Do You Know How to Build Your Tie Collection?

Section: Building Your Wardrobe - Blog

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If you think you should base your tie collection solely on the number of men’s suits you own, you’re setting yourself up for an epic wardrobe fail. The stylish gent knows how to rock his ties with any outfit, be it business or casual. Here’s your guide.

Men's ties: to wear or not to wear, that is the question, to borrow from the great bard, Shakespeare. Wear one, and you may be labeled as uptight and rigid; leave it off, and you could be perceived as sloppy and unkempt. Is there a middle ground?

Tied up with men's ties

In “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, Oscar Wilde wrote: “With an evening coat and a white tie, anybody, even a stock broker, can gain a reputation for being civilized”. We like the way Wilde thinks, so our advice is to be cautious and always wear a tie, unless the occasion is predominantly informal. However, even for informal events, you may choose to be the gent who defies convention and creates his own style rules by rocking a tie.

Using the number of suits you own to dictate your tie selections is a good guide when you are building your wardrobe, but don't feel you have to limit yourself to this criterion.

Our suggestion? For each suit (whether business suit or a casual suit), you should own three neckties. If you own a tuxedo or dinner suit, one similarly coloured men's tie will do, but if you're adventurous, go all out with a bow tie.

Most men stick with these classic men's tie colours and patterns and simply vary shades and tonal qualities:

• Blue
• Green
• Dot
• Plaid
• Club
• Foulard
• Paisley

As you add ties to your wardrobe, it's best to start with simple solids and stripes so you can learn what looks good on you. When you own about a half dozen ties in your wardrobe that flatter you and mix and match well, add some brightly coloured neckties or ties with complex patterns for variety.

Don't get tied up in knots!

Do you know the golden rule for selecting and wearing men's ties? Neckties should complement your suits, not dominate the outfit. So, don't get tied up in knots.

There are many different tie knots but for most occasions, whether for work or casual events, a wide full-Windsor or a narrower 4-in-hand is appropriate. It's simply personal preference and style. But if you absolutely must know more about knots, visit www.tie-a-tie.net.

When you are unsure of the key role men's ties play in your wardrobe, finding a tie of the right size and style is even more of a necessity. So, to help you choose, we leave you with American author Jim Klobuchar's quote: "Never in the history of fashion has so little material been raised so high to reveal so much that needs to be covered so badly…"

Do you feel uncomfortable matching ties to your other garments? No worries; at Montagio Custom Tailoring, we are mix and match masters and eager to give you a hand. Whether you want a new tie to impress that special someone when you go to the races or you need a power tie to edge out your competition for that big deal, we'll help you pick the best one to go with a newcasual suit or business suit.

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