How to Tie a Tie

There are several standard ways to knot a tie: the Four-in-Hand knot; the Windsor (Double Windsor) knot, purportedly invented by the Duke of Windsor, though he later disclaimed the invention; the half-Windsor; and the Pratt (Shelby) knot, invented by Mr Jerry Pratt, who used to work for the United States Chamber of Commerce, Incidentally, if you ever hear this knot referred to as the Shelby knot, well it's not quite true. Don Shelby featured it on TV, and in the time-honored tradition of TV, received all the acclaim instead of its true inventor. To be fair to Don Shelby, it was the New York City fashion stylists, rather than Shelby himself who misdubbed it.

Whether one chooses the four-in-hand, the Windsor, the half-Winsdor, or the Pratt (Shelby) knot, each should be tied so that there is a dimple or crease in the center of the tie just below the knot. This forces the tie to billow and creates a fullness that is the secret to its proper draping.

How to tie the Windsor (Double Windsor) knot.
Wide and Triangular.
A full knot best suited for spread collar shirts.
1. The wide end "A" should extend about 12 inches below narrow end "B". Cross wide end "A" over narrow end "B". 2. Bring wide end "A" up through loop between collar and tie; then back down.
3. Pull wide end "A" underneath narrow end "B" and to the left, and back through the loop again. 4. Bring wide end "A" across the front from left to right.
5. Pull wide end "A" up through the loop again. 6. Bring wide end "A" down through the knot in front.
7. Using both hands, tighten the knot carefully and draw up to collar.
 
How to tie the Half Windsor knot
Symmetrical and Triangular.
A knot you can use with any dress shirt.

1. The wide end "A" should extend about 12 inches below narrow end "B". Cross wide end "A" over narrow end "B". 2. Bring wide end "A" up around and behind narrow end "B".
3. Bring wide end "A" up. 4. Pull wide end "A" up and through the loop.
5. Bring wide end "A" around front, over narrow end "B" from left to right. 6. Again, bring wide end "A" up and through the loop.
7. Bring wide end "A" down through the knot in front. 8. Using both hands, tighten the knot carefully and draw up to collar.

 
How to tie the Four-in-Hand knot
Narrow and slightly asymmetrical.
The perfect knot for a standard button-down dress shirt.

1. The wide end "A" should extend about 12 inches below narrow end "B". Cross wide end "A" over narrow end "B". 2. Turn wide end "A" back underneath narrow end "B".
3. Continue by bringing wide end "A" back over in front of narrow end "B" again. 4. Pull wide end "A" up and through the loop around your neck.
5. Hold the front of the knot loosely with your index finger and bring wide end "A" down through front loop. 6. Remove finger and tighten knot carefully to collar by holding narrow end "B" and sliding the knot up.
 
How to tie the Pratt (Shelby) knot

1. Start with the tie inside out, The wide end "A" under the narrow end "B". 2. Take wide end "A" over and under narrow end "B".
3. Pull the loop down and tighten. 4. Take wide end "A" over to the left.
5. Pull wide end "A" up, behind the loop. 6. Bring wide end "A" through the knot and gently tighten. The tip of "A" should touch your belt buckle.

    

The Dimple
1. After you've tied your knot but before you tighten it up to your throat, neatly pinch the fabric directly underneath the knot.
2. Keep pinching as you tighten the knot; make sure the dimple's locked in.