How to Match a Tie to Your Shirt

There are certain style challenges that usually only come with being a man. One such example would definitely be the conundrum of matching a tie with a shirt. One simple way to get around this is to go for pre-packaged shirt and tie combinations when you are shopping for formal wear. Although this sounds sensible, think about the last time you looked at a pre-packaged shirt and tie combination and truly felt inspired by the tie. The shirts are usually okay, but the ties are usually conservative and dull.

By choosing your own ties to match the shirt, you can usually be a lot more colourful with what you choose. However, if you get your combination wrong, you could end up looking ridiculous.

Here are some tips to help you negotiate this difficult area of men’s fashion.

Black Goes with Anything

A black tie looks great with any shirt of any colour, pattern, or design. Yes, we know we mentioned colourful ties, but if you prefer a colourful shirt black is the perfect tie colour for bringing it back down to Earth and creating an understated appearance. This is particularly true if you want to add a touch of flamboyance to your look but work in an office environment where you are expected to be as sober as possible in your appearance.

Go Wild with White

Just as a black tie is perfect for matching with any shirt, if you are wearing a white shirt you have full licence to wear whatever tie you want. It is usually best to go for darker block colours if you are wearing a plain tie, while you can be more creative if you go for a pattern. Try to look beyond a safe pattern such as stripes, too. A plain white shirt demands something exciting; think about polka dots or paisley patterned ties. Avoid ‘gimmick ties’ from certain stores than have stars on them or paint splats; they are never a good look!

Patterned Ties & Clashes

The biggest problem men usually have is when they move away from the two relatively easy options we looked at above. What happens when you want to put a patterned tie with a coloured shirt? The general rule is that the colour of the shirt should be represented in the tie, but be a subtle secondary colour rather than the dominant one. For example, if you have gone for a red shirt, you might wear a tie with red checks or polka dots. Perfect, so long as black or something else is the dominant colour, with red in the background.

Another big problem area is patterns with patterns. You can do this, but only if you are careful and make sure the differences don’t stick out massively. For example, matching a striped shirt with a striped tie is no good, and wearing a paisley tie with anything other than a plain shirt is disastrous. However, you can put a striped shirt with a polka dot tie, as long as you keep the colours the same. In fact, a polka dot tie can be carried off with almost anything, so get one in your wardrobe!

Avoid style disasters when pairing up your shirt and tie combinations. If you need to, look online for a colour wheel or patterns guide so you always know what you’re buying; shop online as much as possible, too, so you avoid making silly decisions when in the shops yourself!

Author Bio: David loves the fashion industry and enjoys writing about everything from shirt and tie combinations to the latest stylish kaftan dresses that are available. In his spare time, David enjoys playing guitar and watching tennis.

 

Let’s go on a treasure hunt...

Oh don’t we all remember those days, when the tiny emblem on the tag was everything, when we just had to covet something because of the name behind it. Branding has played an integral part in fashion, consumption and pop culture. Even though in the bigger picture, this facet of the industry will never completely disappear, we can rejoice that recent years have provided us with an alternative.

The new generation have taken on an almost paradoxical outlook on the art of ‘cool’. Cool is now the opposite of what is ‘mainstream’ and feasible, people are looking to have items that tell a story and emit an air of mystery.

Price is also important.  Statement pieces in the past, whether they are accessories or clothing, were revered for being costly, creating an image of elitism. Now coveting rare items that are well priced is where you want to be.

It seems that the anti-brand has become a brand in its self. Due to pop culture movements such as songs like ‘Thrift shop’ by Macklemore and socio-economic trends like swap shops and car boot sales, the rise in vintage popularity can be deduced to specifics like the world wide recession.

Whatever the cause, let us celebrate  because using and reusing fashion items that reinvent looks and styles over and over again add depth, sincerity and experimentation to a world covered in safe choices and readymade outfits.

