How to Select the Best Men's Ties

Section: Neckties, Bowties, and Pocket Squares - Blog

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Ties should not be conversation pieces. They should work with the rest of your outfit, not against it. However, how do you decide which tie style or pattern works best for what occasion? Here's a guide to help you choose the right ties - with sartorial skill - for any outfit.

Men's ties are the finishing touch for their tailor made suits. It can be difficult to choose the most appropriate one from the multitude of available patterns, colours and fabrics, but here's a simple solution.

Limit variety; stick to a small collection of solid coloured or simple striped ties. Keep a few trendy or unusual ones to infuse your wardrobe with a dash of variety and colour.

Solid Ties

A staple for any man's wardrobe, this tie is the easiest to match with other items because you just select a tie that coordinates with one of the colours in your suit or shirt. However, don't be tempted to carry this too far and over-coordinate similar colors.

For example, wearing a solid blue tie and a blue business shirt with a navy blue suit creates a forced, monochromatic look. It looks more appealing to the eye when the tie adds a dash of contrasting colour to your outfit.

Striped Ties

A striped tie is a wardrobe classic that plays well with solid suits and shirts – especially when the tie's stripes complement the rest of your attire. When wearing a patterned jacket or shirt (or both), maintaining complementary colours and paying heed to the diversity of scale is your key to success.

For example, a boldly striped tie goes well with a finely pinstriped suit; a more subdued stripe works best on a boldly checked shirt.

Plaid Ties

Plaid ties add dash and flair to what would otherwise be plain outfits. They attract attention because they create the illusion of dimension.

Hence, avoid wearing them with bold shirts; instead, pair them with solid coloured suits and shirts.

Dots, Paisley and Figured Ties

These ties feature small, repeating images such as university, club or military crests and have increased in popularity over the years. They can enliven any solid or striped suit.

Match these to an outfit based on their primary colour, while avoiding secondary colours that visibly clash with the shirt and suit. If the shirt, suit or both are also patterned, aim for a difference in scale between the patterns to create an eye-catching outfit.

Tie Construction Counts

When selecting a tie, avoid those that look poorly crafted. The best return for your monetary investment always comes from ties made of quality materials and good construction. Silk is the material of choice for ties, so beware cheap polyester imitations. Polyester doesn't drape as well as silk does, and its shiny lustre gives an impression of poor quality.

Tying the Knot

Knowing how to make the perfect tie knot is just as important as picking the right tie. After all, the quality of your knot tying contributes as much to your overall image as does your tie.

If you'd prefer to let someone else do the tie/shirt/suit matching, you're in luck! At Montagio Custom Tailoring, we pride ourselves on our sartorial sense and welcome the chance to help you put together some exceptional ensembles.

Pop into our Sydney showroom anytime or call ahead to schedule a personalised styling session. We guarantee we'll make you look damn good!

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