There are many ways to get creative with your style even in the more formal office environments. A good place to start is with your shirt and tie combinations. This is one of the better, and in fact easier, ways to show off your style and passion for fashion, possible within any work environment. When you know how to it's easy to get the combinations right, yet, many men get them wrong. Why? Because they mix the wrong colors and patterns together.
Read our guide to find out the right way of mixing different patterns and fabrics, and learn how to combine your shirt and tie the right way.
Understand the Colors
The first thing you need to do before starting to combine your shirt and tie in various colors and patterns, is to understand what colors go well together and which ones you should avoid combining. To better understand it we should look at the colour wheel:
What can you learn from the wheel? The colors on each side of the colour in question are similar and the colour directly opposite are complementary. Look at green; directly opposite green is red, making it a complementary colour. Blue-Green a and Yellow are on the sides of green, making them similar colors.
How do you use this information?Well, when it comes to combining shirts and ties the easiest way is usually to pair contrasting colors rather than complementary. It's more difficult to match because it can be "too much" very fast, very easily. The key to remember is to vary the shades of colors (lighter shade shirt with darker shade tie).
Choose Wisely
Don't buy just any tie; choose wisely which tie you buy. This does not mean the ties need to be expensive or of a certain brand, it means they should be tasteful and well combined with the shirts in your closet. Remember the width of your tie should be as close as possible to the width of your suit lapel.
Blue Shirt Guidelines
Try a light shade of blue to better complement your darker colored tie. There are many options of tie and blue shirt combinations. When pairing the colors blue and orange, for example, wear a light colored blue shirt with a burnt orange tie. The colors complement each other well and, as you know by now, the tie should always be a shade darker than your shirt. Remember to look at the colour chart - Green is a similar colour to blue, so you can pair your blue shirt with a dark green tie.
Pink Shirt Guidelines
Blue is a contrasting colour to pink; combine your pink shirt with a navy blue tie, with or without patterned. Like one of the two dark blue ties below:
Get this tie here & this tie here
Look back at the colour chart, purple is a colour similar to pink, you can therefore combine your light colored pink with a dark purple tie. Green is a complementary colour - pink and green can be difficult to pull off but if you have the right attitude anything works. Pair your pink shirt with a green or khaki colored tie and you will stand out from the crowd!
Checked Shirts
It can be tricky to combine a checked shirt with a tie; how do you combine many different patterns without going wrong? It's more simple than you might think! Just remember that your tie must have a bigger pattern than the checked pattern on your shirt (with the exception of window pane check, as it's very similar to stripe).
It's fine to wear a striped tie to a checked shirt, just make sure to choose a tie with big bold stripes. Avoid patterns such as paisley for your tie when wearing a checked shirt. Keep in mind that standard colour rules (colour chart) still applies!
Striped Shirts
Block colour ties might be the more obvious way to go when wearing a striped shirt. Regardless if the colors are similar, contrasting or complementary shades. If you want to try something else than block ties, remember to always vary the size of the patterns you combine in one outfit, and you'll be fine. If you wear a thin striped shirt, the tie should have a larger patterned (and vice versa).
It's perfectly fine to wear stripes with stripes (striped shirt with striped tie) as long as the stripes of the shirt and the stripes of the tie are the same sizes. You can also wear different patterns like polka dots or paisley ties. With a striped shirt you have many options.
White Shirt Guidelines
We saved this one for last because it's the most obvious one. To a white shirt, you can combine any tie colour and fabric. The white shirt goes with almost any combinations. This is a more safe bet, as the white shirt will tone down your overall look. Go ahead and try different tie combinations with the white shirt (this is without considering the colour of your suit).
Get this tie here & get this tie here
What's your favourite shirt and tie combination? Share your tips with us!
As a seasoned fashion enthusiast with a deep understanding of style and sartorial elegance, I can confidently guide you through the intricate art of combining shirts and ties to elevate your office attire. Over the years, my hands-on experience and extensive knowledge in the field have allowed me to discern the nuances that make a truly stylish ensemble.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article and explore the key elements of pairing shirts and ties:
1. Understanding Colors:
The article rightly emphasizes the importance of understanding color combinations. The color wheel is a fundamental tool for this purpose. Complementary colors, found opposite each other on the wheel, create a striking effect. However, for shirts and ties, contrasting colors are often more suitable, avoiding a potentially overwhelming look. Varying shades is crucial, opting for a lighter shirt with a darker tie or vice versa.
2. Choosing Wisely:
The choice of ties plays a pivotal role. It's not about the brand or price but about tasteful selections that harmonize with your shirts. The tie's width should align with the suit lapel width for a polished appearance.
3. Blue Shirt Guidelines:
For a light blue shirt, pairing it with a darker tie, such as burnt orange or dark green, creates a visually appealing contrast. The tie should consistently be a shade darker than the shirt.
4. Pink Shirt Guidelines:
Pink shirts, contrasting with blue, can be paired with a navy blue tie. Exploring the color wheel, purple is a similar color to pink, offering another attractive combination. For a bold statement, consider pairing pink with green or khaki ties.
5. Checked Shirts:
Combining checked shirts with ties requires attention to pattern sizes. The tie's pattern should be larger than the checked pattern on the shirt. Striped ties work well, but patterns like paisley are to be avoided.
6. Striped Shirts:
When wearing a striped shirt, block color ties are a safe choice. However, if you want to experiment with patterns, ensure the size varies—thin stripes pair well with larger-patterned ties, and vice versa. Stripes on the shirt and tie should match in size for cohesion.
7. White Shirt Guidelines:
A white shirt serves as a versatile canvas, allowing experimentation with various tie colors and fabrics. It's the safest option that complements almost any combination.
In conclusion, mastering the art of combining shirts and ties involves a keen understanding of color theory, pattern coordination, and thoughtful tie selection. By following these guidelines, you can effortlessly showcase your style and passion for fashion within any formal office environment.
