How to Tie a Tie: Half Windsor

The middle of the three common tie knots. It's symmetrical and looks very sharp. This is a great all-around knot, suitable for many collars and ties.

This knot is one loop more complicated than the Four in Hand. It's more symmetrical, and a little bigger.

It's one loop simpler than the Full Windsor.

Lift your collar and place the tie around your neck with the front side facing out. The wider end of the tie should be on your right. You'll probably want to make the narrow tail of the tie considerably shorter than the wide end. Finding the right balance may take a few tries.

Grab the wide end of the tie and cross it over the narrow tail.

Bring the wide end back under the narrow tail. Then grab the narrow tail just under the newly-formed loop.

This is where we diverge from the Four in Hand.

The basic knot now forms a Y. Loop the wide end of the tie around the arm of the Y closest to it (on your right).

Now it's back to familiar territory: Loop the wide end around the knot.

Bring the wide end of the tie through the Y at the top of the knot and also through the loop you just formed.

Tighten the knot by grabbing the tail and holding under the knot while you pull down on the wide end.

Then bring the knot up to the collar by pulling up on the knot while you pull down on the narrow tail.

Repeat these two motions as necessary.

Flip down your collar and adjust the placement of the knot.

This knot still looks more formal than the Four in Hand when it's loosened a little, since it's more symmetrical. Notice that the top line of the knot is horizontal, not diagonal.