How to Tie a Bow Tie:

Although a large majority of men nowadays wear a so-called pre-tied bowtie, the true bow tie aficionado will tie his own. Tying your own bow tie not only can be fun, but it also allows for adding a personal touch in styling, size and fit of the bow. Below are instruction on tying your own bowties.

1. Just like you do when tying a necktie flip up the collar, and lay the bow tie around your neck with one end hanging about 2 inches lower than the other.
   
2. Cross the longer end of the bowtie over the narrow end, and then wrap it from behind through the gap between bowtie and neck.
   
3. Now fold the shorter end of the bow over.
   
4. Pull the wider end over the folded part of the bow from step #3.
   
5. Wrap it all the way around back through the gap between neck and bow tie. Don’t pull tight yet, but create a loop in front of this wrapping. Take the bow tie and pull it through this loop.
   
6. Tighten the bow and give it a final adjustment to your liking.
   

How to tie a Half Windsor Knot

Tying a Half Windsor Knot:

The half Windsor knot is the smaller brother of the popular Windsor knot - also known as Double Windsor or Full Windsor knot (please scroll down for instructions). The half Windsor is, just like the Four in Hand knot, a smaller tie knot. When compared to the Four-in-Hand, the half Windsor is a little thicker and a touch wider. Tie this type of knot for medium-width collar spread dress shirts.

Half-Windsor Knot Instructions:

 

1. As with all tie knots: Flip up your collars, button the town button and lay the tie around your neck. The wide end of the tie should hang about 5-6 inches lower than the narrow and, and the inside of the tie should have your body.
   
2. Loop the wide end of the tie thorough the gap between neck and necktie.
   
3. Pull the wide end of the tie back over to the front. Pull it slightly tight. Then, take this end of the tie and wrap back behind the narrow end of the tie.
   
4. Then, wrap the wide end of the necktie back over the front of the narrow end. Don’t pull tight but create a loop at the front of the unfinished knot.
   
5. Just like you did in step # 2, pull the wide end of the tie in between your collar and the tie. Then, pull the wide end thorough the loop you created in step #4.
   
6. Give the half-Windsor knot a final adjustment and flip down your collars. Done!