The paradox of choice (also known as choice overload) is the phenomenon by which having too many options exhausts us, makes us unhappy, and generally leads us to make terrible decisions (if any decision at all).
Nowhere is this more evident in the male wardrobe than when it comes to shirt and tie combinations. A quick glance around any workplace will confirm this. Is it possible that all these men have bad taste, or are they simply suffering from decision fatigue?
We get it, colors and patterns can be difficult to master individually, but when you start mixing them together, all hell can break loose. This is why FashionBeans has put together a complete guide to shirt and tie pairings.
Shirt & Tie Combinations: Color Wheel Basics
The concept of color matching continues to stump even the most stylish of men. However, unless you want your work wardrobe to be very, very dull, you will at some point have to tackle the issue.
The tried-and-tested color wheel offers a visual representation of every shade and, more importantly, the similar, complementary, and contrasting colors of each.
Similar Colors
Similar colors are next to each other. When colors are close to each other, it’s easy to pick one color and add accessories in neighboring colors.
Complementary Colors
Complementary colors are opposite each other. These colors are the hardest to pair together. Even though they ‘complement each other, wearing them full strength is often overkill.
Contrasting Colors
These have three colors between them. The best way to combine them is to make sure one of the hues is in a darker tone so, such as navy and red.
Shirt & Tie Combinations: Colour Pairing Guidelines
Here are some tips to keep in mind when it comes to the colors in your shirt and tie combinations.
1. Try Pairing Contrasting Colors
When it comes to shirts and ties, it’s often easier to pair contrasting colors than it is complementary. For example, a mid-blue shirt and burgundy tie (red is a contrasting hue) worn under a navy, single-breasted type of suit is a look that every man can pull off.
2. Vary the Shades of Complementary Colors
When working with complementary colors, the key is to vary the shades, such as a light blue shirt with a darker, burnt orange tie. Of course, this will already be second nature because a tie should always be darker than the shirt, without exception.
3. Experiment
The easiest and safest option is to combine a simple tie with a white shirt – but where’s the fun in that? Experiment with colors and patterns, and you will quickly learn what works and what doesn’t, eventually creating some go-to shirt and tie combinations that you can reach for on a daily basis.
How to Select the Right Tie
A tie says a lot about a man, so use these tips when it comes to picking out ties for your wardrobe.
Invest in Quality
In this sartorial marriage, the tie is always going to be the first thing people notice. Therefore, it pays to give it some attention and invest in quality. That doesn’t have to mean expensive, but it does mean tasteful. While you want a tie that looks great on its own (though we’d never recommend wearing it as such), it shouldn’t be a novelty piece.
Choose the Right Size
Size is another key consideration. In general, the width of the tie should match the width of the lapels on the suit it’s being worn with, which, in turn, should complement your body type. Lastly, always tie a tie in a way that fits both your face shape and the type of collar on the shirt.
Occasion Determines Fabric
When selecting a fabric for your tie, consider the occasion. Traditional silk ties tend to be reserved for formal business settings, while more textured fabrics such as wool work well for smart- and business-casual events. Knitted ties, the rebellious younger brother of the tie world, fall into a somewhat helpful grey area. They can be either dressed up or down depending on what they are worn with – be it a bespoke suit or cardigan.
What Tie To Wear With Plain Shirts
Along with raw denim and quality shoes, well-cut cotton shirts are one of the main workhorses of the male wardrobe. By default, every man should own three colors: white, sky blue and pink.
White shirts offer maximum versatility, serving as a blank canvas for almost any tie, be it a preppy stripe, tartan check or solid knitted version. It’s here that more characterful designs can be deployed without fear of putting a foot (or, rather, neck) wrong.
What Tie To Wear With Blue Shirts
Shirts in blue or pale pink provide a chance to show off your color-matching prowess and are a welcome break from the white shirt norm. Sticking to the rules of color, size, and fabric, light blue shirts work well with tonal, patterned, or textured ties in the same family.
Orange is a complementary color, though it’s wise to opt for a darker, burnt orange shade to avoid being mistaken for an airline worker.
Both yellow and red are contrasting hues, so ties in shades of burgundy, pink or mustard also look great set against this shirt color.
Green is a similar color to blue – so try a dark forest green tie to make a refined and effortless statement.
What Tie To Wear With Pink Shirts
Men wear pink. If that statement sounds alien to you, we suggest you get on board pronto or risk missing out on an extremely versatile piece of workwear.
Similar colors include mauve and purple. Opt for either of these in a deep shade, and you can’t go wrong.
Green is complementary, and therefore khaki shades are a bold choice that will make you stand out for all the right reasons in the office.
Blue, on the other hand, is a contrasting color and we would argue that there is no better shirt and tie pairing than a pink shirt with a predominantly navy tie, whether solid or patterned.
What Tie To Wear With Black Shirts
No longer just for mobsters and stagehands, black shirts have returned from the sartorial hinterland in recent years.