Excuse the pun but bring back the gems of yesteryear to spice up a safe world filled with beige and boring, this trend is especially handy when it comes to jewellery. If you want quality buying jewellery always comes at a price but vintage pieces are more economical and more often than not, just way more beautiful.

White Linen, Seersucker and Suits

Summer is upon us. The flowers are blooming, the days are longer and, most of all, it’s hot. In order to stay cool and beat the heat, it is important to dress accordingly. That means wearing light and airy outfits that are designed just for the dog days of summer. Most notably, seersucker and white linen. Nothing is cooler than these two fabrics, so nothing will cool you off on a warm summer evening better than those, either.

It seems like seersucker is available in all shapes and sizes these days. The popular summer fabric has evolved from strict suit attire to be available in whatever you can imagine. Button-down shirts, shorts, jackets, bathing suits, you name it. It’s everywhere. And anyone living in a hot climate with half a brain can figure out why. Not only does it breathe better than pretty much any material, it looks good with a variety of accessories and clothing. When wearing seersucker as a suit, it is best to match it with a plain, light shirt and either white bucks or black or brown loafers. The same rules apply when wearing seersucker shorts. Linen shirts nearly always work, so take advantage of those on really hot days.

White linen is nearly as versatile as seersucker, and just as easy to wear. If you are looking for some good wedding suits that make you stand out from the crowd, don a white linen suit with a pink or yellow tie along with white bucks and black socks. Though white linen bathing suits don’t exist (yet), nearly everything else does. A southern gentleman should always own a white linen suit, but he should probably think about getting a linen shirt for those casual evenings outside. Think about matching different colors and schemes. Intuition usually works with linen combinations, but if all else fails, ask a girl. More often than not, they will point you in the right direction.

When the heat becomes almost impossible to handle, grab a cold beer, put on a seersucker bathing suit and light the barbeque pit. It’s summer time. Enjoy it. 

About the Author: Patrick Rafferty is a marketing consultant for New Era Factory Outlets, a retailer located in New York City specializing in men's formal wear. 

Fashion Principles to Remember for 2013

2013 is the Year of the Water Snake, and as the Chinese say, it is an unpredictable year as the water snake mixes high yin with rising yang (whatever that means). When it comes to fashion, though, you don't want to be unpredictable this year, but would want to stay focused on basic principles. These principles never change, but they sure can help you change and improve your fashion sense.

Be Practical

Practical fashion is real fashion because it allows you to stay in style without having to change what's already in your wardrobe. When looking for fashion tips, don't focus on sources that cannot offer you tips you can use for your everyday fashion life. Be practical and only apply fashion advice you can actually afford to apply.

Be Yourself

Perhaps the most practical fashion advice you can get this year is to be yourself. Just because a particular style looks good on a model you saw on your favorite fashion magazine does not mean it will also look good on you. In the same manner, if you don't feel comfortable wearing a particular style, you might as well change it.

Be In Shape

No matter what the type of clothes is, they will always look better on a person who is in shape than they would in someone who's not. If you are not in shape, make it your resolution this year to take care of your body through simple diet changes and regular exercise. Staying in shape will not only improve your health, but will also boost your confidence, something you go to have if you want to look and feel better with whatever your fashion style is at the moment.

Listen to Expert Advice

There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting fashion advice from your mom, your sister, or your best friend, especially if you can get away with it. Most people I know whose fashion style has been dictated by their mothers or by their best friends, however, end up with having no real fashion sense at all. Therefore, if you want to improve your style this 2013, see to it that you start making it a habit of getting advice from true fashion experts. No, you don't necessarily have to make friends with famous fashion designers. You can get fashion tips from these people simply by reading fashion magazines or watching online fashion TV where they are usually featured. Heading to these sources every time you need fashion advice will give you an idea of the latest trends.

About the Author: Shaan Berg is a blogger about lifestyle and fashion trends. She is currently working as a freelance stylist and writer, contributing her insights about the beauty and fashion industry. She recommends that you look for the latest fashion trends at FashionplusTV.