The Dimpled Tie Knot

You may have heard men talk about “dimpling their tie knot”. It may look easy, but creating the perfect dimple takes a little bit of practice. Basically the dimple is fold of the tie’s fabric near the knot. It gives the tie a more interesting look, adds more depth, and gives the tie more texture. Knowing how to make a dimple will differentiate the sophisticated tie wearer form the necktie newbie. Below I am giving three tips that will guarantee a perfectly dimpled necktie.

#1: Choose the Right Knot
Some knots are better for the dimple then others. Two great knots for the dimple is the four in Hand as well as the Pratt knot. I never exactly figured out why these two knots are better suited, but fact is they just create a better dimple.

#2: Pinch the Tie
To make the dimple simply pinch the tie near the knot to make it look like a “W” right before tightening it. Create the dimple with your hands first and then secure it by pulling the knot tight. Give the knots a final pinch once tightened and the dimple will stay in place.

#3: Best Ties for Dimpled Knots
Some ties are easier to dimple than others. Best and easiest to dimple are ties made from a coarser fabric such as fine ribbed textured silk. The coarser fabric creates more friction that prevents the dimple from loosing it’s shape.

Other Related Blog Posts by Me:
Guide to The Tie Bar
Mens Dress Shirt Collar Guide

Tie Knot Tips for the Big & Tall

If you are tall then tying a necktie to the right length might sound like an all-too-familiar problem. In the ideal world you would only have ties that are a few inches longer than the average necktie, but in reality finding a good selection of fashionable ties in XL length is quite difficult. If you own a few ties that are too short for your stature, then this article is right for you. In this post I will give the big and tall man tips on how to tie a normal length necktie.

There are four things that factor into the right length needed: Your height, your neck/collar size, the type of tie knot you want to tie, and the size of your belly. There is no doubt that tall men will need a longer than average necktie. To make it easier to decide whether or not you need a normal or XL sized tie, do this: Add together your height and neck size in inches. If the sum is larger than 92 inches then you should be shopping for XL sized ties that are 61-63 inches in length (untied). Or you may also use my Tie Length Calculator

Big & Tall Men Tying Normal Length Ties
99% of all regular length ties are 57-59 inches in length (untied), and will be a good fit for men between 5 feet and 6 foot 2 inches. Even if you are taller, there are a few things you can do to tie a normal sized tie to the right length (ending near your belt buckle). Here are my top 3 tips:

1. Tie a smaller tie knot: Knots like the Windsor take up more of your tie’s length. The best knot here (one that takes the least amount of fabric) is the Four in Hand knot. It is a smaller knot and best for narrow spread collars.
2. Go to a tailor: Go and research for a good tailor. Sites like Yelp.com will make finding a knowledgeable tailor a piece of cake. Have him/her add 4 to five inches of fabric at the narrow part of the necktie. There is no need to try and match the fabric of the tie since it will not be visible. Excellent fabrics are felt and cotton.
3. Wear a 3-Piece Suit: Personally, I am a huge fan of the three piece suit. Only the top few inches of the tie will be visible, and no one will notice a tie that has been tied to short. What does matter is the perfection of the tie knot. Since only a small portion of the tie is visible, the knot will take center-stage.

Other Interesting Blog Posts:
Tying a Tie That is Too Long – Tie Knot Tips for Shorter Men

Thanks for visiting my Site & Blog!

Hendrik

How to Wear a Tie Bar

If you follow men’s fashion then you may have noticed models in GQ, Esquire magazine, JCrew catalogs, billboards, and every other fashion oriented publication, dressed up wearing metal clips on their neckties. These tie accessories, also known as tie-bars, have gained much popularity in recent years. Below I am giving you some basic tips on how to wear a tie bar.

Tie Bars, Clips, Pins, and Co
Nowadays most people simply call them “Tie Bars”. But not every tie bar is created equal. Some slide on, others attach with a spring loaded clip, and others again pin right through the tie. When shopping for tie bars I suggest you choose one that slides over the tie since clips are too bulk and pins can damage the tie. Fore more information on all the different available styles please see my page on Tie Accessories.

Why Tie Bars?
The the bar was initially invented to prevent a tie from dangling around too much. It is not surprising that tie bars became more popular with the invention of slimmer, so-called skinny ties in the 1960s which tent to dangle quite uncontrollably. Soon the tie bar became a must have accessory for the skinny tie and combined function with fashion. In the 1970s, 80s, and 90s ties became wider again and tie bars became less common. Since the skinny tie experienced a re-birth a few years ago, tie bars are also celebrating a come-back.

Best Ties for Tie Bars
Best are slimmer, European neckties that have a width between 2 and 3.25 inches. Although tie bars can be worn with any design and tie color, it usually looks best when they accessorize plain and elegant solid color neckties in darker contrasting colors, such as navy and classic black.

Tie Bar Colors and Materials
Typically tie bars are silver or gold. Lower cost models typically are made from stainless steel while more expensive pieces are handmade from sterling silver, platinum, and gold. Typically the simpler and sleeker the design, the more formal and classy the tie bar will appear. When choosing between silver and gold colored tie bar you want to pair them to all other metals on your ensemble such as the buckle on your belt, your watch, and cuff links.

Thanks for visiting my site.

Hendrik