How To Tie a Bow Tie

how to tie a bow tie male

Need to learn how to tie a bow tie? There is nothing is more dapper than a man in a bowtie. These accessories are elegant, masculine, and they certainly stand out in a crowd. However, knowing how to tie a bow tie is an art that has fallen out of most men’s daily routine.

Luckily, it’s not difficult with a bit of practice. Here are the steps for tying a bow tie:

Did you know that bow ties originated among Croatian mercenaries during the Thirty Year war of the 17th century?

Step 1: Place the Tie in the Correct Position

how to tie a bow tie step 1Lift your collar and place the bow tie so that it sits around your neck. As with a regular tie, one side of the bow tie should fall down longer than the other.

You don’t have to measure exactly, but try to have a couple of inches difference between the sides.

Step 2: Cross and Loop

Take one end of the bow tie in each hand, and cross the longer side over the shorter side. This creates a loop between your neck and where the tie crosses.

Take the longer end of the bow tie and thread it through the loop. Pull both ends tight until the tie is comfortable around your neck. Then, drape the long end over your shoulder.

Step 3: Work with the Short Side

The next step in how to tie a bow tie is to focus on the short side. Find the widest part of the short side, and then fold it over onto itself.

untied-bow-tieThen, turn the short side a full 90-degrees, so that it’s now horizontal.

This should form a loop. It should point to the longer side.

Grasp the folded material at the thinnest part of the tie. It should be right in front of the Adam’s apple.

Step 4: Grab the Long End

Next, take the long end and drape it over the skinny part of the short side.

Pinch the short side, which should look like a bow, and make sure the top of the long side is pinched between the sides of the bow.

Step 5: Create the Bow

You still should have the long piece dangling between the bow. Take this piece and send it back through the small gap that you have created when you pinched the short side together.

Fold the long side onto itself like you did with the short side. Then, pull the loop through the hole.

If you did this correctly, it has formed the back of the bow.

Step 6: Finish the Bow Tie

Now, all you have to do is finish the bow tie. Begin to tighten and straighten the tie by pulling on and adjusting the loops.

how to tie a bow tie stripedDo not pull on the flat ends, only the loops. If you pull the flat pieces, it unties the tie.

Straighten the tie by twisting the knot, and then pull your collar back down, tucking it neatly behind the bow tie.

Take a final look in the mirror, and you are all set with a fresh bow tie.

And remember, even though you may not get it perfect the first time, keep trying. Very few things can improve your look more than a perfectly tied bow tie.

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