Tie the tie one inch longer and either put the back end in the tie's keeper or live with it. One inch longer probably would not go that far down below your belt. In my case, I don't bother with the keeper loop most of the time anyway. If the back end of the tie shows once in awhile, that's what happens. I don't even consider it sprezzatura or whatever.

I don't like the narrow end stuck in a shirt. As long as it's the same length or shorter than the wide end, I'm happy and I let the tie do what it may.

 

First, make sure the wide end is coming down to where you want it - at least to your belt buckle, or maybe a bit below. Then if the short end is still showing, try going to a bigger knot, e.g., a full Windsor. That should do the trick unless you're under about 5' 5". If that's the case, you may need to go to custom ties or try the old trick of tucking the short end into your shirt.

 

I have a relatively short torso, so I actually use a double four-in-hand. (I think it's called that)

 

Sorry for saying the obvious, but can't you just retie the tie, giving more length to the large blade? Or is this just a question asking if theres a quicker way to do it because you are... for lack of a better term...lazy?

 

If it's anything more than 3/4 of an inch, then I'd worry, but less can be considered sprezz. Take this example from Mike Cohen (he was CEO of Oxxford when this picture was taken):

Things to note in this picture: the bellied lapels, the silhouette of the jacket, the dangerously slanted tie clip, and that wonderful wonderful shoulder.

 

Thanks, all.

That seems a very usefull shop - I'll have to see if I can find something similar in the UK.

Sorry for saying the obvious, but can't you just retie the tie, giving more length to the large blade? Or is this just a question asking if theres a quicker way to do it because you are... for lack of a better term...lazy?

Yes, I'll have to be less fussy regarding where the wide blade finishes; by the sounds of it 1/2 - 1 inch below the buckle may be acceptable (though I understand many have worn them much longer, or, indeed, much shorter).

Lazy ...? ... me? I like to think not. I'm perhaps being fastidious. Because the tie has a fuller lining a windsor will be too big; half-windsor will perhaps be the better compromise.

 

Cut 2" or 3" off the bottom of the narrow end and seam the bottom. No one will ever know!.
Paul Winston
Winston Tailors
www.chipp2.com
www.chipp2.com/blog/

 

Cut 2" or 3" off the bottom of the narrow end and seam the bottom. No one will ever know!.
Paul Winston
Winston Tailors
www.chipp2.com
www.chipp2.com/blog/

I guess that seems the most obvious solution - and one I never thought of. The ties in question are not too expensive so I think I'd be able to bring myself to do it.

I wonder if many others do this ... on less expensive ties, of course.

 

order shorter ties? (ebay's actually a good way to find these)

 

Many good suggestions, but also consider a Prince Albert knot. Tie a FIH, but make an extra wrap around the knot.

 

Thanks for explaining Jake. I understand the problem now.

Try a tailor. Making a tie isn't rocket science, nor does it require special tie crafting skills. Probably cost you under $10.

If the half windsor is too much, but the four in hand is too little, try the one where the tie starts upside down. The name escapes me, but I'm sure it will come back later.

OTOH, your narrow end doesn't have to line up perfectly with the big blade, so you can get the correct length just using a double windsor. If that fails, I reiterate the tailor suggestion.

 

Yes, I think I will give my alteration tailor a try - always handy to know what he can or can't do.

I wonder if my ties are actually Extra Long? My two new ties measure about 153 cms. I'm 5 11, so I'm surprised I'm having this problem - perhaps my legs are longer than I thought.

 

I wonder if my ties are actually Extra Long? My two new ties measure about 153 cms. I'm 5 11, so I'm surprised I'm having this problem - perhaps my legs are longer than I thought.

153 cm is about 60.2 inches...definitely on the longer side for a tie.

A "normal" tie is about 57 inches from many manufacturers I believe.

 

I have on a few occasions snipped off the end of the narrow blade and then sewn it shut, as was suggested.

Never on an expensive tie. One was a gift that I wanted to wear for the person who gave it to me. The other was some tie I found at a thrift store that just happened to coordinate particularly well with one of my patterned shirts.

Don't walk around on a windy day, and no one will notice.

 

yeah 60 inches is on the long side. I think the standard is around 57 give or take an inch either way. You'd be surprised what a difference a few inches makes.

that's what SHE said!

 

If the half windsor is too much, but the four in hand is too little, try the one where the tie starts upside down. The name escapes me, but I'm sure it will come back later.

You may be referring to the Pratt knot, an excellent, little used knot, that's a little bulkier than the FIH, and thus takes up a little more tie, but less than the windsor. It's also more symmetrical than the FIH. CD's suggestion of the Prince Albert would solve your problem.

 

A lot of makers now have a standard length of 58-59 inches. People complain that their ties aren't long enough because they don't reach their trousers. The problem in those cases is because the trousers are too low. I suffer from long ties because 1) I wear my trousers at my waist and 2) I'm only 5'9".

 

I wore one of the ties in question the other night. In the end I went with a FIH, with the wide blade slightly lower than I normally have it, so the narrow blade did not protrude. I also secured the narrow blade to the underneath of the wide blade with a paper clip, which kept it in place.

CuffDaddy: I would have gone for the Prince Albert, but every time I do it the knot looks tube-like; I can't get it to have tapered look. I'll have to practice some more.

Thanks all for the input.

 

CuffDaddy: I would have gone for the Prince Albert, but every time I do it the knot looks tube-like; I can't get it to have tapered look. I'll have to practice some more.

It does have that tendency. Give it a good, hard sideways pinch at the point where the blade exits the knot; you may need a perpedicular pinch at the top of the knot, too. Unlike a FIH, the Prince Al does sometimes take a bit of fussing.

One final note: let you tie end where you like it. Despite the constant admonition here that ties must end within 1" of the belt's top line, or whatever, you can find lots of photos of well-dressed men (mainly Italians) with ties quite a bit longer. FWIW, I've noticed that Italian makers tend to make their standard-length ties longer than average, the Brits a touch shorter, and American brands generally in the middle. I've seen some Brioni "regular" length ties that were pushing 60", and I think that's because they like them longer. Matt S's comments about trouser rise are also spot-on.

 

Tuck it into your pants. No one will notice.

 

I've used Mute's method a time or two. Modern ties are way too long.

Try looking around for some vintage ties, say '60s or earlier. They are about 50-53" long.

 

CuffDaddy: I would have gone for the Prince Albert, but every time I do it the knot looks tube-like; I can't get it to have tapered look. I'll have to practice some more.

Are you putting the wide blade through the second wrap? If so, try it through the first wrap - depending on the tie, it can produce a far more pleasing knot.

For what's it worth, I can't stand it when the narrow blade hangs below the wide blade. I ordered a tie from Drakes that was over-long (around 60 inches) so I sent it back and they kindly shortened it by two inches without charge.

They did suggest, though, that the narrow blade hanging an inch or so below the wide blade 'looked great'. Each to their own. Call it sprezz or whatever you like, but it just looks sloppy to me.

 

Oh, just stick the darn thing into your shirt!

 

fit comes fist, buy ties around 57" long, or suffer the consquences.

 

Oh, just stick the darn thing into your shirt!

Better to tuck into your trouser waistband.