Are you man enough to wear a Trinity Knot?
This flashy, trefoil-shaped knot that is guaranteed to stand out. The knot is quite large and impossible to miss. As you may have guessed, it's difficult to master. Some men love it, some hate it. We'll let you be the judge!
If you want to try out this unique knot, read on and watch our video below.
Summary Of The Trinity Knot
- Size: Large
- Symmetry: Trilateral symmetry
- Difficulty: Hard
- Formality: Social occasions only
- Recommended Collars: Spread collars, cutaway collars
#1. The Trinity Knot – Description And Use
The shape is symmetrical along three axes that meet in the middle, rather than one vertical axis down the center like most symmetrical necktie knots.
It is much too “show-offy” for business situations and can look overwhelming in busy patterns. Select a relatively plain tie – one without too much thickness as the knot is quite bulky.
The shape of the knot is formed by the narrow end of the tie. This means you’ll want to select a tie that has a relatively untapered narrow end.
If there’s a noticeable diagonal taper to the sides of the tie down near the narrow end, the three folds of the finished knot will not be the same size, and the effect will be ruined.
This is one where the knot is its own reward.
There’s no reason to learn it and work your way through the many steps of tying it unless you think you’d enjoy having the unusual trefoil shape under your chin.
But if that does sound like something you want to do, this knot is pretty much your only way to do it — so follow along, and don’t be discouraged if you have to stop and restart a couple times.
After all, if it were easy and convenient, it would have evolved into the “traditional” method of tying our neckties decades ago.
#2. How To Tie The Trinity Knot – Step By Step Guide
- Drape the necktie around your collar with the seam facing inward and the thick end hanging on your right where you want the finished length of the tie to be.
- Cross the narrow end diagonally in front of the thick end, making an X, and tuck it up under the loop around your neck.
- Bring the narrow end back over the top of the loop.
- Feed the tip of the narrow end down and out underneath the loop around your neck, on the far right side of the knot.
- Bring the narrow end horizontally across the front of the knot from right to left. Slip a finger underneath the horizontal band this creates.
- Bring the narrow end up underneath the loop around your collar and down through the horizontal band. Slide a finger underneath the narrow end just above the knot.
- Pass the narrow end around behind the thick end from right to left.
- Feed the tip of the narrow end up over the loop around your collar and through the small vertical loop you reserved in Step 8.
- Pull the narrow end all the way through the vertical loop, still angling diagonally upward and to your right, and snug it down.
- Pull all the slack out of the knot and adjust as necessary to make the three visible folds identical in size and angle. Hide the narrow end either behind the thick end or under the loop around your collar.
This is a knot that may require a bit of “dressing.” Spend a moment straightening the three folds and working any remaining slack out of the knot.
You can tighten by holding the knot in one hand and pulling down gently on the thick end, but do so carefully, and adjust the folds of the knot as you go. If you yank down hard on the thick end you’ll end up distorting the shape of the knot.
Love it or hate it, The Trinity Knot is certainly unique. Maybe you're more of a traditionalist when it comes to tie knots? Perhaps you want to learn how to tie a simpler, more elegant knot?
Click here to discover the 18 other tie knots every stylish guy should know.
Read next: How To Tie A Bowtie On Someone Else
