A dress shirt which buttons at the collar

A mirror

A necktie, available in a cascade of colors and designs

15-30 minutes-- beginner's luck

2-10 minutes-- intermediate and fussy

Less than 1 minute--show off

2torial #0537: Learn2 Tie a Necktie Fastest necktie in the west! Ascot and bertha, cravat and Four-in-hand, rebato and Double Windsor-- there's a world of variation in fashionable neckwear. Some of them are badges of office, some have gone the way of the dodo bird and the woolly rhino. This 2torial will walk you through the basics of tying two standard business tie knots. Your associates will rave, your family will cheer, and best of all you'll feel great knowing your necktie is straight and in place. Leave the clip-ons at home! Choose a tie that fits your personality and matches what you are wearing. Despite how logical it sounds, striped ties do not go with striped shirts or jackets. Choose a solid or patterned tie with striped shirts. If you decide to wear that loud tie your kids gave you for Christmas, then put on a plain white or solid-color dress shirt first. Which knot for my business tie? Use the Double Windsor for thin materials such as silk, and with wider ties. Hand-knit or woolen ties are too thick for the Double Windsor; use a Four-in-hand when you need a smaller knot. Step 1