How to Tie a Cravat
The day cravat — worn open-necked or tucked into the collar — is the most elegant way to finish a jacket without a tie. Here's the classic knot, step by step.
- 1
Drape the cravat
Place the cravat around your neck under the collar, with both ends hanging evenly down the front of your chest.
- 2
Cross and loop
Cross the right end over the left, then bring it up and through the loop at your neck, the same first move as a simple scarf knot.
- 3
Form the front fold
Let the top layer fall forward over the bottom layer. Smooth the silk so the wider blade sits flat and slightly puffed, not pulled tight.
- 4
Tuck or leave open
For a formal look, tuck both ends inside an open shirt collar. For a relaxed day look, leave the collar over the cravat and let it sit against the chest.
- 5
Adjust the drape
Arrange the folds so the silk drapes softly and the pattern faces forward. The cravat should look full and natural, never stiff.
Open-necked or tucked?
A cravat tucked into an open collar reads as more formal — ideal for weddings, the races, or a morning suit. Worn over the collar against the chest, the same cravat becomes relaxed daywear that lifts a blazer and open shirt.
Because our cravats are hand-finished in 100% mulberry silk, they hold a soft fold and drape naturally rather than springing flat — which is exactly what makes the knot sit well.
Matching a cravat to the occasion
For formal events, choose deeper grounds — navy, burgundy, forest — and let a heritage motif carry the detail. For daywear, lighter grounds and smaller prints keep the look easy.
For a wedding party, pick a single design in multiples so the groom and groomsmen coordinate without matching exactly.