Are you clueless about shirts and ties? Do you keep wearing the exact ensemble that got you your job because it was apparently a safe match? It’s a shame if your wardrobe has all the splendid textures and colours, and all that’s lacking is the knack for making great combinations. Here is a quick guide from Men’s Health to lessen your bewilderment of the basics of shirts and ties.
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- Solid tie on solid shirt: This is way basic, even you know this. But try something above basic. Use solid contrasting colours, like a dark blue tie on a pale pink shirt. Or use solid similar-family colors, such as a dark purplish-blue tie on a light blue shirt.
- Solid tie on patterned shirt: This could be the color combination of your fail-safe combo inside that closet. It’s pretty simple, actually. Solid tie with a colour that belongs to any of the colours in the patterned shirt.
- Knitted tie on casual button-down shirts: Button-down collars transform plain, smart, casual shirts when paired with knitted or woollen ties. This is a popular and comfortable look in busy financial and commercial districts.
- Printed tie on patterned shirt: Now, this is a little bit complicated. For bold checks on the shirt, it is safer to keep the tie plain. If you have subdued prints or checks on the shirt, maybe lighter in color and smaller in pattern, you can venture into bolder patterns on the tie. The key is to make the shirt the muted canvas for the stronger plaid or dotted pattern of the tie.
- Slim collar for retro slim tie: Since the collar is narrow, choose a tie that is sleek-looking for a slimmer knot.
This is only a guide. When you become more comfortable mixing and matching, you can create your own style.