Knit Tie Guide - How to Wear Knitted Ties [7 Style Tips]

There is a time for everything; This is so true when it comes to wearing the amazing knit tie as it is about life in general. Let’s talk about knitted ties.

Everyone who reads MR KOACHMAN already knows that I’m generally inspired by things and people around me, so it wouldn’t sound strange if I told you that I decided to write this piece after my experience at a wedding party I attended with my friend Jack over the weekend. The celebrant, Vincent, happens to be Jack’s colleague; we both received the wedding invitation from him and so we obliged.

As we walked into the wedding reception, we first saw a group of young men (obviously groomsmen) standing near the entrance of the door wearing a uniformed 2 piece single breasted black suits with notch lapel style (and…with the not-so-classy single vent on the suit jacket), white wing collar dress shirts with pleated front (why on earth did they wear that?), and then maroon knit ties.

“What!! Knit Ties?

Common! every guy should know that knit ties have a decidedly more casual feel – why should these guys wear a knit tie to a wedding?” – my friend Jack exclaimed then suddenly lowered his voice as we walked past the beautiful female Ushers to go have our seat at the table reserved for the groom’s close friends.

Then began my style sermon to Jack … and as usual, I’m sharing it with all of you, so you all can learn from it as well.

First of all – Wearing a knit tie to one’s own wedding, as a groomsman or as a guest isn’t a fashion faux pas. When worn correctly, they are excellent accessories – for both formal and casual occasions. 

Here is your guide to wearing knitted ties.

Everything You Need To Know About Knit ties

KNITTED TIES – WHEN SHOULD THEY BE WORN?

Originally, knit ties were considered to be a casual type of neck tie, they were very informal and were never worn with a suit. However, in this modern age, they can be worn with a single-breasted suit, a double-breasted suit and practically any outfit or dress codes that allow for neck ties.

They can also be worn in whatever style you so desire, so as long as you know the basics – how to wear them, how to match them with your outfit and generally the tie rules that should be observed when wearing ties.

KNIT TIE | MATERIAL AND SHAPE

They are usually made of silk, wool or cashmere. Also, they are always straight in shape when compared with the regular neck ties. In terms of which one you should go for, I would suggest you go for knit ties with a strong texture.

KNIT TIE | TYPES AND STYLES

They can be slim or wide which makes them a perfect choice for both formal and casual occasions.  Overall, they are slightly narrower than the regular business tie. When wearing it with a suit, do take note of your suit jacket lapel width size. For wide lapels, go for wide knit ties, for slimmer lapels, go for slim knit ties.

Style Tips For Wearing a Knit Tie

Style Tip No. 1:

In terms of the tie knot style – go for the basic Four-In-Hand Knot – this is a good knot style to tie with a thick or heavy fabric. Considering that knit ties are really thicker than the regular neckties, it is really the best option. Any other tie knot style would result to big and bulky knots.

ALSO READ: 7 Different Ways To Knot A Tie

Style Tip No. 2:

For office wear and in a strict corporate environment where business suits are worn (e.g. banks), I would personally suggest you wear a knit tie on your less serious business days at the office – usually Wednesday, Thursday, and Fridays. That being said, if you have a serious business meeting or a special engagement at the office with top executives (even on these days mentioned), still go for the regular necktie – a power tie preferably.

Style Tip No. 3:

For business formal and business casual occasions, only wear plain knit ties. Avoid colorful or stripe styles. Go for the plain solid ties with deep rich color such as dark blue, burgundy and dark green.

Depending on how fluid your office is with dress codes, you could still choose these types for Monday or Tuesday business meetings – They are classy and powerful and will always get you the attention you desire.

ALSO READ: TIE COLORS | LEARN THE MEANING BEHIND EACH TIE COLOR

Style Tip No. 4:

For a stylish and casual nonchalance look – You should allow the back blade of the knit tie to fall behind the front, thereby allowing both ends hang loose and separately to create the sprezzatura effect

Style Tip No. 5:

For smart casual – you could go for either plain or patterned – plaid, colorful, polka dot or stripe knit ties. These can be worn over chambray or denim shirts. These types are the best for such dress codes. You could also tie the knit tie so that the back blade is longer than the front blade.

Style Tip No. 6:

For weddings, a plain knit tie made from a luxury fabric such as silk or cashmere would be a great option. You can stand out with a solid knit tie in a unique color like teal, silver, burgundy or any other plain color that perfectly complements your suit color.

Knit Tie x Wedding

Knit Tie x Wedding

Style Tip No. 7:

For accessories – yes, you’ll need a tie clip. Tie bars and tie clips are a good choice of accessories for knit ties. Just ensure you use only the plain metal styles to ensure it doesn’t destroy the tie, due to the material the knit tie is made of.

ALSO READ: Tie Bar Guide| 5 Rules To Observe When Wearing Tie Bars

FINAL THOUGHTS | ON BUYING YOUR FIRST KNIT TIES

If you don’t have a knit tie yet, you should get some. When buying your first few knit ties, you should start off with solid colors. Pick up a few in nice colors like navy, burgundy, gray and other color variations and stronger hues of green and light blue. When you are comfortable with these, you can add patterns (striped, plaid and polka dot) to your wardrobe.

P.S. What do you think of knit ties? Do you like to wear them? Have you learned something new from this article? Share your comments below!

For other style rules that govern the use of neckties check out – The 10 Tie Rules All Men Need To Know.

And if you want to learn more about How to improve your style and become a classy gentleman in as little as 30 days, check out my Ebook, Kobi Koachman Ultimate Guide To Men’s Style | A HandBook For The Modern Gentlemen. Thank you.

Until you hear from me again, continue to do well, live well and dress really well. Be Classy.

Yours in Style,

Kobi O. Mbagwu (Mr. Kobi)
Founder, MrKoachman.com
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Mr. Kobi

My name is Kobi O. Mbagwu, a professional image consultant, menswear style expert, and entrepreneur who uses fashion, style and clothing as key tools in transforming ordinary men into extraordinary classy gentlemen. My personal goal is to help gentlemen dress better, live well, do well and develop a unique personal style that matches their lifestyle and goals. I believe that success can be built through style. I believe that fashion is a tool that can be used to change people’s lives positively. I also strongly believe that if you dress well, you look good, and if you look good, you feel good and when you feel good, you worry less, and the less you worry the more you are able to stay motivated and focused on your goals pursuit and by so doing you are able to live a more fulfilling and successful life.

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