Women often have more style decisions to make when it comes to dressing for important and formal events. However, when it comes to the finishing touch, some men will have a difficult time to choose a tie that will complement their overall dressing style. Most men will buy the wrong tie that doesn’t complement the clothing in their wardrobe. Whether you are looking for custom ties to give a person as a gift or are just looking for a nice tie to wear to a special occasion, you need to own neckwear that harmonizes the clothing in your closet.
The rule of thumb is to match your tie to your clothing and not vice versa. The tie should be of the right proportion for your body. Both the color and the patterns should work very well with your shirts and suits. Don’t buy a tie simply because it looks great. Such coordination is not hard. You just need to have a basic understanding of the color, pattern and proportion of the tie and you are good to go. You can add a range of flexible neckties to your wardrobe that enhances your outfits. The necktie adds color and complexion and so you will have a better overall look.
Principles of Matching
- Necktie proportion: the proportion is all about the width and length of the tie in regards to your build and clothing style. If you are a robust man who wears large suits you will look good with a tie that has a wide front and long enough to reach his buckle. A petite gentleman should look for smaller neckties and short in length. These special sizes can be ordered at many online retailers if you prefer custom ties. Those who are average in size can look for ties with an equally average size. Always choose a tie with a size that calls for it.
- Necktie color: it is difficult to find the perfect color that goes with any outfit. There are two factors that will help you determine the right color. The first is the message you are trying to convey and the second is the color combinations that go well with your skin tone. For a muted yet sophisticated look, you can pair a semi-solid light color and cool colors such as blue. A stark contrast of red colored tie on a light shirt draws attention to yourself and is good if you are attending an event where you want to stand out. This combination best suits presenters as it points the audience to the speaker’s face. You will also want to mimic your natural contrast levels according to your particular features. Men with fair skin have low contrast and so should choose neutral color combinations. Light skin men have low contrast and it will be better for them to choose color combinations which have clearly defined lines. Alternatively, you can just experiment with various shades. If you are not sure which color to choose, consider working with a trusted friend or image consultant to help you avoid clashing combinations.
- Necktie pattern: the hardest issue for most men is wearing ties with strong patterns. These don’t sell so frequently compared to solid ties. However, there is no need to fear these ties because when worn correctly patterned ties have the effect of breathing life into a dull outfit. First, ensure that the tie’s own colors don’t clash and also that the patterns should not conflict with the patterns on your tie. The pattern should also be unique and not already present in the clothing. Similar patterns that have been placed close together will result in a distorted visual effect such as an illusion.
Why You Need to Consider Your Shirt
The shirt is the first garment that needs to match your tie and it is the main clothing accessory that helps you determine what pattern and color of the tie you can choose. The jacket may become too heavy and you might need to remove it but your shirt will always remain with you all day. It remains a big surface upon which the tie sits and it will be impossible to hide a color clash.
Solid colored shirts are easier to match especially white color which offers a neutral base and therefore can match anything. Light blues are also good because only a few colors are will clash and it is also a good color. You also need to check the fabric of the tie. If your nature of work is in a busy environment you can choose more advanced pattern matches to distract attention from your face.
The Suit
Dark colored suits such as navy blue and grey will match with most tie color combinations. These colors are the easiest to match and can go a long way in complementing your ensemble.
For light colored suits, select a bold and rich colored necktie. Don’t wear a brightly colored hue especially when going for an important event as it can come off as informal.
Sports Jacket and Blazers
Blazers are more like suits and thus they call for more formal ties. These are often paired with striped ties. On the other hand, sports jackets have a casual look and you can go for a wool patterned necktie or silk depending on the tone of the fabric. As a wearer, you need to create a balance by paying attention to the rules of matching discussed above.
Other Factors to Consider when Matching a Tie
- The knot style: this factor is closely related to the proportion and it is important to consider if you are wearing a dress shirt. A narrow collar or a spread collar are both extreme angles and they will work best with a tie that fits well into the collar space. If you want a bigger tie to know you should keep in mind that you will need more tie. You cannot force to put a big knot style on a small tie because you will need up with a knot that is dwarfed by the collar space.
- Necktie length: most ties are about 53 to 58 inches long. An averaged sized man will find this long enough to accommodate almost any tie knot that ends at the belt buckle. You can find a variety of short ties at most online stores. Wearing a vest can conceal a large portion of the vest. This should not be necessarily be viewed as a negative because it can make you appear livelier when paired with a pink tie.
Keep in mind that mixing tie patterns and colors is both an art and science. The rules outlined above are just suggestions and it doesn’t mean that they are unbreakable laws you can play around with colors and combine your matching skills to build confidence when wearing your tie and then go ahead and experiment on your own. You will soon realize that a simple tie and a plain colored shirt will go well with any occasion without violating the rules of style.
Ties provide you with a smooth finish touch to any outfit that you will choose. However, selecting the right choice can be a tough decision considering the so many options that are available to choose from. The color and the pattern may be the first things you notice in a tie and most people will choose ties based on these two aspects. However, there are also other things to consider such as your physique. A good tie should match your personal physical build and also your preferred style of clothing.
Colors and patterns of ties
For a more sophisticated look, a lightly patterned tie or semi-solid colors will work just right for you. A solid suit with a boldly colored tie such as red provides a stark contrast to your appearance and makes you stand out from the crowd. Although most people will shy away from wearing patterned ties, the trick to wearing them and still look fashionable is to make sure that the pattern does not clash with the color of your shirt. For example, a dotted shirt will go well with a striped tie but not a dotted one.
There are various types of collars and they all go well with a particular tie knot. Widespread collars will go well with a full Windsor knot. Keep in mind that if you want a bigger tie knot you will need more material. You also need to put in mind the occasion when choosing a tie knot. If you are going to attend a wedding or an office meeting, you can choose a Half or Full Windsor Knot. A Fur in Hand Knot will go look good in cocktail parties as these are more informal settings.
Keep these points in mind to choose the best ties for you or your special friend as a gift.
