A four-in-hand with no flip over

When we think of an ascot we tend to think of a piece of fine silk that’s semi-flat and somewhat rippling around the neck, tucked neatly into a man’s shirt. A full, upside down triangle of patterned silk appears cleanly, concealing the majority of the chest and lower neck. This is the most traditional way of wearing an ascot and the one that rings clearly in our collective subconscious. Full, grand, and ornamental.

The classic look is achieved by tying a four-in-hand knot and then flipping the long end up and over the knot concealing the tied fabric, creating a full grand covering.

But there is another way to wear an ascot, a more nonchalant way, a more subtle way, an even easier way.

You tie the same four-in-hand knot you would when tying the traditional way, but you stop there and just leave it like that. Just the four-in-hand. Tuck the fabric in your shirt and let the small little subtle knot appear just above your buttoned placket as a small and quiet flourish of color.

It’s less grand, less full, and less covering, and that’s the point. For those who don’t need quite as much fanfare or ornamentation, or for the days that are easier and less formal, the simple four-in-hand with no flip is a wonderful way to wear an ascot in a quiet and understated manner.