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.