How to Match Ties to Suits: A Complete Guide

Styling a well-chosen necktie makes a significant impression. Why is matching a tie to a suit essential for a polished, stylish look? Yves Saint Laurent said it all in just a few words: “Fashions fade, style is eternal.”

It’s ever so true. Fashion trends come and go but classic style endures. Even though relaxed dressing is popular in today’s world, nothing replaces the enduring style of a handsome necktie.

Whether you’re dressing for a formal event, your workplace, or a laid-back, casual weekend soiree, knowing how to match a tie to a suit will enhance and elevate your formal, professional, and casual appearance.

If you’re looking for the definitive resource on how to match a tie to a suit, this guide is for you. We cover color combinations, patterns, fabrics, tie proportions, and tie formality rules so you can confidently create fashionable, stylish outfits by matching the right tie with your suit.

The Basics of Matching a Tie to a Suit

Your tie must harmonize with both your suit and your shirt. How is this achieved? Start by following the general rule of tie matching: Establish balance in the contrast, color, fabric, and formality of your suit and tie.

Use this quick checklist to create balance:

• Contrast
  • Vary the pattern size between your suit, shirt, and tie to achieve contrast.
  • Avoid wearing a shirt and tie with patterns of the same size and type. For example, a pinstripe shirt will look better with a paisley tie rather than a striped tie.
  • When choosing patterned ties, create contrast by selecting a tie with the shirt color in the tie pattern.
• Color
  • If your tie and shirt are the same color, make sure your tie is a darker tone than the shirt.
  • Become familiar with the color wheel to learn how colors harmonize or clash.
  • Choose monochromatic colors for a more traditional look. For example — a navy blue suit, light blue dress shirt, and dark navy patterned tie.
  • Select analogous colors for contrast and added style. For example — a navy blue suit, a light lavender dress shirt, and a dark purple tie.
  • Experiment with complementary colors for a bolder look. For example — a navy blue suit, a micro stripe pink dress shirt, and a patterned tie with tones of pink and orange.
• Fabric
  • Choose cottons and linens for spring and summer outfits.
  • Go with wools and cashmeres for fall and winter.
  • Silk is a beautiful choice for all seasons, especially for formal and polished professional looks.

• Appropriate level of formality
  • Know the dress code for the event you’ll be attending.
  • Formal wear typically calls for a black bow tie or a silk tie in a solid color.
  • Professional outfits call for wearing a dress shirt with a traditional plain or patterned silk tie.
  • Cotton, linen, or a wool tie will work well for business casual occasions and relaxed events.

How to Match Your Tie With a Suit?

When deciding how to match tie to suit, the goal is to maintain a cohesive, polished look. As you pay attention to the basics in the checklist above, the following guidelines will help you enhance the harmony between your suit and tie:

• Patterned suits: Solid or subtly patterned ties works best with patterned suits in order to avoid visual clashing. For example, The Lakeshore Chalk Stripe Charcoal Jacket and Pants are sharp and balanced with the subtly patterned Damask Tile Black Tie.
• Solid colored suits: Patterned ties work best with solid colored suits in order to provide added interest and depth.
• Select tie fabrics suitable for the season.

Suit and Tie Color Combinations

Whether you prefer modern or traditional styling, typical suit colors are navy, black, brown, and charcoal. Consider these classic suit and tie pairings:

• Navy Suit
  • If aiming for an analogous color balance, choose a navy suit, Mini Dots Navy Tie, and a Herringbone Solid Light Blue Dress Shirt.
  • Going for more contrast? Complement a navy blue suit with a burgundy paisley tie.
  • The best color ties for a navy suit are burgundy, gold, green, and patterned ties.
• Black Suit
  • Depending on the cut and styling, the versatility of a black suit can range from modern, formal, or traditional.
  • A solid black tie paired with a black suit is appropriate for funerals and somber occasions.
  • A silver tie is an elegant, formal choice ideal for a special anniversary or a wedding.
  • Jewel tone silk ties liven the overall look of a black suit and can be a great option for cocktail parties and less formal galas.
  • Best color ties for a black suit are solid black, silver, and jewel tones.
• Brown Suit
  • From a light Oatmeal to a rich Chocolate Brown suit, you’ll achieve balance by selecting ties in earthy colors.
  • A patterned earth tone tie is a beautiful accent to a brown suit.
  • The best color ties for a brown suit are greens, mustards, rusts, and deep reds.

