If you work in an office with any kind of corporate dress code, you know the feeling of pulling out a shirt and tie from your closet in different colors, patterns, and textures, and thinking: Do these go together, or am I going to look like a crazy person today?
Instead of stuffing your adventurous pairing back in the closet, Paying close attention to the basic Do’s and Don’ts of how best to pair a shirt and tie will simplify the process of getting dressed, and take the guess work out of your look.
Of course, this list is not exhaustive so if you’ve got more questions, ask away in the comments below!
A basic list of shirt and tie pairing do’s and don’ts:
Patterns on Patterns
Do: Pair a patterned shirt with a patterned tie as long as the patterns are not the same or similar sizes. That means, wear a small check on the shirt with a large stripe or check on the tie, or a small stripe on the shirt with a large stripe or check on the tie.
Don’t: Pair a shirt and tie with the same pattern. If the shirt is a vertical stripe pattern (large or small) the tie should not also be a vertical stripe pattern. Horizontal stripes or slanted stripes can work together as long as they are of a different size.
Patterns and Solids
Don’t: Pair solid shirts with a tie of predominantly the same colour, even if it is a pattern, unless there is minimal of the same colour in the tie.
Don’t: Resort to layering solids on solids unless you’re pairing a solid white shirt with a solid black tie (or are aping Regis Philbin’s style from his Who Wants to Be a Millionaire days)
Do: Feel free to branch out and try a pattern (like repeating bicycles or floral) instead of the go-to plaid, stripes, polka dots…then prepare for a copious amount of compliments.
Colors
all images, c/o The Tie Bar
Don’t: Let your shirt and tie bleed together. Keep it in the realm of ‘light tie/dark shirt’ or ‘light shirt/dark tie’
Do: Play pastels off one another. Just be sure one “pops” more than the other.
Don’t: Wear primary colors together if you don’t want to look like a kindergartener’s art project.
Do: Wear a black tie with a white shirt; it’s always a classic. But don’t turn it the other way around with a black shirt and white tie (unless you are attending a throwback party of sorts).
Do: Get creative when it comes to color. Look for shirt and tie pairings that bring out the small accent color(s) in each piece. Drawing attention to an accent color is always a sure-fire win.
TELL US:
WHAT ARE YOUR GO-TO SHIRT AND TIE COMBOS?
Want more wardrobe inspiration? Check out our 5 Days, 5 Ways series to learn how to wear everything in your wardrobe in new ways
All solid advice. I do a lot of solid tie/patterned shirt combinations to keep things fresh. I wore a black tie and white shirt with a blue suit the other day (funeral) and people called it my “firing suit” so I try and always have a pattern somewhere to keep it light,
definitely a classic look – you see a lot of blue suit black tie looks on award show red carpets! I guess it could also be a “firing” suit… haha. Would you try patterns with patterns??
Yes for sure – one of the reason I love the micro pattern trend is that it is very flexible for pattern mixing. Your rules pretty much nailed it.
Agreed. Start small, it’s not so scary then!
Agreed. Start small, it’s not so scary then!
I’ve always struggled mixing patterns with ties and stripes. The exception being polka dotted ties with checked or striped shirts. Usually I’m more of a white or blue solid shirt with a patterned tie. Over the last year I’ve fallen in love with Charles Tywhitt’s plain tie. It has a subtle texture to it, but is great for pairing with a patterend shirt. I’ve got it in a couple of different colors. It sort of has the feel/look of a knit tie
I’ll have to check out those ties! can’t go wrong with solids and prints!
ive moved toward a much simpler wardrobe in the last few years so i have dress shirts in only blue, white and a few in very pale pink. i do have multiple combinations in terms of pattern. i stole this piece of advice from sid mashburn with the idea of his great quote in mind…”men dont need a lot of choices, they need the right choices”.
i also have very few ties but i try to buy quality and ones that will go with any shirt i choose. this works out well with only having the 3 shirt color options. thanks for the article
Hey Cam! I really like the quote “men don’t need a lot of options, they need the right options” – I think I might use that with my clients from now on. Keeping your wardrobe limited to high quality, solid & basic shirts is definitely an easy way to ensure everything will work together. Think you’d ever branch out into patterns? Say, a microprint perhaps??
it is indeed a terrific quote and one i think about whenever im purchasing new clothing.
i do have them in patterns as i think i mentioned that in my initial comment. but they are very minimal/micro as to appear as a solid from further away. certainly nothing too busy or large
Definitely! That’s awesome, sometimes it is really cool to see a great pattern shirt/pattern tie combination!
Great advice on patterns, Most of my dress shirts are striped and so I usually find patterns and colors that work to create subtle tension; nothing jarring but enough visual impact to be fun. Now, my personal pet peeve is tying a tie. I believe in a crispy knotted tie with the appropriate length; not to sound snobby but what’s the deal with the loosely tied tie or the tie that hangs way past the belt line? Ties do make for a great way to add a pop of color or interest to a wardrobe.
Hey Paul! Thanks for the compliment :). Subtle stripes are almost as simple to pair ties with as solids – you can’t really go wrong unless you end up with a tie that has the exact same colour and/or stripe pattern. I am with you on the crispy tie! I cannot stand when a tie is too long {or worse, too short}. I think the guys who wear their ties that way are simply uninformed, not doing it as a style thing.
I don’t wear ties much as my workplace is pretty casual. When I do, I prefer classic patterns like rep stripes and polka dots. As for colors on shirts, don’t wear super dark and saturated colors like a dark purple or red. I think pastels are much more classic and don’t look like they came from a department store box that included a tie and pocket square. I personally prefer shirts that are 100% cotton, no poly blends. Cotton feels better and breathes easier.
AGREED! I’ve seen some pretty outrageously coloured shirts in my clients’ closets! I think the craziest may have been a solid bright leprechaun/lime green {unless it’s St. Paddys day, I’d consider that one a no-go}. Classics are always a good way to go, but it is also quite fun to add a little flair here and there. Perhaps add a floral microprint tie to your collection and see how it feels??
I also like colorful polka dots on ties: http://www.thetiebar.com/product/24556
My job is business casual, so my shirt and tie wardrobe is rather edited. Light blue, white and pink are my three shirt colors along with a black tie, black tie with blue pindots that exact Sean John style in aqua.
Oh and my tie with a keyboard on it. I could use a “fun” tie as well as a rep stripe as my boyish good looks work well with them. That bicycle tie is singing to me, though.I bet you’d look great in a rep tie! I also love a polka dot knit tie as a gateway drug to incorporating patterns.. like so: http://www.thetiebar.com/product/23116
I love this article Megan, it’s much needed for a lot of men!Hope you’ll pop over and check out my blog if you will http://www.thesubtlethings.com 😀
Thanks Tony! Will be sure to stop by The Subtle Things and check it out
I’ll check it out too! Thanks for the compliment!
This article should be handed out to every outgoing senior in college headed into the real world. Doesn’t matter if your work isn’t business casual, this applies to cocktail parties, dates, weddings, funerals, holidays, bar mitzvahs, court appearances, anything! Well done, Lauren.
P.S. I typically go with a gingham shirt and a tie that has some texture to it to add depth. I have knit ties, but silk as well.
Hmm, I wonder how many copies I can print out at Kinko’s….thanks for the compliment, McGivey!
Thanks for the compliment! *blush* You’re right, it does apply to more than just business and business casual looks. Megan, I agree, maybe we should start handing these out at convocation ceremonies…?
That VW tie though? Gorgeous. Great pick Lauren!
Josh | The Kentucky Gent
http://thekentuckygent.com