Tying A Tie - Is Your Necktie Done Right?
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Tying A Tie - Is Your Necktie Done Right?

By: Hendrik Pohl

Men's fashion magazines make frequent mention of, the right knot, and the perfect necktie, but few really elaborate on these terms. How do you know when you've got the holy grail of men's formalwear, the perfectly knotted necktie? Fortunately, you don't have to wait for Tim Gunn to show up and give you a thumbs-up. Here's a checklist of all the things that have to be there for your necktie to be fashion magazine-worthy.

The Dimple
An ubiquitous term in all the manuals on high men's fashion, the "dimple" refers to the small indentation that you can create. It extends about an inch and a half downward from the knot of the tie itself, and is said to be the single most important indicator of a tie knot that's executed just right.

Experts say that tension is the secret to making a dimple in your knot. In simple terms, it means you have to exert just enough pressure on the main knot as you perform the final feeding of the tie through it. Too little pressure and you'll have a necktie as exciting as a flat pancake; too much and you probably won't be able to feed the tie through the knot in the first place. At any rate, it's something that requires a lot of practice on your own.

The Arc
A perfectly executed knot should also result in the necktie arching up slightly and off your chest, such that it doesn't lie entirely flat against your shirt's front. It's not just an aesthetic qualification; your necktie becomes more manageable throughout the day because the arc and the slight raise prevent it from swinging as much.

Dimpled knots, those that are done "correctly", almost always create an arc. It's an added advantage to practice dimpling your necktie. If you're having trouble creating that perfect arc, though, you could also opt to use a few tools to help you finish your look.

Tie pins are a largely unknown men's accessory that are handy if you're not very good at doing your knots. A small metal implement that's inserted through the shirt and into the tie just under the knot, the pin does the pushing up that should otherwise be made by the arc. It might not create the dimple for you, but it does make the tie more manageable.

Similarly, tie bars are also designed to fasten your tie to your shirt, albeit in another way. Literally a bar of metal that clips across the width of your necktie, you can use it to make a simulated arch by leaving just a tiny bit of slack at the top of your tie and then applying the bar around the middle. It'll create that pushing up effect as well as keep your necktie from flapping around your stomach as you walk and work.

The Length
You've probably had at least one poor teacher or professor whom you ridiculed for the way his necktie fell too long or too short for his body. It's not without reason; there's a prescribed length for correctly knotted neckties, and your instructor probably had some problem or another with his technique.

When done up, the very tip of your necktie should be touching but not exceeding your belt. Considering that most formal belts are about an inch and a half thick, you have some allowance with regard to the final length of your tie. Too short and you look like a prep school kid gone wrong, too long and you look downright disproportionate.

This quality of your tie is as much a result of the tie itself as it is of your technique. If you consistently have a hard time getting the length right, you might want to consider getting a new tie that's longer or shorter than what you have. Most retailers nowadays sell ties in at least three different, sizes, and you might have picked up the wrong one for you.

You might not pay it much attention, but the necktie is the subtlest statement of a man's style and substance. With an immaculately done tie, even the newest hire in the office can look like the boss of the boardroom.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Hendrik enjoys to write about mens fashion, style, and dress codes. He is also the founder of several online fashion stores for men. For more information he suggests you have a look at the section on How to Tie a Necktie - besides tie knots the site offers Ties for men.


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