Four In Hand

Now, I personally think the way you tie your neck tie and how you form the know is a big portion of the end result. Otherwise impeccable outfit can go down by at least by a half if the knot is all wrong and, say, the tie hasn't been tightened properly. I have to admit I'm a bit obsessed by tie knots, and here's some thoughts I've developed lately. In my opinion this is the most important post I've written so far.

First and utmost, Windsor and half Windsor both make me sick. Very rarely do they work, and mostly when the person wearing them is quite wide and big. Then I can see a medium sized Windsor knot working as it sort of works with the overal habitus. However, in 98% of all cases a four in hand is always more beautiful.

So, what about four in hand? I personally think it's form is better in line with the human shape, and furthermore the unique shape makes it so much more interesting. Now, most people aim for the perfect dimple that's created to the center of the tie. I often do this myself, and here are a few examples of regular Four In Hands as well as double Four in Hands (which I usually tie).

Tie by Tom Ford.

Tie by E. Marinella.

Tie by unknown maker.

Now, for work and especially for more formal occasions I do favor this way of hanging myself, but lately I'va started to grow a liking to a more informal and nonchalant way to present my tie.

After some thinking I've made the following observation: For me the beauty in a four in hand is in the shape of the knot and even more in the sort of squeezing effect is has to the blade of the tie. This is a bit hard to explain, but the point is I no longer favor a single dimple as my to-go kind of four in hand. I actually think the aesthetic just comes from the uniqueness of that day's knot, be it a bit off in some way or even better also correlate with the way you've folded your pocket square. Here is a few examples of four in hands I just tied without any sort of goal.

Tie by Versace.

Tie by E. Marinella.

Tie by Kent Wang.

I think all these knots are a lot more interesting than the previous ones, and all have an even greater effect of that squeezing of the tie blade. Now, I might sound a bit obsessed and crazy, but really it is the details that make just average things stylish beyond others. I'm not saying the single dimple in the middle is worse, but I personally prefer a more the latter one. Just compare and tell me what you think:

Tie by E. Marinella.

Tie by Berg & Berg.

I'd be very interested in hearing what you think, as I haven't really discussed this with anyone and it is basically a thing that has been brewing in the style section of my head for some time. Dimple or just random form?