What makes things difficult here is that black doesn’t appear on the color wheel (on account of being the absence of color and therefore not a color itself.)
This explains why the only color tie that can realistically be paired with a black shirt is a tonal one.
For an easier, but less formal option, ditch the tie altogether and wear it buttoned to the top under a black suit jacket.
What Tie To Wear With Striped Shirts
Introducing a pattern is where things become interesting. The standard rules around color, size, and fabric choice still apply, but there’s the added consideration of making sure whichever tie is added harmonizes rather than fights with the shirt for attention.
The easiest way to avoid this is to wear a tie in a block color. However, if you’re looking to branch out into pattern-mixing, there is one simple rule to follow: always vary the size of the patterns. Just as the tie should be darker than the shirt, the pattern should be larger or smaller than that on the shirt.
Stripes can work well with other stripes, so long as they aren’t the same size. For instance, a thin pencil stripe shirt is the perfect anchor for a larger club stripe tie. Another great tip is to vary the orientation of the stripes combined. For instance, a vertical striped shirt pairs best with a horizontal or diagonal striped tie as it offers a clear contrast between each piece.
For a move of higher sartorial difficulty, progress onto polka dots, paisley, and geometric designs. All are fair game providing the basic principles are adhered to.
Whether opting for a solid or pattern, picking out the color of the shirt’s stripe and matching it with one of the hues on the tie helps pull the entire look together and marks you out as a man that pays attention to detail.
What Tie To Wear With Checked Shirts
It might seem logical that combining a check shirt with a patterned tie would follow a similar set of rules to those of the striped shirt. But this isn’t the case. While a striped shirt can work with a bigger or smaller pattern, a check shirt always requires a tie with a larger pattern to avoid it becoming lost. The only exception to this rule is a windowpane check shirt, which offers greater flexibility due to the scale being so large and the pattern so subtle.
Gingham check shirts are the most traditional and dress code-friendly available. More often than not, this pattern features a white base with an overlaying color. When picking a similar, contrasting, or complementary shade tie, look to coordinate it with the check color rather than the white base. For example, a navy tie looks great with a sky blue or pink gingham check shirt.
If opting for a larger tartan or plaid shirt, the key is to pick out one of the more subtle base tones in the shirt with a solid, block-color tie. Just remember to keep the shade darker than the shirt itself.
Striped ties are a perfectly acceptable choice to combine with check shirts. Choose a tie with a large, bold stripe so that it can easily stand out against the pattern of the shirt. Polka dots and paisleys can also work well providing the same principle is followed.
What Tie To Wear With Textured Shirts
In recent years, a growing number of companies have adopted business-casual or even smart-casual dress codes, making room for a new set of power players in the workwear roster.
Toning down a classic blazer with shirts in casual fabrics like chambray, denim, and flannel has become a go-to move for guys who want to say: ‘I conduct my business with a bit of character’. Yet this newfound freedom doesn’t come without its own set of rules, particularly when concerning tie selection for your outfit.
While many other pairings rely on creating contrast, tactile shirts require equally tactile ties. The usual guidelines around color remain in place but steer clear of silk ties or anything else with a sheen. Pairing a non-traditional dress shirt with a traditional tie only creates a disjointed look.
Knitted or woolen ties should be the go-to choice here, the classic combination being a button-down chambray shirt with either a navy knitted or grey wool tie; both perfect for a more relaxed job interview.
In the case of linen shirts, the advice is often to swerve ties altogether. The lightweight fabric of the shirt with the heavier weight of the tie usually results in an unbalanced look. So in place of something knotted at the neck, give the air-tie a go. Hey, it still has the word ‘tie’ in it.
Shirt and Tie Combo FAQs
If you still have some lingering questions about shirts and ties combinations, check out these FAQs for more information.
How do you match a dress shirt and tie?
If you want to match a classic dress shirt and tie, you’ll want to have a basic understanding of the color wheel, or at the very least, complimentary and contrasting colors. With these fundamentals, matching a dress shirt and tie is a breeze.
What shirt and tie should I wear with a black suit?
Black suits are like a blank canvas, but with so many options it can be tricky to know where to begin. Simplicity goes a long way when it comes to formal dress, so consider keeping it traditional with a white shirt and black tie. To spice things up a bit, try out a light blue shirt with a dark orange tie, or a textured shirt with a knit tie.
Should a tie be darker then the shirt?
As a very loose guideline, yes, a tie should be darker than the shirt to draw attention to your chest. That being said, a lighter tie is the obvious choice for darker shirts, and in various instances where colors contrast or compliment either other.
What color shirt and tie should I wear to an interview?
Interviews are an opportunity to show your best self, but also to secure a job that you probably want. Do some research to understand the kind of company you’re stepping into. This should give you signals as to whether you should keep things traditional or spice them up.
If it’s a serious business environment, simple works best, so consider a white dress shirt with a dark colored tie. But if the dress code appears to be more laid back or it’s a creative environment, try out a light colored shirt with a patterned tie to show off your unique style.