Fashion Hacks for Men

Tired of wearing the same old clothes the same, safe way? Bored of basics? Are you just ready for a refresh? The following fashion hacks might just be for you. Start investing in visual interest—add a pinch of pizzazz—to what’s tried and true without much muss or fuss. 

Let’s get started. 

Fashion Hack #1: 7 Different Ways to Tie a Tie

Who says a tie has to be boring? A subtle fashion hack to follow is to have fun with knots, tie types, lengths, and widths—no need to limit your fun to colors, patterns, and prints. 

The Four-In-Hand

This is one of the—if not the—most popular ways to tie a tie.

1. Start with the wide end of the tie on the right and the small end on the left. Begin with the small end slightly above your belly button (will vary depending on your height and the length and thickness of your tie). Only move the active (wide) end.
2. Wide end over the small end to the left
3. Under the small end and to the right
4. Across the front and to the left
5. Up into the neck loop from underneath
6. Down through the loop you've just made in the front
7. Tighten the knot by pulling down on the wide end. Slide the knot up and adjust.

The Half-Windsor

Another popular way to tie a tie due to its versatility. 

1. Start with the wide end of the tie on the right and the small end on the left. The tip of the small end should rest slightly above your belly button (this will vary depending on your height and the length & thickness of your tie). Only move the active (wide) end.
2. Wide end over the small end to the left.
3. Under the small end and to the right.
4. Up to the center, towards the neck loop.
5. Through the neck loop and to the left.
6. Across the front, over to the right.
7. Up into the neck loop from underneath.
8. Down through the loop you've just created in the front.
9. Tighten the knot by pulling down on the wide end. Slide the knot up and adjust.

The Windsor

1. Start with the wide end of the tie on the right and the small end on the left. The tip of the small end should rest slightly above your belly button (this will vary depending on your height and the length and thickness of your tie). Only move the active (wide) end.
2. Wide end over the small end to the left.
3. Up into the neck loop from underneath.
4. Down to the left.
5. Around the back of the small end to the right.
6. Up to the center, towards the neck loop.
7. Through the neck loop and down to the right.
8. Across the front to the left.
9. Up into the neck loop from underneath.
10. Down through the loop you've just created in the front.
11. Tighten the knot by pulling down on the wide end. Slide the knot up and adjust.

The Simple

With only six steps, this way to tie a tie is as the name suggests—simple. 

1. Start with the backside of the tie facing away from you, the wide end is on the right and the small end is on the left. The tip of the small end should rest slightly above your belly button (this will vary depending on your height and the length & thickness of your tie). Move only the active (wide) end.
2. Wide end under the small end to the left.
3. Across the small end to the right.
4. Up into the neck loop from underneath.
5. Down through the loop you've just made in the front.
6. Pull down on the wide end to tighten. Slide the knot up to adjust.

The Eldredge 

A bit on the bold side, this way to tie a tie has fourteen steps, but certainly makes a statement by achieving a fishtail look. 

1. Start with the wide end of the tie on the left and the small end on the right. The tip of the wide end should rest at the top of your belt buckle. Only move the active (small) end.
2. Small end over the wide end to the left.
3. Under the wide end and to the right.
4. Up to the center, towards the neck loop.
5. Through the neck loop and to the left.
6. Across the front, to the right. Then up into the neck loop from underneath.
7. Down to the left and around the back of the wide end to the right. Keep this part loose.
8. Bring it across the front towards the left and through the loop made in the previous step.
9. Pull the small end towards the left to tighten.
10. Up to the center, towards the neck loop. Down through the neck loop and to the left.
11. Up to the center, towards the neck loop. Down through the neck loop and to the right. Keep this part loose.
12. Across the front towards the left and through the loop made in the previous step.
13. Pull the small end towards the left to tighten.
14. Tuck the rest of the small end behind the neck loop on the left side.

The Van Wijk

Touted as being the tallest wearable knot possible, this way to tie a tie creates a unique, cylindrical knot not for the faint of heart. 

1. Start with the wide end of the tie on the right and the small end on the left. The tip of the small end should rest slightly above your belly button (this will vary depending on your height and the length & thickness of your tie). Only move the active (wide) end.
2. Wide end over the small end to the left.
3. Under the small end and to the right.
4. Across the front and to the left.
5. Under the small end and to the right.
6. Across the front and to the left.
7. Under the small end and to the right.
8. Across the front and to the left.
9. Up into the neck loop from underneath.
10. Down through all three loops in the front.
11. Tighten the knot by pulling down on the wide end. Slide the knot up & adjust. The first and second loop should show slightly underneath the third loop.

