Pretty in the City

Melani's Fashion Store

Top Tie

Choosing the Perfect Tie

Copyright (c) 2008 Janine Giorgenti

Your necktie is one of the first things people will see when you enter a room. This is where you can express yourself and show your taste. Your tie should never be an afterthought, but a carefully selected accessory that says something about your personality.

How to Match a Tie

To make a positive lasting impression, it is important that your tie coordinates well with your outfit and complements your coloration.

How to Match a Tie with Your Shirt and Suit/Sport Coat

A tip for matching a tie is to select the dominant color in the tie that matches or contrasts well with your dress shirt, suit or sport coat. The rule of thumb is to combine two patterns with one solid. In other words, if the tie is patterned and the suit or sport coat is patterned then the shirt should be a solid color, or if the suit or sport coat is patterned and the shirt is patterned then the tie should be a solid.

How to Match a Tie with a Shirt and Dress Slacks

If you are not wearing a suit or sport coat and your shirt is a solid color, then select a tie whose dominant color complements or matches the shirt color.

How to Match a Solid Tie with a Striped, Checked or Plaid Shirt

If you really want to show off your good taste and artful skill, then wear a solid colored tie with a striped, checked or plaid dress shirt. The trick here is to select a tie color that matches the dominant color of the stripes or checks in the shirt.

How to Match a Patterned Tie with a Striped, Checked or Plaid Shirt

Be careful when matching a striped tie with a striped shirt. If done right, it will look polished and sophisticated; if not, it could be hideous. The trick is to choose a tight stripe that reads more like a solid, or to make sure the two stripes are of different sizes so they do not fight or look dizzy together.

How to Choose a Tie for a Formal Occasion

A formal occasion requires a dressier tie. Many people are opting for a four-in-hand necktie instead of the traditional bow tie to wear with their tuxedo.

The black satin tie is the most common tie to wear with a tuxedo. For a more expressive look, one can also wear a silver or white solid satin tie. Another attractive look that is different yet formal can be monochromatic black, silver and white color schemes.

Tie Dos and Don’ts

Do choose a tie that complements your hair color, eye color and skin tone. Click here for recommendations.

Do choose a tie that is the right length for your height. If you are 6243 or taller or have a neck size over 203 and a long torso, you will look best in an extra long tie. The general rule is that the tip of your tie should extend ½3 past your belt line.

Do choose a good quality tie made of 100% Silk. The luster of silk and the brilliance of how it takes dye, will give you a polished appearance and the tie will last much longer.

Do wear a tie appropriate for the occasion. Novelty ties may be cute and fun, but they are a big “no-no” on a job interview. Trendy ties are great if you are in a creative line of work and if you know how to coordinate them with your outfits. Classic patterns and traditional ties are always appropriate for all occasions and will give you a professional and polished appearance.

Don’t wear a tie with pulls or stains. Always make sure your tie is stain free and not tattered or worn looking.

Don’t wear clip-on ties. Clip-on ties are viewed as unsophisticated. (That is, unless you are a police officer or in law enforcement, where a tie around your neck could cost you your life.)

Don’t tie a Windsor knot if you are wearing a traditional or button-down collar. The tie knot will be too big. A four-in-hand tie knot is your best bet. Windsor knots are better suited for a wide spread collar.

Now that you know the secrets to coordinating and choosing a tie, you are well on your way to looking your best in casual, business and formal situations.

About the Author

Janine Giorgenti has more than 20 years of experience in the men’s fashion and custom clothing industry. She is an image consultant, fashion designer and master tailor. Check out her websites at www.BestCustomTies.com and www.BestCustomShirt.com for more helpful dressing tips and style advice.

Military Channel: Top Ten Fighter Planes (MiG 15 & F86 SABRE) TIE FOR NO.4


12-oz. Squeeze Bottles 3 pk. - Clear


12-oz. Squeeze Bottles 3 pk. – Clear


$0.95


Kitchen Supply Company’s 12–oz. clear bottles make food prep easy and fun. Tapered nozzle on bottle can be snipped to create thick or thin ribbons of sauce for decorating desserts, frosting a cake or fast dispensing of salad dressing or condiments. Clear bottle shows level of contents. Top screws on firmly so it won’t fly off no matter how hard you squeeze. Top–rack dishwasher safe….

