thin tie

Choose a plain, thin tie to pair with a great fitted Italian or British suit, complemented perfectly (style-wise) by a tie clip and/or pocket square. In my opinion, it is best to choose a tie clip made of silver or steel (stainless or chrome plated). Obviously, a thin tie is lighter than a regular tie, and without a tie clip, it will flop around in all directions, which is quite inconvenient. You can learn more about tie accessories in my previous post.

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So, having figured out how to tie a thin tie and which knot is best to use, we can conclude that everything needs proportion and harmony of sizes. However, this should not scare you, but rather encourage you to take a closer look at the new trends in modern fashion for men's suits and jackets, where the thin tie is so firmly established.

I wish you good luck in your experiments!