How to Tie a Tie: Full Windsor

The largest of the three common tie knots. It's symmetrical and has a commanding presence. It works well with narrow or thin ties and wide collars.

This knot is one loop more complicated than the Half Windsor, so it's two more complicated than the Four in Hand. It's a large, symmetrical knot that's good for thin ties or wide collars.

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 much 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.

Loop the wide end around the left branch of the Y at the top of the knot by putting it through the center of the Y. Make it hang to your left when you're done.

Bring the wide end around behind the knot.

Now loop around the other (right) arm of the Y, like we did in the Half Windsor Loop step.

Loop the wide end around the front of the knot.

Bring the wide end of the tie through the Y at the top of the back 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.

You may also need to tidy up the knot by pulling down on the front of the outermost loop so that it fully covers the loops around the arms of the Y.

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

The Full Windsor is a substantial knot. It is pleasingly symmetrical, forms a distinct triangle, and fills out a wide collar nicely. It may be too big for many of the ties currently in fashion, but it can add heft to a narrow tie or one made from thinner material.