Chemex Coffee Maker 8 Cup Classic


Chemex Coffee Maker 8 Cup Classic


$38.85


Few products in this century can match the flawless blending of design and function of the Chemex®. Its visual elegance has earned it a place in the permanent collection of New York’s Museum located in Corning, New York. The Chemex® coffeemaker was also selected by the Illinois Institute of Technology as one of the 100 best designed products of modern times. The Chemex® coffeemaker, together wi…

Endurance Table Cloth Clips


Endurance Table Cloth Clips


$9.94


Your picnic tablecloth will not shift or blow away when using these strong clips. Made with a sturdy spring action to fit a variety of table tops up to 1-1/4″ thick. Made entirely of 18/8 stainless steel so they are built to last. Function and beauty are combined with the Endurance® Table Cloth clips….

Tae-Bo Workout (SET OF 4: Basic, Instructional, Advanced, 8-minute Workout) [VHS]


Tae-Bo Workout (SET OF 4: Basic, Instructional, Advanced, 8-minute Workout) [VHS]


$24.94


Billed as the “future of fitness” and hawked by numerous celebrities, Billy Blanks’s Tae-Bo actually deserves much of the hype it’s receiving. A mixture of boxing punches and martial arts kicks, Tae-Bo is fun and easy. One of the best elements of this four-tape set is that the first tape (which is 40 minutes long), Tae-Bo: Instructional, lays out the movements you need to successfully complete a w…

David Carradine's Tai Chi Workout for Beginners [VHS]


David Carradine’s Tai Chi Workout for Beginners [VHS]


$9.98


While the title might seem like something more likely to be found on one of Letterman’s Top 10 Lists (“Future Careers of Movie Has-Beens” or “Reasons to Wear Pajamas in Public”), David Carradine’s Tai Chi Workout for Beginners is nothing if not completely serious. Carradine narrates and helps a certified tai chi instructor lead three students through the Chen style, considered by some to be t…

Master Lock 3060DAT 12-Foot-by-1-Inch Lashing Strap, 2-Pack


Master Lock 3060DAT 12-Foot-by-1-Inch Lashing Strap, 2-Pack


$3.99


This 12′ x 1″ lashing strap is best used for towing, moving and marine recreation 300lbs. Break Strength /100lbs. Actual Use Strength Solid Steel Cast Metal Clamp 2 Pack…

Hanger Cascader/ Wonder Hanger Platinum Edition- 2 Pack


Hanger Cascader/ Wonder Hanger Platinum Edition- 2 Pack


$7.69


Hanger Cascader Closet Solution hang six times the amount of shirts, skirts, pants and more in the space of a traditional single hanger. Simply hang on closetrod, hang clothes hangers on the allotted slots, and drop one end to maximize closet storage. Great for belts and other accessories too! Set of two.Chrome steel, 10 1/4 x 3/4 ….

Whitmor 6486-1746-WHT Over-The-Door Shoe Rack, White, 36-Pair


Whitmor 6486-1746-WHT Over-The-Door Shoe Rack, White, 36-Pair


$27.50


Holds 36 pairs of shoes and provides a nonslip door pad to prevent scratching and hold the unit in place. Durable white resin sides with nonslip coated steel bars. Easy, no tool assembly. 8.00 x 21.36 x 76.50…

Totally Terrific Duck/Welcome Home, Duck


Totally Terrific Duck/Welcome Home, Duck


$1.99



Top Hat


Top Hat


$7.51


Even the best Fred and Ginger musicals are merely lavish excuses for some of the most elegant dancing ever put on screen, and Top Hat is no exception. The story is a silly but timeless tale of mistaken identity that compounds itself to extremes. Fred Astaire is the famous American hoofer Jerry Travers, in London preparing for a new show with his befuddled producer Horace Hardwick (the always enter…


Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

This entry was posted on Friday, September 30th, 1988 at 6:03 pm and is filed under Clothing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Comments are closed.