How would you define a sharp dressed man?
Is it by how carefully groomed his hair is?
Possibly how polished his shoes are?
Both of those are good indicators of a man who is well put together……but let's not leave out this defining style characteristic……
A sharp dressed man needs to be able to coordinate his necktie, shirt and jacket.
Ready to get better at it?
While this article does not go in-depth for matching specific ties to shirts and jackets (an encyclopedia would be needed for that!) you will learn the basics.
A solid foundation is all most men need to make smart decisions prior to purchasing clothing and mixing and matching what you already have.
Now let's get down to business.
Match Tie With Shirt Rule #1 The Tie Should Complement the Shirt & Jacket
Purchasing a shirt and jacket to match the ties you currently own is not the smartest way to build a wardrobe.
That's like installing your garage door to match the color of your lawnmower. 🙂
Instead focus on matching your accessories and shirt to your most expensive items (suits and jackets!) first and work your way down to items that cost less – such as your tie.
You should purchase the items in question in the following priority:
- Jackets/Suits – It doesn't matter if it's a blazer or sports jacket, this will probably be the most expensive item of the three. Aim to purchase your jacket in neutral, solid colors to avoid limiting what you can match it with. It is much easier matching a navy blue blazer than it would be a green one in a checkered pattern.
- Shirt – Your second investment should remain conservative with a little more wiggle room to experiment. You can't go wrong with solid shirts in white and blue but you can begin incorporating pink, grey and subtle pinstripes.
- Tie – Ties can be expensive based on where they are made and the fabric used but you can purchase one for a low price. You can have fun showing off your personality with your ties but keep in mind the colors and patterns of your jacket and shirts first.
Match Tie With Shirt Rule #2 Check Your Tie Proportions
Ties come in many sizes and lengths.
However, the width is where people will notice the difference – especially if the proportions are off.
As a general guide you want to ensure that your tie measures at around 3 to 3.5 inches in width or closely match the width of your lapel.
Anything larger and you run the risk of the tie looking too thick and taking prominence over the important areas of your outfit such as the jacket itself. Too thin and it makes you look large/like you're wearing something trendy.
Another way to determine the measurements of your tie is the width of the lapels on your jacket. Your tie should closely resemble your lapels to ensure balanced proportions.
Match Tie With Shirt Rule #3 Select Complimenting Tie Patterns
If there was ever an article of clothing that thrives in different colors and patterns the tie would be it.
Options are a great thing for men but they can also create confusion.
Here is a small sample of the types of ties you can find at your local menswear store.
- Dots
- Solids
- Small repeating patterns
- Stripes (from wide to thin)
- Paisley
One thing you will want to remember: Your tie pattern should never exactly match your shirt pattern in proportion.
For example – a blue pinstriped tie should not be worn with a blue pinstriped shirt with similar sized proportions. There would be no contrast and will blend together in an abnormal way that may cause the others to even see movement (where there is none!).
Match Tie With Shirt Rule #4 Select Complimenting Tie Colors
You can't go wrong with sticking to colors with cooler tones such as deep blue, olive green and royal purple.
This will ensure that a wide range of your shirts and jackets pair up well assuming that they are light colored and simple in pattern.
If you would like to draw some additional attention to yourself this is where the warmer toned tie colors come into play.
Red, orange and yellow ties go well with a navy blue or charcoal suit which is a great pairing if you are giving a presentation or running a meeting.
Match Tie With Shirt Rule #5 Experiment With Tie Fabric & Styles
With the amount of ties available today it's no question why men get confused when trying to match up with their shirts and jackets.
There seem to be new types of ties cropping up every day.
To eliminate the fluff, we have laid out 9 styles of tie for you in order of importance and versatility you should consider purchasing in this detailed article here:
The 9 Necktie Styles Every Man Should Consider Buying & In Which Order To Buy.
When it comes to necktie fabrivs and materials – here are the basics
- Silk Tie – A classic silk tie is the best style you can purchase. The luxurious feel of silk coupled with it's recognition make it a top choice for men. The type of silk used can range from smooth to slightly stiff.
- Cashmere Tie – Second only to silk, this soft hair is know to actually be warmer than wool.
- Satin Tie – Satin fabric can be created with many fabrics that use the “satin weave”. Satin ties have a natural sheen to it that rivals silk at less the cost. However, the feel of a satin tie is a little more dull compared to silk or cashmere.
- Polyester Tie – A petroleum based fabric, polyester also is inspired by the luxury of silk but does fall short. Polyester ties are less expensive which can be seen as a plus for some shoppers.
That's it – now go out there and coordinate your tie, shirt, and jacket with confidence!
Want to learn more?
Click here to discover a man's guide to color: hues, shades, tints and tones
Click below to watch the video – 5 Tips Matching Ties Shirts & Jackets