Five ways to master tying your tie

Whether you’re new to wearing ties or an expert, these easy guides will help you master five of the most popular knots.

If you type “How to” into Google, “tie a tie” is one of the first suggestions that appear, producing over 2.5 billion hits and proving that for many, it’s still a skill that can’t be mastered.

No need to tie yourself up in knots, though — we’ve created five step-by-step guides to achieving the perfect tie knot, whatever your style. You’ll never need to search “how to tie a tie” (or ask someone else to do it for you) again.

RELATED: Wildest outfits at Burning Man 2019

RELATED: Extreme ‘underboob’ bras and singlets the latest fashion trend

HOW TO TIE A WINDSOR KNOT

The Windsor delivers a symmetrical and solid triangular knot that works best with a spread collar.

1. Start with the wide end of the tie on the right and the small end on the left. The tip of the small end should rest above your bellybutton. Move only the wide end.
2. Move the wide end over the small end to the left.
3. Up into the neck loop from underneath.
4. Down to the left.
5. Around the back of the small end to the right.
6. Up to the centre, towards the neck loop.
7. Through the neck loop and down to the right.
8. Across the front to the left.
9. Up into the neck loop from underneath.
10. Down through the loop you’ve just created in the front.
11. Tighten the knot by pulling down on the wide end. Slide the knot up to adjust.

HOW TO TIE A HALF WINDSOR KNOT

The Half Windsor knot is extremely versatile, and resembles the Windsor knot but is less thick and easier to make because it requires fewer steps.

The Half Windsor knot can be achieved in 9 easy steps.

1. Start with the wide end of the tie on the right and the small end on the left. The tip of the small end should rest above your bellybutton. Move only the wide end.
2. Move the wide end over the small end to the left.
3. Under the small end to the right.
4. Up to the centre, towards the neck loop.
5. Through the neck loop and to the left.
6. Across the front, over to the right.
7. Up into the neck loop from underneath.
8. Down through the loop you’ve just created in the front.
9. Tighten the knot by pulling down on the wide end. Slide the knot up to adjust.

Quick and easy diagram to give you the perfect tie.

HOW TO TIE A SIMPLE (ORIENTAL) KNOT

This knot is one of the easiest and most used methods, and contains only a few steps.

1. Start with the back side of the tie facing away from you, with the wide end on the right and the small end on the left. The tip of the small end should rest above your bellybutton. Move only the wide end.
2. Move the wide end under the small end to the left.
3. Across the small end to the right.
4. Up into the neck loop from underneath.
5. Down through the loop you’ve just made in the front.
6. Tighten the knot by pulling down on the wide end. Slide the knot up to adjust.

HOW TO TIE AN ELDREDGE KNOT

The Eldredge is the most complex of tie knots, that should be worn in non-professional situations — due to its extravagance — with open or wide collar shirts.

The Eldredge knot is the most complex of tie knots, and can be achieved in 14 steps.

1. Start with the wide end of the tie on the left and the small end on your right. The tip of the wide end should rest at the top of your belt buckle. Move only the small end.
2. Move the small end over the wide end to the left.
3. Under the wide end and to the right.
4. Up to the centre, towards the neck loop.
5. Through the neck loop and to the left.
6. Across the front, to the right. Then up into the neck loop from underneath.
7. Down to the left and around the back of the wide end to the right. Keep this part loose.
8. Bring it across the front towards the left and through the loop made in the previous step.
9. Pull the small end towards the left to tighten.
10. Up to the centre, towards neck loop. Down through the neck loop and to the left.
11. Up to the centre, towards neck loop. Down through the neck loop and to the right. Keep this part loose.
12. Across the front towards the left and through the loop made in the previous step.
13. Pull the small end towards the left to tighten.
14. Tuck the rest of the small end behind the neck loop on the left side.

HOW TO TIE A TRINITY KNOT

The Trinity knot is similar to the Eldredge in its complexity, and a tie that doesn’t have thick fabric is recommended as the knot becomes quite voluminous.

The Trinity knot is also quite complex, and takes 12 steps to achieve.

1. Start with the wide of the tie on the left and the small end on your right. The tip of the wide end should rest at the top of your belt buckle. Move only the small end.
2. Move the small end over the wide end to the left.
3. Up into the neck loop from underneath.
4. Down to the left.
5. Around the back of the wide end to the right.
6. Up to the centre, towards the neck loop.
7. Through the neck loop and down to the left.
8. Across the wide end to the right. Up into the neck loop from underneath.
9. Down through the loop you created in the previous step. Keep loose.
10. Bring the small end around the back of the wide end to the right.
11. Bring it across the front towards the centre and through the loop created in the previous step.
12. Tighten and tuck the rest of the small end behind neck loop on the left side.