A self tie bow tie looks better than a pre tied one for the same reason a hand stitched collar does: it sits like something a person put there. It also takes one evening to learn and then you have it for good.
Stand in front of a mirror. Ten steps.
- Drape the bow tie around your neck so that the ends are even.
- Cross the right end over the left end.
- Loop the right end behind the left end and bring it back up through the neck loop.
- Hold the front of the bow tie with your left hand and the back with your right hand.
- Bring the right end over the top of the left end, creating a horizontal band.
- Tuck the right end through the neck loop again, pulling it down and to the left.
- Hold the front of the bow tie with your right hand and the back with your left hand.
- Pinch the centre of the bow tie between your thumb and forefinger.
- Bring the left end over the top of the right end and tuck it into the centre of the bow from the back.
- Adjust it so the ends are even and the bow is symmetrical.
Your first three attempts will be crooked. That is exactly as it should be. A slightly imperfect self tie bow is the point, and it is why nobody who knows anything wears a pre tied one.
If the wedding party is spread out
A related problem, if you are the one organising: groomsmen who live somewhere else. The THDR Pocket Tailor app takes contactless body measurements using AI and AR, accurately enough that someone in another country can be fitted for the same suit as everyone standing next to you on the day. It is backed by our Perfect Fit Guarantee, and it is on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Every THEODORE garment is cut to your own measurements. Book an appointment at the studio, at a touring fitting, or over video.