• Charcoal Suit
  • A charcoal suit, either in a solid fabric or subtle stripes, adapts to many occasions. The neutral tone of a charcoal suit provides a terrific base for ties in a variety of beautiful colors and patterns.
  • For balance, choose a rich grey geometric pattern tie.
  • A pastel tone tie, like the Grosgrain Solid Mauve Stone Tie, offers subtle contrast.
  • The best color ties for a charcoal suit are cool tone neckties in blue, grey, and pastels.

Should Your Tie Be Darker or Lighter Than Your Suit?

A basic rule of thumb is that your tie should be darker than your shirt and offer appropriate contrast to the suit. The following examples should give you a good idea of some stylish pairings:

• Lighter colored suits pair well with darker ties.
  
  • A rich navy blue patterned tie pairs well with a blue suit and light blue dress shirt.
  • A floral olive green tie will complement a light tan suit and white dress shirt.
• Dark suits can be balanced with both dark and slightly lighter colored ties.
  • Accent a black suit with a white dress shirt and the Wolfum x Tie Bar Marble Blue Tie.
  • Pair a dark charcoal suit with a light blue dress shirt and the Leah Duncan x Tie Bar Balsam Geo Classic Blue Tie.

Color Contrasts to Aim For:

• Monochromatic colors — various tones of one color — provide a traditional, conservative look.
  • Blue suit, dark patterned blue tie, and a light blue dress shirt.
  • Tan suit, mocha tie, and a white dress shirt.
• Analogous colors are adjacent on the color wheel and provide sophisticated visual interest. Analogous color combinations are a great choice for professional outfits.
  • Navy blue suit, dark purple tie, and a lavender dress shirt.
  • Light charcoal suit, sage green floral tie, and a pale gray dress shirt.
• Complementary colors are opposite on the color wheel. They offer vibrancy and bold contrast but need to be chosen with care! Best save your pairings of complementary colors for social occasions. Because of their boldness, they’re often not appropriate for professional and workplace situations.
  • Navy suit, orange tie, and a light blue dress shirt.
  • Burgundy blazer, forest green tie, and a white dress shirt.

Colors and Pattern Combinations to Avoid

Unless you’re a savvy, confident stylist, the following examples will give you a good idea of pairings to avoid:

• Monochromatic colors of the same tone are flat and boring.
  • Charcoal suit, charcoal tie, and gray dress shirt.
  • Navy suit, chambray shirt, and navy tie.
• Jarring colors are distracting and grating.
  • Blue suit, yellow tie, and a pink dress shirt.
  • Green suit, red tie, and blue dress shirt.
• Clashing patterns are discordant and upsetting.
  • Black suit, yellow striped tie, and blue striped dress shirt.
  • Glen plaid suit, plaid tie, and plaid shirt.

Matching Tie Patterns to Suit Patterns

Floral, paisley, stripe, and geometric tie patterns offer balance, interest, and style. Follow this guide for patterned ties and suits in order to avoid visual clashes.

