The more parties you attend…
the COOLER everyone looks.
All these confident guys…
awesome haircuts, custom made suits…
Darn. How do you edge them out?
Well… why not change the small details…
like the style of your TIE?
Most guys don't try unique knots…
like the Cafe Knot.
I'll be honest: the Cafe Knot isn't for everyone – it's ridiculously complicated.
It's stylish and draws lots of attention… but only the most committed guys can execute it. It was the trend for frequent cafe goers back in the early 1900s.
Apparently it was a powerful symbol of one's knot-tying skills.
This knot has a signature pair of “diagonals legs” which frame up the center – forming a sort of 3-piece triangle.
You can match it with a nice casual suit or dressier sports jacket, but it's only for social/casual settings. It's not a style you wear to the office or serious events. As for the collar type, the point and button-down are the top choices.
Up for the challenge? Find out what a Cafe Knot can do for your style! Here are the steps with infographics for tying this unique knot.
How To Tie A Tie: The Cafe Knot – Step #1
Drape the necktie around your collar and over your body. Make sure the front side of the tie is exposed.
The thick end should be hanging from your right shoulder, about a 1/2 inch lower than the level you want for the finished tie. It doesn't matter if the thin end is longer or around the same length. You’ll be using it up anyway.
How To Tie A Tie: The Cafe Knot – Step #2
Form an X with the tie just below your chin. Make you're crossing the thin end over the thick end.
Use one hand to steadily hold the intersection point of the X shape. Then with the other hand, insert the thin end through the loop you just formed.
How To Tie A Tie: The Cafe Knot – Step #3
Flip the thin end over the top of the knot.
At this point, the thick end is hanging down straight in front of your chest with its front side exposed. Meanwhile the thin end is hanging to its left, also with its front side exposed.
Next, bring the thin end across the back of the knot, passing it from left to right. This will now make its backside exposed.
How To Tie A Tie: The Cafe Knot – Step #4
Fold the thin end and this time, bring it across the front of the knot, going from right to left.
At this point, the tip of the thin end is pointed to your left and its front side is exposed again.
Bring the thin end behind the knot and insert it through the loop once more. This will leave a horizontal band across the front of the knot. The tip of the thin end should be poking from behind the knot and aimed toward the ceiling.
How To Tie A Tie: The Cafe Knot – Step #5
Flip the thin end over the front of the knot so that it hangs while pointing downward.
At this point, the thin end should be lying on top of both the knot and the thick end, and it should be pointed downward just like the thick end. Also by now, you’ve used up enough cloth up so the thin end should be 1-2 inches shorter than the thick end.
How To Tie A Tie: The Cafe Knot – Step #6
Bring the thin end slightly towards the left and then fold it behind the knot, passing it from left to right.
This creates the first “diagonal leg” along the left side of the knot (which is essential to the signature style of the Cafe Knot). The backside of the thin end is exposed once again.
How To Tie A Tie: The Cafe Knot – Step #7
Bring the thin end back in front of the knot, pointing the tip upward and toward your left shoulder. This creates the second “diagonal leg” that mirrors the first one.
Insert the thin end through the loop, going behind the rest of the knot and emerging on the left side. At this point, the thin end is positioned slightly to the left of the thick end. Its backside remains exposed.
The final shape of the knot is now visible: a small “horizontal leg” that's framed by two “diagonal legs” on the left- and right-hand sides.
How To Tie A Tie: The Cafe Knot – Step #8
Tug the thin end firmly and take a moment to arrange the center of the knot. You want both diagonal legs to rise at the same angle, meeting squarely under your chin.
Now it's time to move the thick end of the tie. Flip it up and toss it over either of your shoulders (it doesn’t matter which one). The purpose is to expose the underside of the knot, which has a single horizontal loop that goes right across the back.
At this point, the thick end is pointed upward with its backside exposed, and all three legs at the front of the knot are hidden from view. The thin end is still hanging downward with its backside exposed.
Get the thin end ready for the next step by folding it upward.
How To Tie A Tie: The Cafe Knot – Step #9
Slip the thin end through the horizontal back loop of the knot. It's easy to identify — it’s the only horizontal piece you can see at the moment. This brings the thin end closer to the thick end, with the seams touching.
Pull the thin end all the way through the loop. At this point, it should be shorter than the thick end.
Looking in the mirror, all you should see now are the two ends — belly-to-belly against each other — and the horizontal back loop.
How To Tie A Tie: The Cafe Knot – Step #10
Flip the two ends of the tie back down. You'll see the three-legged front of the knot reappear, and both ends of the tie should be pointed to the ground.
How To Tie A Tie: The Cafe Knot – Step #11
Your necktie is now 95% ready. The triangular shape is visible, and the two ends are hanging beneath it, with the thin end completely hidden from view.
Tighten the whole thing carefully. Since the thin end is the working end (which is unusual in neckties), you adjust the tie by holding the knot with one hand while tugging on the thick end with the other. Tighten until the knot is snugged well against your neck, then adjust the tie loop until the knot is centered.
Slip the thin end through the tag or loop that's found on the backside of the thick end. If there's not enough length for this, use a tie bar or similar accessory to hold the ends together.
Congratulations! You now have a fantastic Cafe Knot tie to bring down the house with. Prepare to be praised, admired and start a lot of great conversations.
Looking for more interesting tie knots to boost your style game? Check out my guide on every tie knot a modern stylish man needs to know!
Click here to see our full infographic on How To Tie The Cafe Knot
Click here to watch the video on YouTube – The Cafe Knot
Click Here to watch the video on YouTube – How To Tie This Unique Knot