The Trinity

1. Start with the wide end of the tie on the left and the small end on the right. The tip of the wide end should rest at the top of your belt buckle. Only move the active (small) end.
2. Over the wide end to the left.
3. Up into the neck loop from underneath.
4. Down to the left.
5. Around the back of the wide end to the right.
6. Up to the center, towards the neck loop.
7. Through the neck loop and down to the left.
8. Across the wide end to the right. Up into the neck loop from underneath.
9. Down through the loop you created in the previous step. Keep loose.
10. Bring the small end around the back of the wide end to the right.
11. Bring it across the front towards the center and through the loop created in the previous step.
12. Tighten and tuck the rest of the small end behind the neck loop on the left side.

Fashion Hack #2: 10 Different Ways to Tie A Scarf

Perhaps ties aren’t your cup of tea, or maybe you live in a chilly climate where scarves are quid pro quo. All good! There are a few different ways to tie a scarf that might suit your fancy. 

Fashion Hack #3: Layer Up

Layering clothes is an easy way to make an outfit interesting by texture. As far as “fashion hacks” go, this isn’t so much a “hack” as it is a style choice, but that’s neither here nor there. Layered clothing is perfect in unpredictable weather or when you live somewhere that experiences all sorts of different climates in the same day. 

Start by mixing and matching what you have to see what works and what you like. Try different fabrics, colors, prints, patterns, textures, and weights. Don’t be afraid to come up with something unconventional—that can be half the fun! And when in doubt, just add a layer. At the end of the day, you can always take it off, right? 

1. Draping: While not a tie at all, draping a scarf can add color contrast to a classic outfit. 
2. Once Around: Wearing a scarf wrapped once around is more for function than fashion, providing more warmth than just draping would. 
3. Overhand knot: 
• Drape the scarf around your neck, making one end longer than the other. Take the long end of the scarf, cross it over the short end, then bring it under and through the opening near your neck to tie.
• After you tie the knot, pull on both ends of the scarf to tighten it until you are satisfied with the look.
4. Reverse Drape: As it sounds, the length of the scarf falls behind you, providing neck protection and warmth as well as a bit of flair amid frigidity. 
5. Parisian Knot: 
• Fold your scarf in half widthwise, then fold in half again lengthwise.
• Drape the scarf over your neck, and then bring the loose ends through the hole formed by the folded end to tie the knot. Tighten and then you’re done!
6. Fake Knot:
• Drape the scarf around your neck, making one end longer than the other. Take the long end of the scarf and bring it behind and around itself to form a loop, then take the end down and through the loop.
• Grab the other end of the scarf and bring it down and through the loop as well to tie the knot. Work the knot up to your neck by gently pulling on each end of the scarf while sliding the knot up.
7. Reverse Drape Tuck:
• Drape the scarf around your neck, making one end longer than the other.
• Take the long end of the scarf and loop it once around your neck. Now take the same end and tuck it through the loop you just formed. Grab the other side of the scarf and tuck it through the loop as well to tie the knot. Adjust the scarf if necessary.
8. Reverse Drape Cross:
• Drape the scarf around your neck and make one end longer than the other.
• Take the long end of the scarf and bring it up and around your neck. Now cross the long end of the scarf over the other end, then bring it up and through the opening you just formed to tie the knot.
• Pull on the ends of the scarf to tighten if needed, and you’re done. 
9. Four In Hand: Sound familiar? Same idea as the tie knot above. 
• Take one of the loose ends of the scarf and pull it through the loop formed by the folded end. Twist the loop, then pull the other end of the scarf through the loop to tie the knot. 
10. Twice Around: The same idea as the Once Around above but doubled. 
• Drape the scarf over your neck, making one end much longer than the other. Take the long end of the scarf and wrap it around your neck, then repeat again, bringing it around your neck a second time. This is another knot where you don't really tie the scarf.

Fashion Hack #4: Sock It To ‘Em

Men’s socks are a style staple nowadays! Your old and worn gym socks are just for working out—they have no place in your now more curated closet. Socks add a pop of personality while also serving their functional purpose. Again, it’s all about colors, prints, and patterns, but you can also play around with lengths—both sock and pant lengths—depending on how much sock you want to show off. Do you want your socks to complement or contrast? Do you want a pop of something different, or more of a monochrome look? Scroll around and explore different men’s dress socks and start experimenting with your anklewear. 

Fashion Hack #5: Just Have Fun 

Fashion is as much about fun as it is about function. Hopefully these fashion hacks gave you some ideas—got the gears turning—and helped broaden your horizons to what your closet is capable of. Maybe this showed you some gaps to fill, pieces to pick up, and tricks to try. 

And remember, if you feel a little worse for wear in the style department, Stately’s stylist-curated men’s clothing subscription boxes are just a few clicks away, or you can pick up a few out of the box individual pieces to get a feel for what we offer. 

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