• Solid-colored suits
  • Pair well with patterned ties in geometrics, florals, paisleys, and stripes.
  • Choose a tie with colors that echo the colors of the suit.
• Patterned suits
  • A solid color tie is always a safe bet. Choose a tie in either an analogous or complementary color scheme from the colors in the suit.
  • If going with a patterned suit and patterned tie, choose your tie in a contrasting size pattern from the suit.
    • Pinstripe patterned suits look stylish and fashionable with geometric, floral, and paisley ties.
    • Large scale plaid suits are handsome with small scale floral and striped ties.
    • Small scale plaids are complemented with large scale florals, paisleys, and bold geometric ties.
    • Large checkered suits also pair well with small scale florals and refined striped ties. Small check suits call for patterned ties in larger, bolder scale patterns.

What Are the 3 Tie Size Rules for Suits?

Make confident choices by following these 3 essential tie size rules for suits:

• Tie Length
  • The tip of your tie should just touch the top of your belt buckle.
  • Extra-long ties are available for tall and heavy men.

• Tie Width
  • Match your tie width to your suit lapel width.
  • Skinny ties look best with suits with narrow lapels.
  • Traditional width ties look best with traditionally styled suits.

• Tie Knot
  • Choose a tie knot based on the shape of your dress shirt’s collar and the level of formality of the occasion.
  • Go with a Windsor knot with a spread collar and for formal occasions.
  • Double-check how to tie a tie to find the best knot for your collar.

Choosing the Right Tie for the Occasion

Whether you’re dressing for 9:00 to 5:00, a casual event, or a formal occasion, feel confident choosing the right tie with these examples:

• Business: Professional wear calls for suits and ties in more traditional styling, colors, and patterns.
  • The regimental silk tie is always a handsome choice for business outfits.
  • Pair your tie with a classic dress shirt and business suit.
• Casual: Express your style and personality when you dress for casual occasions.
  • Enjoy wearing more colorful and relaxed shirts.
  • Polos, sweaters, and unstructured jackets are comfortable and help create your unique fashion statement.
  • Pair casual wear with floral, woven knit, or special novelty ties.
• Formal: Formal dress codes offer an opportunity to dress elegantly.
  • White tie requires wearing a black tail coat, white waistcoat, a white winged collar dress shirt, and a white bow tie.
  • If the event specifies “black tie,” you’ll wear a black silk bow tie with a white tuxedo shirt and a tuxedo jacket.
  • If the formal event doesn’t specify “black tie,” pair a solid color silk tie with your dark suit and dress shirt.

Additional Tips for Perfect Suit and Tie Pairings

With attentive matching of your suit, shirt and tie, you’ll achieve the polished look of the well-dressed man. Then elevate and refine your outfit by adding tasteful accessories.

A pocket square adds flair and is appropriate for any suit, jacket, or blazer. Choose a pocket square that doesn’t match your tie but has a subtle touch of color and pattern. Use a simple fold for formal occasions. For casual occasions, add some flourish and ‘puff’ the square out of your pocket.

A tie bar or tie clip is more than a useful accessory that keeps your tie in place. It can also add style and elan to your outfit in an array of motifs, materials, and styles.

Fabric choice is an often overlooked but important detail in choosing the perfect tie. Select fabrics that are appropriate to the season. Wool knit ties pair well for fall and winter. Cotton and linen ties are excellent choices for spring and summer. And a silk tie is always in style, no matter the season.

Get a Nice Tie For Any Colored Suit

While some may think of a tie as an arbitrary accessory, the necktie you choose is so much more. The necktie remains a mainstay of style and is an essential element in your wardrobe. Your well-chosen tie provides the finishing touch to your entire outfit, expressing your attention to detail, and makes a lasting impression.

Whether you’re trying to match a necktie to your favorite green and navy Glen plaid suit — or are searching for the ideal tie to enhance a modern-cut charcoal pinstripe suit — you’ll find the perfect tie for any of your suits at The Tie Bar.

Explore The Tie Bar’s beautiful and vast array of tie colors, patterns, and fabrics. Our convenient filters allow you to quickly and easily find ties in specific colors, patterns, fabrics, widths, and lengths. And wait until you see our gorgeous patterned designer ties! It’s time to build your tie collection at The Tie Bar.

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