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When it comes to doing up a necktie, the knot is usually left to the wearer’s discretion. Should you create a massive knot that dominates your neck, or one so tiny you’d need a magnifying glass to find it? It used to be all up to you. But in these increasingly precise times of men’s fashion, laissez faire for neckwear no longer works. You have to find the right knot for you and learn to do it, all before that next office mixer with the boss.

Neanderthal Neckties
Yes, there’s such a thing as a knot that’s too big. Even if you try to match the proportions of your tie to those of your own body, there’s still a very good chance that it’s a wee bit off and that excess can count for a lot.

Errors usually result from guys trying to do up those massive, circa 1950-sized neckties that are simply too wide to be considered stylish. The logic is simple: a big, thick tie produces a big, thick knot. Even when you have a knot that’s done about as tightly as it could get, a too-big and too-thick necktie will still be too visually imposing to wear.

At the thickest part, those two points that usually flare out toward the end of its length, your tie should be no more than 3.25 inches across. Some retailers will try to sell you on a 3.5-inch job, but those things will only succeed in making all the wrong messages. In any case, an outfit with a slightly too-thin necktie and knot is harder to detect and easier to remedy than one that’s too big in all the wrong ways.

Knotted Up Anorexia
More recently, there’s been a new wave of neckties on the other end of the size spectrum. These ultra-skinny ties brought the idea of the slim necktie style to all new levels of size, and that’s not a good thing. There’s a line that exists between edgily slim and balloon string-thin, and some of today’s extra-slims crossed that border an inch and a half ago.

Chances are good that you’ve seen some of these errant neckties before on younger men trying to look stylish and avant garde, a tricky enough balance without the super skinny tie. At their most extreme, they resemble either shoelaces or bolos, neckwear so dated that even the most fashion-oblivious rancheros in South America don’t bother wearing them anymore. If you know what they look like, then you know what you should avoid.

Looking at the same area as before, the thickest part of the tie should be at least 2.25 inches across for most guys; you could stretch it to 2 inches, but only for proportion’s sake if you’e super skinny yourself. Otherwise, there’s the risk of looking like you used an electric cord for a necktie, and that’s never stylish no matter how thin you are.

The Correct Knot
In terms of appearance, the four-in-hand is the safest knot of all the known techniques, as it’s the most, balanced, of the lot. It works on almost every body type and thickness of necktie, which is why it’s the first knot you should master. Of course, there’s no harm in knowing other techniques as well. Mastering one technique first, however, is a good idea so that you can get that perfect dimpled tie knot before you move on to other styles.

Windsor and double Windsor knots are also handy to know because they can be used as quick fashion fix-its. Do you have a tie that’s too long for your torso? The extra loops of the Windsor should solve that. Is the necktie you borrowed too thin for your neck? Doing a double Windsor with it gives you a more substantial knot than a four-in-hand.

To do a quick check of your knot, look at your necktie in the mirror. The perfect knot is one that’s subtle and understated, so the knot is too big if it catches your attention right away. Keep it moderate and stick with subtlety, and you should do great.

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Neckties are Hendrik specialty. Not only does he wear one everyday, but he is also the founder of online tie store: http://bows-n-ties.com/ – a site with thousands of elegant neckties to unbelievable prices.

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