A dress shirt which buttons at the collar

A mirror

A bowtie

15-30 minutes--beginner's luck

5-10 minutes--intermediate and fussy

Less than 1 minute--show off!

2torial #0538: Learn2 Tie a Bowtie In search of the elusive bowtie... Sooner or later,whether it's your wedding, a gala dinner, choir concert or the Academy Awards banquet, you will come up against the elite of contemporary neckwear: the bowtie. Most bows are pre-tied these days, fastened merely by clips or a hook. But tying a classic tie, known as a butterfly knot by the French, is about as easy as tying your shoelaces once you've practiced a few times. Here are the basics to knotting this natty little fashion statement. 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. Bowties look their best with plain white, or solid-color dress shirts. For formal events you should probably wear a white "tuxedo shirt" with a gull wing or tab collar. Give yourself a few extra minutes when tying a tie for the first time. Allow yourself to re-tie the knot higher or lower until you get it the right length. Part of good grooming means paying attention to the details. Any person who's important to you will notice and appreciate the effort. Step 1