Which necktie knot is…
Easy to do,
Relatively small,
& pretty versatile?
Let me tell you – the Oriental Knot.
Not only does it have all 3 of those qualities, it can save you lots of precious time.
If you’re not heading someplace that requires a super dressed-up ensemble, this knot is the way to go.
The Oriental knot is easy to tie, requires a relatively small amount of necktie length, and creates a symmetrical knot. When pulled tight it can appear a bit small, making it best suited to men with narrow faces and small collar spreads. It's most appropriate for business-casual and social events.
Summary Of The Oriental Knot
- Size of the knot: Small
- Level of difficulty: Easy
- Formality: Business-casual, social
- Recommended collars: Point collars, smaller-sized collars
#1. Oriental Knot Description
The Oriental Knot is also known as the Simple Knot – and for good reason. It's easy to tie and requires just a relatively small amount of length (or material). You can get it done in under a minute without skipping a beat.
As you'll see in the steps below, only 1 horizontal turn has to be made using the thick end of the tie. No fancy or confusing moves. And guess what? It's a style that's good enough for business-casual, social or other laid-back types of occasions.
Although it's simple to do, this knot isn't very well-known in the West. It's popular in Asia (particularly China), and one of the reasons for this might be how the West is accustomed to four-in-hand and Windsor knots – which are “self-releasing.” Those knots can be untangled through a single pull at the tie. So that is the disadvantage of the Oriental Knot.
Another thing to note is this knot is asymmetrical – designed to lean toward the active end of the tie. And since it's a compact size, it can appear quite small when pulled tight. But that's exactly what makes it the perfect knot for men with narrow faces and taller guys who need some extra length. It works best specifically with thick neckties.
A Note About Tie Length
Back in the 1930s, neckties were very short – they would either stop at your belly button or fall short of reaching your waistline. Ties these days are normally tied longer, but remember that they should not go beyond the waistline since you want them to highlight your face.
Your face – not torso – should be “framed” by the tie in the best possible way. Only the top portion of the tie should be seen. This is especially important when wearing a jacket. If your tie happens to peak out from under the buttoning point, it's going to look odd. You'll end up losing a couple of stylish points.
#2. Oriental Knot – Step By Step
- Drape the necktie around your collar with the seam facing inward and the thick end on your left, two or three inches lower than your desired finishing position.
- Bring the thick end horizontally across the front of the narrow end, and then pass it back horizontally behind the narrow end.
- Pass the thick end again across the front of the knot from left to right.
- Now pass the thick end again behind the knot horizontally from right to left.
- Pass the thick end AGAIN across the front of the knot from left to right. Slip a finger under this third horizontal loop.
- Bring the tip of the thick end up underneath the loop around your collar and feed it up behind the knot, down over the front of the knot and through that third horizontal loop.
- Pull the thick end through the horizontal loop and snug it down.
- Adjust the necktie by holding the knot in one hand and pulling gently on the narrow end with the other.
Click here to watch the video – The EASIEST Knot To Tie
Congratulations! You've just completed your own Oriental Knot. It's a simple, reliable choice for men who like a smaller structured tie knot. You can count on it to work amazingly well for business-casual and social events.
But don't stop there! Check out our article for 18 cool ways to tie a necktie as well as RMRS guide on how to tie a tie on someone else!
