Novotny Tie Knot: What It Is & How to Style It

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Plus, how the Novotny knot is different from the Eldredge knot

Co-authored by Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: June 17, 2026 Fact Checked

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Tying the Knot

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What is a Novotny knot?

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Novotny vs. Eldredge

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Styling Tips

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When to Wear

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Other Tie Knots

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Looking for an eye-catching tie knot? Try the Novotny knot! This braided knot is similar to the popular Eldredge, but it’s a bit longer and is a more noticeable centerpiece. In this article, we’ll explain how to tie the Novotny knot, what a Novotny knot is and how it differs from the Eldredge, provide styling tips, and more.

Novotny Knot Tying Instructions

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Step-by-step instructions for how to tie a Novotny knot.

Start with the wide end of the tie on your right and the skinny end on your left.
Pinch the wide end and pull the skinny end across it and up through the neck loop.
Wrap the small end all the way around the big end.
Bring the skinny end up through the neck loop and to the right.
Loop the skinny end around the base of your knot.
Bring the skinny end through your neck loop twice.
Bring the remaining fabric through the knot and tuck it into the neck loop.

Section 1 of 6:

How to Tie a Novotny Knot

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Drape the tie around your neck. Position the tie so that the wide end is on your right side and the skinny end is on your left. The wide end should rest just above your belt. It’s best to use a long tie for this knot, as the tying process involves a lot of wrapping.^{[1]
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- It’s also fine to start with the wide end on the left and the skinny end on the right. Just remember that you’ll be going opposite the directions in the following steps.
Just beneath your collar, pinch the wide end of your tie so it forms a dimple. Then, bring the skinny end across the front of the wide end and pull it up from the underside of the neck loop. Pull it through and bring it over to your left side.^{[2]
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Take the thin end of the tie and bring it around behind the wide end so that it’s on the right side. Then, loop it around the front of the wide end so it’s back on your left side.^{[3]
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Bring the small end of your tie up and through the neck loop from the underside. When you pull it out, bring it to the right side of your body. When you lift the skinny side of your tie, you should see the base of your knot.^{[4]
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Bring the end of the skinny side of your tie around behind the base of the knot to form a loop. Pull the end through the loop. Hold the base of your tie to tighten it as you complete the loop.^{[5]
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Take the skinny end of your tie and bring it through the top of the neck loop. Loop it through again, this time bringing it toward the left side of your body. The skinny end should be very short at this point.^{[6]
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Take the remaining fabric of the skinny end of your tie and pull it through the second knot you created. Tuck the excess fabric behind the fabric of your neck loop to complete the look.^{[7]
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To tighten your Novotny knot, simply pull down on the wide end of your tie, holding the knot with your other hand. Slide the knot up toward your collar if it needs adjusting.^{[8]
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Section 2 of 6:

What is a Novotny knot?

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The Novotny knot is a layered, braided necktie knot. It was created by and named after tie enthusiast Patrick Novotny.^{[9]
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Research source} The Novotny knot is rather complex, as it requires multiple loops and passes, and it’s similar to the Eldredge knot. It’s a statement piece that’s often worn to weddings and parties.
- We explain more about how the Novotny and Eldredge knots differ below.

Section 3 of 6:

How is a Novotny knot different from an Eldredge knot?

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The Novotny and the Eldredge knots look almost identical because their tying processes are very similar. The main difference is that the Novotny is slightly longer, more asymmetrical, and is a more noticeable focal point on the tie. Some people who’ve tried both knots also think the Novotny is a bit easier to tie.^{[10]
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Section 4 of 6:

Novotny Knot Styling Tips

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Because the Novotny knot is large and requires a lot of wrapping, it will look too cramped if you pair it with a narrow shirt collar. To look your best, opt for a shirt with a wide collar, like a cutaway or a semi-spread collar.
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Opt for a solid-colored tie rather than a patterned one. Because the Novotny knot is complex, it may clash if you tie it on a loud, patterned tie. While you can, of course, wear whatever you want, it’s best to choose a tie that’s a solid color or a mild pattern, like a light paisley.
- It’s also best to choose a longer tie, as the wrapping technique will use a lot of fabric.

Section 5 of 6:

When to Wear a Novotny Knot

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Wear the Novotny knot to formal events. Because the Novotny has a unique look, it’s a great way to turn your tie into a statement piece. Save it for formal events, like weddings or parties, or whenever you want to show off your sense of style.
- Because the Novotny is an eye-catching knot, it’s probably best to avoid wearing it to work, interviews, or other professional environments.