I love the look of a casual outfit paired well with a tie. There’s something very hip about a confident man wearing jeans and a dressy but not flashy shirt and tie to go with it.
Whereas my Dad had to associate ties with office work and really had no choice in the matter, a lot of men these days only wear a tie if a) they want to b) they have a professional ceremony or event to attend. The fact that “business casual” is entirely pervasive in most Western business climates now has made the tie something that is actually fun to wear.
Assuming, of course, you wear it right.
In order to wear it right, you need only be aware of a few simple rules. Quality counts when it comes to a tie as the eye is naturally drawn to it. You want people to see something good looking. In my opinion this means you should stick to silk ties. They last longer and they shine nicely, literally and figuratively, with more outfits than other fabrics. You also need to get the length right – if not, you will look rather foolish with too short of a tie. It’s best to have it hang down to your belt buckle and even about an inch past it if you’d like. But what you definitely don’t want to do is have it hanging 2-3 above your belt buckle!
Next consider how it will fit in with your overall outfit. If you’re wearing dark colors then go for a lighter colored tie. If you’re wearing a striped shirt then wear a tie of the same color of the stripe. If you’re wearing a hip short sleeved shirt with a color, go for a solid black tie. If you’re wearing a simple white dress shirt, than go for any solid color that you like and it will work.
And finally, just in case you were wondering, there are only two scenarios in which a clip on tie should be worn. The first were for your grade school year book and as an adult, the only time it’s ever acceptable is if it’s part of your Halloween costume!
Visit the Wardrobe Closets blog for more fashion tips that will help you strut your stuff in confidence.