This knot is ideal for beginners or anyone wanting to add a dimpled effect. It works equally well for casual outfits as well as narrow spread collar dress shirts.
Place the seam-side down of your tie around your neck with its fat end positioned slightly lower than its thin end, and cross them both to form an X close to your neck.
1. Wrap the Tie Around Your Collar
Spread your tie over the front of your neck so that the wide end hangs a few inches lower than the narrow end. Cross the wider end over and behind the narrow end so as to form a triangular-shaped loop between collar and tie – creating an extra visual boost!
Once again, pass the narrow end back over and through the little loop you just created, using your fingers to keep its open at its point of intersection. Next, pass over and down through it again in an opposite direction so it connects back with its counterpart at both ends. Finally, bring the wide end through this same process in reverse to complete its journey back through to narrow end.
Once the wide end has passed back through your neck loop, pull it to the right, passing over and under your narrow end from left to right and creating another loop between neck and tie, creating a triangle shape at your neckline.
Pull the wide end through this loop to tighten your necktie knot, and adjust its size by changing the width of the loop created between your collar and tie. You may also customize its appearance by making adjustments in its width.
2. Cross the Thin End Over the Thick End
Drape your tie around your collar with its seam facing inward, thick end on your right where you want the knot to sit, thin end over thick end to form an X, about halfway down your neck.
Make a statement and help secure the knot by adding an aesthetic flourish by drilling dimples into your tied shirt with ease! Simply place your thumb and forefinger into a V-shape over the bottom of the knot as you pull gently to produce a slight convex shape at its base.
Bring the wide end behind your newly formed knot, passing it twice over the thin end, encasing it with wider thread, to form a horizontal band around them both and creating an open hole at one side. When tightening this new four-in-hand knot you may use one finger through this hole as you tighten up.
To add even more flair, consider creating the Onassis knot (named for Aristotle Onassis, a Greek shipowner). To form this wider knot, bring the thin end over from left to right across your wide end, beneath your neck loop and back up through your horizontal band until completing this second time around.
3. Bring the Thin End Up Through the Loop
Drape the necktie around your collar with the thick end positioned four to six inches shorter than its desired finished length, crossing its thin end over to form an X and threading it through this loop created.
Slip your finger beneath this new horizontal crossing, and then pass the thick end diagonally from right to left across the front of the tie, creating another vertical loop. Bring this narrow end through and up over this third vertical loop you have just created; this will narrow its width while adding dimples for a narrower tie width and dimples in its appearance.
Adjust your tie knot by holding one end in one hand while using the other to pull on its narrow end, or add a pin or tie bar for extra support. This technique works for any type of necktie – but is especially great with spread or cutaway collars! Plus it can add new life to worn out short ties without spending extra money!
4. Bring the Thin End Down Through the Loop
Kelvin knots add a sophisticated look, but can be more challenging to tie than its counterparts such as Windsor or four-in-hand knots. To tie a successful Kelvin, make sure that both diagonal bands on either side are equal in width.
To do this, drape your tie around your neck so that the wide end droops approximately 12 inches beneath the narrow end. Next, cross its thin end horizontally over its thick end and up through your collar’s loop to complete this step.
Once the wide end is through this loop, bring up the thin end from behind it and thread it through the gap between your collar and shirt to tighten the knot and ensure each diagonal band is of equal size. Pull tight on this narrow end for added security.
This knot pairs nicely with solid-color ties and shirts that walk the line between smart and casual, though beware when pairing this knot with patterns such as paisley or floral patterns that could overwhelm its natural creases.
5. Bring the Thin End Behind the Wide End
Install the tie around your collar with its seam facing inward, leaving 1-2 inches lower than desired for its finished length. Cross its thin end diagonally in front of its thick end and tuck it under your looped collar loop for optimal results.
Flip the wide end behind both horizontal crossings, holding them slightly off your collar with one finger. Bring up through your neck loop and pass back over itself so that a horizontal band forms on your left side.
At this point, it’s a good time to check that both diagonal bands are of equal height, with their thin ends resting approximately 1 foot below their thick end (see picture). If they don’t match, adjust by sliding the narrow end upward. Once complete, pull on its narrow end to tighten the knot – this Onassis knot makes an excellent option for formal events like weddings and other formal gatherings where your tietying skills need to shine!
6. Bring the Wide End Up Through the Loop
Drape the tie around your collar with its seam down, positioning its thick end so that it hangs a few inches lower than its narrow end. Hold the wide end in one hand while grasping its narrow end in another.
Cross the thick end over the thin one to create an X pattern, and bring up through your loop of created tie fabric a loop made by thin end, leaving behind it an horizontal band across front of tie reminiscent of your pattern.
Once again holding onto the skinny end, feed it back through the loop you created in Step 9. Pull up through this neck loop your fat end, crossing over it on its left.
Slide the wide end through this loop and pull on its narrow end to tighten it, until it reaches as high as your top shirt button. Adjust as necessary later by pulling or pushing on its thin end; when complete tuck your skinny end back into its hole from Step 7. Your tie should now be secure!
7. Bring the Wide End Behind the Thin End
The wide end should droop slightly lower than the thin end; exactly how far down depends on both length of tie and height. Next, cross it over both halves of neck loop to create an attractive loop around both halves of neck loop.
This is what forms the heart shape of an Onassis knot, named for Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis’ trend-setting style. This knot can make an excellent choice for anyone wanting an easy yet sophisticated tie knot with dimples to match his dimpled appearance.
Bring the wide end up behind the thin end, crossing over the horizontal band formed in Step 6, and slip a finger under this new horizontal crossing point before threading it back through this front neck loop that you created in Step 7; pinch or dimple as desired to form your Onassis knot if desired and adjust as necessary for a proper knotting result! Your Onassis knot is ready to wear; it pairs best with spread collar shirts with wide spread collars while cutaway collars work better (although straight point collars (whose points protrude at an angle less than 60 degrees) don’t work well). It works equally well when worn with solid or patterned ties of equal width/width/width/width combinations – great addition!
8. Bring the Wide End Up Through the Loop
Arrange the necktie around your collar, positioning its wide end just a few inches lower than where you want it to end up hanging. Ensure the thin end rests to the right, with its thick counterpart situated directly behind.
Cross the wide end over the narrow end horizontally from left to right, covering part of your knot. Bring back across from right to left three times before crossing back with thick end again from right to left and covering another part.
Pull the thick end up into the neck loop and pass it between both parts of your knot, passing between them as you tighten. Pull on both thin ends (thin is left for last) with one hand while tightening wide end with another (wide is pulled up as necessary) until desired look is reached – either letting tails hang down or pulling wide end up can give your tie an individual look! When finished you should have an attractive square knot that covers most of its skinny end – excess can always be cut away using scissors!