This “knot” or rather, absence of knot, was first seen on the Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis in 1989. Not sure if he is the inventor, but he is certainly the innovator. I have seen several ways to tie it (well only two) one is the Full Windsor base and the other is a Four-in-Hand base. Both end the same way, and both end up looking the same. I prefer the Windsor variation for two reasons: it is a firmer knot, and will knot come loose on it’s own, and it creates a symmetrical knot so it’s easier to keep the top of the Onassis horizontal. But like I said, it hardly matters, start it whichever way feels more comfortable to you.
Knot Dossier
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This goes back at least to the 1930s. Dr Goebbels wore this with a stickpin when wasn’t wearing an oriental knot. An image search will confirm this.
A quick question for the author of this article, how could Aristotle Onassis have popularized this knot in 1989 if he died in France in 1975?
You got me there! I am no historian.
My guess is he popularized it in 1969, not 1989. Amusingly I first saw this knot worn by WKRP character Herb Tarlek who was known to be a loud, obnoxious dresser even by 70s standards.
Good morning all,
I was looking for this know this morning because one of my favorite teachers in Marietta, Ohio, Mr. Muscari, always wore his ties this way in the ’60s and ’70s. So, while Onassis may have made the knot famous, Mr. Muscari rocked the knot 30 years earlier.
Do all you can to make today a better day,
Jeff Hess
Have Coffee Will Write