James Bond famously distrusted men who wore a full Windsor knot, which is too large, too perfect and too try-hard. That's a little harsh - but we do favour a four-in-hand knot for its asymmetry and effortlessness. 

The main issue many gentlemen have with the four-in-hand is that when the necktie is too short for them, they end up using the narrowest part of the blade to form the knot, resulting in a tiny knot. A properly sized necktie solves this issue, of course.


We've been helping our clients get a perfect four-in-hand knot since 2011, and here’s our step by step guide to getting the four-in-hand knot with a handsome dimple right, every time. A video version for this guide can be found on our Instagram post here.

1. Start with the blade (wide end) of the necktie longer than the tail (narrow end).

2. Cross the blade over the tail.

3. Bring the blade under the tail.

4. Bring the blade over the tail, creating a loop that will form the horizontal part of your knot.  

5. Bring the blade upwards, between your collar and the necktie.

6. Tuck the blade downwards, through the loop that you created in step 4.

7. Tighten the knot till about roughly 80% tightness, by pulling down on the blade only. 

8. Form the dimple by pinching the blade just under the knot. Use your index and middle finger to guide both vertical ends of the blade backwards, while your index finger forms an indentation (the dimple). Think of it as a M shape as you are looking downward at the knot.

9. While maintaining the pinch, tighten the knot by pulling on the blade (front) downwards by 1cm or 3/8”, then releasing and pinching it close to the knot again. This gives you control over the position of the dimple. Repeat until the knot is snug, but not extremely tight.

10. Tighten the tie around your neck by pulling on the blade. We recommend tightening it till it is just a bit too tight, then loosening it a little. There should not be any visible gap between your shirt collar and the knot.

11. Done! Ideally, the tip of the blade should sit roughly in the middle of your trouser's waistband, and the tip of the tail should be about the same length. A custom made necktie makes sure the knot is just the right size for you. We can help you here!

You may also find these additional tips useful:

• Start with the wide end about 8 inches below where you want it to end (around the centre of the belt), and start knotting the tie close to your neck - not close to your waist! This will help you get closer to the right length from the first try.
  
  
• Keep all edges flat against each other (as opposed to twisted) when you tie the knot. This gives you better control and prevents unnecessary bulk in the final knot.
  
  
• Form the dimple by guiding the wide end with your fingers as you tighten the knot, not after tightening. This simple trick will force the dimple to be held by the tension on the knot, preventing it from loosening throughout the day.
  
  
• If you're wearing a tie that is way too long or short for you, the knot size is going to be too big or small.

If you've conscientiously tried all the tips and still fail to get a good dimple, perhaps you should consider investing in better neckties. We know a good store to get one…

While we’re at it, let’s talk about something no one mentions - how to remove a necktie properly, and care for them! 

90% of clients that we meet remove their neckties by simply tugging the small end all the way through the knot. If you want to keep your favourite neckwear in good shape for the longest possible time, don’t do that!

Here are some tips to help you extend the longevity of your delicate neckwear.

1. Untie the knot by reversing the process of tying it - not yanking the narrow end out, i.e. if you tie it from step 1-10 as above, you untie it from step 10-1. Your extra 5 seconds of effort prevents the tie from being stretched out of shape.

2. For tie fabrics with a lot of “memory” (generally the case for jacquard silk fabrics with more structure, or unlined ties), you should smooth out the wrinkles gently with your fingers.

3. Always hang the tie for 1-2 days after use to allow gravity to sort out the wrinkles. We recommend keeping them hung for storage too, but if you’re short of space, carefully rolling them up after to take care of hand rolled edges on the tips, if applicable.

4. NEVER iron your ties. A well made tie is intentionally 3 dimensional - an inexperienced person ironing them will press the life out of your ties and turn them into a flat sheet of paper. Take them back to the maker, or at least a specialist tie cleaner if they are mangled for whatever reason. We offer a free pressing service for neckties made by us. Just schedule an appointment to see us and we would be happy to refresh your necktie on the spot with a quick press.