There are three basic tie knots which can be learned here. The Full Windsor Knot has the largest knot, followed by the Half Windsor and then the Four In Hand.

Whenever you have a spread or wide collar with your dress shirt, it’s best to use a larger knot to fill the space in between, such as a Full Windsor or Half Windsor Knot. If you’re feeling bold, go for the Double Windsor. One note about spread collars, is it looks best with those who have narrow or slim shaped faces. Here’s Lebron sporting a wide collar and a Full Windsor.

A Half Windsor Knot is slightly smaller than the Full Windsor and easier to tie. Since it’s not too bold but not tiny, it’s a safe and common selection among most men. It looks best between a moderate spread collar or slightly pointy, depending on your preference.

The Four In Hand works best with a point or short collar with your dress shirt. The point collar doesn’t leave much room in the middle for anything other than a Four In Hand. If you try a large knot, it looks crowded, somewhat forced. The short collar, with its brief tips, matches well with the Four In Hand’s smaller knot, along with a short, spread collar. Going with a Four In Hand and just a spread collar looks wimpy. You won’t strike fear in your opponents.

Variations of the three basic knots are common, adding your own personal style and taste. A trendy style is leaving the knot loose but that look is dictated by the situation, like winding down a night at 4am or a casual get together. Or maybe you just don’t give a damn, just like Clive.

Regardless, matching the collar with the right knot isn’t very hard and worth the extra step to make you look that much better. If you’re going to put in the time to wear a dress shirt, tie and suit, take the extra few minutes to complete the look. Leave laziness to others.

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