Do you want to play up your outfit with a little zest? Without going over the top, you can add a splash of boldness and uniqueness to your style by wearing a knit tie. The knit tie is extremely adaptable for any occasion including work or catching up with friends over drinks.
By learning how to wear a knit tie, you’ll gain a striking look that many people can’t pull off. A knit tie is much like a long-knitted tube sock. A knit tie consists of yarn, usually made of silk, knitted into a long tie-shaped tube.
Like a traditional tie, the knit tie wraps and knots comfortably around your neck. The most noticeable difference you’ll find between traditional and knitted ties is the latter has a knitted texture and a square end. Fewer companies produce them, making them rarer and more unique.
Are you unsure if you can pull off the knitted tie? Here’s everything you need to know about how to wear a knit tie that will complement your attire.
Finding the Right Knit Tie
Knit ties come in a variety of different sizes, shapes, colors, and textures. Many consider the knit tie as casual as it’s a great way to give your dapper outfits a casual look. Here’s what you should consider when shopping for the perfect knit tie.
Know the Width
Knit ties do not taper drastically at one end like a traditional tie. They maintain a fairly even but narrow width. Most knit ties are around 2.25” to 3” compared to the traditional tie which is closer to 3” to 3.5.”
If you enjoy the look of a skinny tie, you’ll love the many options of narrow knit ties available.
The Right Texture
All quality knit ties will have an interesting and unique texture due to the knit. The two most common knit textures are crunchy and soft.
The soft knit tie has a looser knit making it smooth and floppy. The crunchy knit tie has a tighter knit making it stiffer and may cause a squeaky sound if you pinch and rub the tie. Crunchy ties tend to be more popular, but you can’t go wrong with either style.
The Perfect Knot
Learning how to wear a knit tie also involves learning how to tie the right knot. Due to a knit tie’s narrower width and thicker but malleable material, you’ll need to avoid fancy knots. Unique knots can make this tie look awkward and bulky.
Instead, stick with the basic four-in-hand knot, or the traditional tie knot you learned when you were in school. You can make the tie look more casual by letting the back blade of the tie hang loose behind the front.
How to Wear a Knit Tie With Suits & Blazers
A knit tie can still offer a formal air when paired with a business suit or blazer. It adds the right about of texture and matches well with charcoal, gray, and navy suit colors.
The trick to making this look successful is to stick with silk knit ties. While wool makes for a great tie, it’s too casual for business attire. The silk material doesn’t distract from the overall look of your business outfit.
In many cases, a silk knit tie will soften your business outfit including suits and blazers with rope stripes. Sticking to business colors like deep burgundies and dark navies will pull the look together.
If you’re attending a formal event outside of the business realm, try adding a twist by wearing a purple or pink-collar shirt under your blazer. Pair that with a knit tie of a different color, like a dark gray, to add rich color to your look. Other great colors rust orange, bottle green, pale yellow, orange mottled tones, blue mottled tones, and purple.
Add a Knit Tie to Your Casual Outfits
Knit ties can also accentuate your casual suits made of flannel or worsted cloth. Flannel suits lend themselves well to the cooler months as it’s warmer, has a fuzzier texture, and consists of mottled tone yarns making the color more interesting.
The texture of the knit tie is perfect for an informal ensemble due to its natural casual appearance. Try combining your knit tie with a casual Harrington or Safari jacket.
Not planning to wear a jacket? A knit tie looks great with a vest as it fits well in the V-shape gap of the vest.
You can also wear it loosely with a collared shirt and V-neck sweater. This combination works well with heavy cardigans and other cable-knit sweaters. Stick to V-neck sweaters and vests as the V-shape highlights the tie and doesn’t hide it.
As for colors, don’t be afraid to give your ensemble a fun playful look. Accomplish by wearing a knit tie with bolder colors, two-tone colors, and matching the colors already found in your outfit. Try matching the color of your tie to your shoes, pants, shirt, or your socks.
Tweed Jackets Look Dashing with a Knit Tie
Some people will argue the best way to wear your knit tie is to match it with a classic tweed jacket. Tweed has a causal textured look and a rich color that complements the texture of a knit tie.
When wearing a knit tie with a tweed jacket, you want to stick to an earthy subdued color scheme. This is in part due to tweed jackets being the preferred choice for the winter months.
Great knit tie colors to consider include bronze orange, dark purples, bottle green, pale yellows, or a tobacco brown. Try to avoid bright airy colors as these offer a summery look that may look out of place during the cooler months. While deep navy colors may work, you may want to avoid them as they’re usually a business and formal color.
Add a Knit Tie to Your Outfit Today
Learning how to wear a knit tie is a great way to spice up your outfit. They’ll add a splash of personality to your look while working well for any business, formal, and casual occasions. If you haven’t already, add a knit tie to your outfit today!
Want to learn more great ways to improve your style? Check out our latest Style & Fashion articles to stay on top of the latest trends!
Tie image from Eton
