How to Get the Proper Tie Length

Posted by Rishi Chullani on

Achieving the proper tie length can be the difference between looking well dressed, and well - simply put - not being dressed the part. In this guide, we discuss how to get the proper tie length, so you know that you are always dressed appropriately!
So you’ve finally purchased that exquisite tie that you have been deferring for quite some time now.  It’s substantive in weight, the silk is soft and the pattern is striking.  In essence, it’s everything that you were looking for with your most recent purchase.
However, tying the tie seems to be a whole other story. You may have perfected the Full Windsor, or other novelty knots such as the Eldredge, but getting the length right seems to continually confound you. 
You’re in a rush to get to work for your next meeting, and tying your tie the correct length seems to be taking longer than it should.  So what steps should you take to ensure that you end up with the correct length the first or second time around? Here is our quick overview of how to get the proper tie length:

Appropriate Tie Length

Before we get into the mechanics of tying your tie, it should be noted that an appropriate tie length is one where the fat end of the tie falls right at your belt buckle.  Any shorter, and you’ll look like Pee-wee Herman. 
Any longer, and well…you just don’t want that happening.  Not in my book.  Maybe only The Patriots’ deflategate athletes (and I am a Michigan and by default Brady fan!) will be wearing their ties longer than their belt buckles reside.  Not exactly the kind of message you want to get across now, is it?

Proper Tie Length

The tip of your tie should fall at your belt buckle.  Any shorter or longer, and you won't look the part.  Get this detail right!

So with that now set in stone, let’s get into tie tying mechanics.  As a general rule of thumb, you want the wider end of the tie to hang below the belt buckle in relation to the size of your knot before you start tying your tie. 

A Four in Hand knot will therefore require less fabric hanging below the belt buckle than a Half Windsor, and a Half Windsor Knot will require less fabric hanging below than a Full Windsor.  A Full Windsor, as the name implies, is a more comprehensive knot and so will require substantially more fabric to tie the tie than your standard Four in Hand.

Another rule of thumb to check when tying more thorough knots such as the Full Windsor is to ensure that there is not much of the skinny end of the tie left below your neck.  If there seems to be a significant amount (i.e it is reaching your third or fourth shirt button) readjust the tie so that there is more of the wider end hanging down to tie your knot with.

Tie Length For Taller Men

Sometimes, getting this right will still not do justice.  If you are a taller man standing at over 6’1 or 6’2, you will be better off purchasing longer length ties in the market that will enable you to tie a Half or Full Windsor without the skinny end of your tie hanging loose and awkwardly for the remainder of your day/evening.  Proper tie length is everything.

Until next time!  

Feel free to check out some of our favorite ties here at The Dark Knot.  For taller men, we have extra long length ties for every pattern that we sell online, ensuring that you never have to leave the house without adequate necktie length!

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