Pairing Ties with Shirts: Men’s Styling!

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Last Updated on June 21, 2024 by Team Styl.

Excess of anything is bad and this applies to choice of options as well. When one gets to many options to choose from they are likely to make the wrong decision.  What would be a better example of this than our own wardrobe? What’s even more difficult is pairing those unavoidable essential, like a shirt and a tie. ‘A well tied- tie is the first serious step in life’- Oscar Wilde, every now and then we see a lot of men pairing ties and shirt incorrectly. So does this mean they all have a bad taste in clothing? Owing to the variety of options they have its only natural to get confused and pair it wrong. Fret not STYL-INC has you covered with our How to series. We have for you a few pointers to keep in mind to hit the pairing on point.

1. THE COLOR WHEEL

I have observed that most of us have a very erratic color choice and the knowledge of the color wheel unknown to us. But this won’t be the case anymore. I will break down the color basics for you without making it tedious!

So let’s being with introducing you to the color wheel, it’s basically divided into the major parts: the warm colors and the cool colors. These parts depict vibrancy and serenity respectively. And guys the trick is to create balance between colors!

• MONOCHROMATIC SCHEME

We will begin with the easiest and safest balancing scheme. Its nothing but matching the shades of a hue with its tint. Its actually that easy guys.

Eg: a burgundy tie with a pink shirt. Burgundy is a shade of red and pink is a tint of red.

Likewise you can try different colors incorporating the monochromatic scheme. Go experiment!

• ANALOGOUS SCHEME

This is a more fun way of pairing the necktie ensemble. It involves pairing adjacent colors on the color wheel.

Eg: pairing a blue shirt with a blue-green tie. Incorporating this scheme will surely leave a calm and likeable statement!

Such pairings create soothing ensembles and thus are apt to worn for work.

• TRIADIC SCHEME

Time for the most harmonious scheme! This involves pairing colors that form a triangle along the color wheel. In short pairing warm and cool colors but not creating a very contrasting effect. This is a very versatile scheme and can be used for work as well as social setting.

Eg: blue-yellow-red

STYL-TIP: to create a captivating look choose the darkest color of the triadic three for the tie with a light color shirt in the background.

 

• COMPLIMENTARY SCHEME

According to me this is the toughest and the most striking color scheme. It involves pairing direct opposite colors on the color wheel.

Eg: orange and blue or red and green. I would suggest to try this scheme when creating an ensemble for a social gathering. This makes use of extremely striking and contrasting colors which would be inappropriate for your work place.

Trust me guys keeping these few color schemes in mind while pairing ties to your shirts will make you look dapper. And don’t restrict yourself to certain colors. Try to move out of you ‘color comfort zone’ gradually and experiment with different colors and pairings.

2.  PATTERN

I know there are a lot of men who love patterned ties and shirts but are not familiar with the art of pairing prints. It’s your lucky day guys because STYL-INC is here to guide you right! Like above I will break down the pattern pairing tricks for you. And I am confident that post this no guy will shy away from pairing patterns.

• SOLID SHIRT WITH PATTERNED TIE

We can call this the safest way to wear patterns. I mean if you’re a beginner with patterns this is your ‘must try!’ Trust me you will love it. The way the colors will pop out will make you a fan of it and it won’t be very striking either.

• PATTERNED SHIRT WITH A SOLID TIE

Majority of you will feel that this is similar to pairing a solid shirt with a patterned tie, and it’s only natural to think so. But I am about to give you a shock, they aren’t entirely same. There is a tiny point you should keep in mind while teaming them up, i.e. the color of the less dominant pattern of the tie should be similar to the color of the shirt. I’ll tell you why, this will create a base for the dominant pattern of the tie which will make it pop!

• SMALLER SCALE SHIRT WITH A LARGER PATTERNED TIE

If the shirt you’re opting for has a small scale pattern then a larger patterned tie with go really well with it. it will create a contrasting and bold look, making your tie the highlight of the outfit.

• LARGER SCALE SHIRT WITH A SMALL PATTERNED TIE

In this you pair a shirt with a larger scale pattern together with a tie with an intricate pattern. This will highlight your shirt and also subdue it a little if its pattern is loud.

STYL-TIP: for those less experimental, it is safer to start with small scale patterns closer to your body, like on your shirt and working your way ahead, like larger scale pattern on your tie.

3. TONAL MUSING

Tones are something we don’t pay much heed to but they play a very important role. The way we play with tone depicts how striking or on point the ensemble will be. In essence, it integral to balance the tone of the shirt and the tie to maintain a visually appealing look. To do this we have to pay attention to how contrasting the shirt and the tie are as individual articles.  I would suggest to pair a low tonal shirt with a high tonal tie. This will create a contrasting and dapper look, highlighting the tie. The reverse of this can also be done but that’ll make the shirt stand out way too much. So it all depends on which article you wish to highlight.

p.s, low tonal shirt is that which appears muted, i.e, from afar it’ll seem to be of a single color but on looking closely it’ll exhibit a minor color or a subtle design. And this is what will highlight the tie.

 

4. FABRIC

We all are aware of the stigma attached to guys about having insufficient knowledge about fabrics. And it isn’t true for all the guys. But those of you who struggle with fabric STYL-INC has come to recuse you! To master the art of pairing ties with shirt, knowing the right fabric is essential.

• SILK

Silk is the prevailing fabric for ties, be it printed or woven. Not only is it durable but its lustre and drape makes it an all-rounder. And what makes it even better is the variety of prints and colors available. Vibrant colors with animal prints or water inspired prints, the options are endless. Its perfect for a business setting.

• COTTON AND LINEN

These fabrics are a go-go for the warmer sunny season. They come in pretty pastels and are light weight with an even lighten interlining. They work well for a casual setting.

STYL-TIP: make sure cotton and linen ties are lined properly so that they maintain their shape and don’t wrinkle easily.

• WOOLEN

We all know this a ‘winter fabric’. Woolen ties are heavy weight and drape like a dream. They come in earthy colors like gray, brown, mustard and perfectly compliment the weather of the colder months.  Owing to their thickness they give the perfect knot and are ideal for work settings.

• PAIRING TIES : KNITTED

Knitted ties fall in the ‘least formal’ category of ties.  Be it with chinos or a casual shirt, knitted ties are apt for casual gatherings. They provide a textural depth to the ensemble, making it quirky!

I will wrap it up here, these were some pointers that would help you style your ties perfectly. Don’t shy away from trying new colors, patterns or fabrics, STYL-INC has got your back. Trust me the more you’ll experiment the better you’ll get. There is something different for every season and every occasion and its best to dress accordingly. If you feel any confusion don’t stress out instead reach us at STYL-INC . We assure you, we’ll bring out the best in you!

 

Signin off,

Keepin’it Styl-ish,

-Priyal Malik