How to Tie a Tie: The Windsor Knot

3 minutes to learn · Works with any tie

The Windsor knot is wide, symmetrical, and works well with spread-collar shirts. It looks more complicated than it is — most people get it in three or four tries.

Steps

Start with the wide end on the right, extending about 12 inches below the narrow end.
Cross wide over narrow, then bring it up through the loop around your neck.
Bring the wide end down, around behind the narrow end, and up through the loop again.
Bring the wide end across the front, then up through the loop one more time.
Pass the wide end down through the knot in front, then tighten by pulling gently and sliding the knot up.

Tip: practice on a doorknob or in front of a mirror without the tie around your neck first — it makes the motions much easier to see.

Once you have done it a few times, the whole knot takes less than a minute.