About 41.2% of the US workforce is made up of people in office jobs, and over half of these employees are men. If you're one such successful man, it's important that you dress the part. Pairing men's suits with the perfect neckties is one way that you can look as professional as you are.

Here, we're going to discuss how you can choose the best tie to suit your needs. We'll also discuss how to tie a tie the right way (and ensure a symmetrical look). Read on to ensure that you form a good impression on superiors, coworkers, and clients alike.

How Do Successful Men Choose the Best Ties?

To choose the best tie, it's important that you first consider your professional persona. The clothes that you wear at work are part of your personal brand. You need to look sharp to sell yourself as a capable and successful employee.

If you want to appear no-nonsense and straight-laced, consider getting a tie in a solid color. Neutral hues are great, especially black and dark gray. However, burgundy, navy, and forest green are also good options for those with simple and elegant tastes.

If you're looking to be a bit more unique and expressive, consider getting a striped or paisley tie. These options have sophisticated and unique patterns on them that can draw your ensemble together. They're eye-catching, professional, and a good conversation starter.

How to Tie a Tie: A Step-by-Step Guide

Once you select the perfect tie for your personal style, you likely will wonder how to tie it. This largely depends on the type of tie that you purchase, but we're going to focus today on how to tie a classic necktie.

There are four commonly used knots in the US, and the easiest to learn is the four-in-hand knot. However, this is a poor choice for the most successful men because of its asymmetry. The Pratt knot, another option on the list, doesn't look great because the narrow end of the tie faces outward.

The Windsor Knot: A Regal Necktie

The most fashionable and symmetrical knot, known as the Windsor knot, is a far better choice. To form a Windsor knot, here's what you need to do:

1. Drape the tie over your shoulders with the wide end over your right shoulder
   • The skinny end should hang over your left side
2. Cross the wide end over the skinny end
   • The wide end should be on top of the skinny end
   • This will divide your tie into three regions:
     • The left, by your left shoulder
     • The center, between your Adam's apple and collarbone
     • The right, by your right shoulder
3. Move the wide end under the narrow end and upward into the center region
4. Bring the wide end over to the right region so that it lays parallel right above the skinny end
5. Move the wide end from the right region to the left region
   • Make sure that it goes underneath the narrow end
6. Move the wide end up to the center region (ensure that it's vertical)
7. Move the wide end from the center region to the right region
   • Like in step 5, make sure that it goes under the knot
8. Move the wide end to the Left region over the front of the tie
9. Put the wide end under only the narrow part of the tie and move it to the center region (from the left side)
10. Bring the wide end down through the front loop
11. Make sure that the knot is fully tightened
12. Pull the narrow end down and move the knot up to your collar with the other hand

If you plan to wear a tie made from thicker materials, the Windsor knot is a poor choice. It will be too large and look very strange. It also is unsuitable for shirts that have narrower collars since the knot will once again appear incongruously large.

The Half-Windsor: An Everyday Alternative

Half-Windsor knots are better for those who are wearing a thick necktie or who have a narrow-collared shirt. They're slightly less noble and elegant because the knot is thinner, but they still are symmetrical and businesslike.

They're also easier to tie than full-Windsor knots are:

1. Perform steps 1-5 of tying a Windsor knot
   • You'll ultimately end with the wide part in the left region, the skinny part in the right region, and a half-tied knot that looks just as a Windsor knot would after Step 5
2. Take the wide end of your knot out of the shirt from left to right
3. Bring the wide end under the knot and move it to the center region
4. Bring the wide end down and pass it through the loop that's in front of your shirt
5. Tighten the knot fully
6. Pull the narrow end down with one hand and move the knot up to the collar with the other hand

We recommend using a half-Windsor for everyday use. Windsor knots can be reserved for days where you're meeting with clients, vendors, or company superiors. They are perfect for more formal and important situations.

Complete Your Men's Fashion Ensemble Today

While dressing up for professional and formal events can be a challenge, having the right tie to draw your ensemble together makes it much easier. Now that you know how to choose and tie a tie, it's time to get started.

Shop for men's ties in our online store to find the best deals on professional men's suit accessories. In addition to the neckties that we talked about, you will find bow ties, club ties, regimental ties, and more. We're committed to helping you look as classy and successful as possible, so we look forward to working with you soon.