Dad Teaches How to Tie a Tie & Wear a Suit

Dad, how do I?

Transcript provided by YouTube then edited with AI.

How to Iron a Men’s Dress Shirt

Today I’m going to show you how to iron a men’s dress shirt. All my shirts are 100% cotton—just because I like the feel. But also, since they’re 100% cotton, I can put the iron on the hottest setting.

I also like to use the steam setting, because heat and steam really help get the wrinkles out.

Check Your Shirt Label First

Be careful—make sure to check the label on your shirt. If it’s polyester, rayon, nylon, or some other synthetic blend, the hottest setting could damage the fabric. Always double-check.

Follow a Method

I use a specific method when ironing. You don’t want to iron randomly—if you do, you might end up with a sleeve that got ironed the wrong way or missed spots. Having a consistent method helps you cover everything.

Start with the Front Right Panel

I begin with the front right panel of the shirt and work my way around. I start at the bottom and work my way up, using the pointed tip of the iron to get into smaller areas.

Move to the Back

Next, I iron the back. I divide it into thirds and work on one section at a time, from bottom to top.

When I get to the middle third, there’s often a little gathered area at the top. I iron up toward that point but leave it alone for now. Then I hold the fabric down and pull gently to create a nice crease in the back—about halfway down the shirt.

Then the Front Left Panel

Now I move to the front left panel. A quick tip: the first time I shot a video like this, my ironing board was squeaking like crazy. A little WD-40 on the cross brace underneath solved the problem. So if yours is squeaky too, give that a try.

Iron the Collar

Next is the collar. Again, this is just the method I use—if you have a better one, go for it! But if you’re looking for a reliable system, this one has worked for me for years.

Shoulders and Sleeves

Then I do the shoulders, one at a time.

For the sleeves, I keep them unbuttoned and press a nice crease down the length of the sleeve. It always looks sharp, and it subtly shows you took the time to iron your shirt.

About “Non-Iron” Shirts

Some shirts are labeled “non-iron,” meaning you can take them straight out of the dryer and wear them. Honestly, I’ve rarely found one that doesn’t need at least a little touch-up—so don’t fully trust that label.

Iron the Cuffs

The cuffs can be a bit awkward. Just continue down the sleeve and carefully iron the cuffs.

Once that’s done, hang the shirt up—and you’re good to go!

How to Tie a Tie

Now, I’m going to show you how to tie a tie. Here are a couple of quick tips.

Pick the Right Tie

Choose a tie that picks up a color from your shirt. It’s a classy little touch that pulls your whole look together.

Position the Tie

Flip up your collar and place the tie around your neck with the wide end on the side you want to lead with. The goal is for the tip of the tie to land around your waistline when you’re done.

Too short or too high looks awkward. A big knot with a short tie? Also awkward. Don’t do that!

Tie the Knot

Here’s the step-by-step:

Take the fat end and wrap it around the front.
Bring it around the back and up through the hole near your neck.
Keep an eye on how the knot is forming.
Bring it across the front again, around the back, and through the loop again.

Now, pull it through the front and tighten it up.

Finishing Touches

Once the knot looks good, drop your collar down and make sure nothing’s sticking out in the back—that’s not a good look.

Cinch the knot up. Personally, I don’t always button the top collar button—I like to leave it a little loose so I can breathe.

Adjust the knot so it lands right at your waist. Looks great! I like button-down collars too—they help keep everything neat and in place.

How to Wear a Suit

At some point, you’ll probably need to wear a suit—maybe for a job interview or a wedding. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

The Jacket

Most suit jackets have two buttons. Never button both. Keep it unbuttoned, or just button the top one. That’s the rule.

The Shirt Cuff

Your shirt cuff should show about half an inch beyond your jacket sleeve. Not too much, not none at all—just enough to make everything pop and look tailored.

Pant Length

Your pants should fall neatly on top of your shoes. No bunching at the ankles, and no high waters. Aim for a slight break where the pant hits the shoe.

Buying a Suit

When buying a suit, go for versatility. Choose something you can wear to multiple events—black, navy, or dark gray are all solid options.

For shoes, go with black. They match everything. And make sure your belt matches your shoes. Black shoes? Black belt.

You can always build more options into your wardrobe later. Start with the basics.

Driving in a Suit

If you’re driving to an event, take off your suit jacket. Either hang it on the hook in your car or lay it carefully in the back seat. Driving with the jacket on can cause wrinkles—and you don’t want that right before an important event.

When you arrive, just put the jacket back on and you’ll look sharp.

Final Thoughts

These simple tips will help you look your best—whether you’re ironing a shirt, tying a tie, or wearing a suit for an important occasion.

Thanks for watching, and God bless you.

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This post was previously published on YouTube.

Welcome to “Dad, how do I?” Here you will find “How To” videos by a dad who has raised 2 adults (and we still talk). I will do my best to provide useful , practical content to many basic tasks that everyone should know how to do. On this channel, you will find a variety of content like How To’s, Story times, Dad Chats, and more!

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