How to tie a bow tie

A bow tie is a cool alternative to a necktie that you can wear for both parties and work days. Some people don't even want to consider it as an option due to the difficulties of putting it on, but it’s actually not that hard to tie a bow tie. Here is how you do it!

31 May 2022

New Year's party, wedding, prom night or just a regular day at the office? There are many occasions when you want to wear a jacket or a whole suit. And these are always complemented by a nice bow tie or necktie. The necktie is considered more casual and is a natural choice for both work and informal dinners. The bow tie has traditionally been seen as more formal and used for more special occasions, but that no longer applies. The bow tie is cool, trendy and works for anyone who wants to wear it, no matter the occasion.

However, there are a few things that bow tie-wearers should know about. A white or black bow tie is traditionally worn with a tuxedo or evening dress, but for everyday occasions or other festivities a colored or patterned bow tie is spot-on. There is also one more useful thing for bow tie-users to know – how to tie it. A bow tie you tie yourself is much more vivid than a pre-tied bow tie, which can be quite static and a bit too perfect. Turn your back on perfection and invest in the knowledge of how to tie a bow tie. It's not as hard as you might think. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it.

How to do a bow tie

Fold up the shirt collar and put the bow tie around your neck. Let the right end hang a little bit longer than the left one. And place the right end over the left.
Wrap the right end around the left end and fish it up from the inside of the loop. Hold it like that (or put it over your shoulder if you need two hands for the next step).
Take the left end and create a wing by folding it in the middle where it is at its widest.
Put the right end down over the left end.
Grasp the hanging end by its widest part and move it from left to right through the loop formed between the incipient rosette and the string around the neck.
Pull the rosette (or bows) little wings to get it in place. Ta-da!

Style guide – how to choose a bow tie

Matching a bow tie with a suit or jacket is masculine, cool and stylish. A bow tie is perfect for creating a trendy look, and makes fun change from a necktie. Of course, you can choose both a pre-tied bow tie and an untied bow tie, because sometimes you can’t find the untied type of bow tie that you like. But the question still remains – which style of bow tie should you choose? First and foremost, you should choose a bow tie that you think is attractive. One general piece of advice is that the bow tie should not be bigger than the shirt collar. Apart from that, you can think of the following tips to set up a nice bow tie-outfit:

Start by choosing your suit or trousers and jacket.
The next step is to choose a shirt. Our advice is to choose a shirt that is a bit lighter than the jacket. Light blue, white and beige are classic shirt colours that are easy to match. If the suit is a solid colour, it’ll go very nicely with a patterned shirt.
Now to select a bow tie to pair with. You can choose a patterned or solid colour, but choose a bow tie that is slightly darker than the shirt. Choose a bow tie that features the colour of the shirt in it.
There are no style rules that says one material is more correct than another. It’s all about your personal preference. A silk bow tie is always nice and neat, but you can also choose a knit bow tie or a bow tie in a synthetic material. The advantage of a synthetic bow tie is that it’s easier to wash if you get a stain. In addition, it doesn’t wrinkle as easily as a silk bow tie. A knit bow tie gives your outfit a bit more of a retro look and is generally perceived as more casual. In other words, a knit bow tie is a perfect fit for your everyday suit.

Match bow tie with pocket squares

As you might know, accessories are a simple way to dress up your entire outfit. Men's accessories include both bow ties and pocket squares. Choose a pocket handkerchief that harmonizes with the colors of the suit, shirt and bow tie. It’s usually easier with a patterned pocket square because it has more colors to harmonize and play around with. Choose a different pattern on the handkerchief than the bow tie. That is, if the bow tie is spotted, you can choose a paisley patterned or striped pocket square to pair it with. The important thing here is to let the bow tie be the centerpiece and not the pocket handkerchief.