How to Combine Clothing - Silk Ties, Dress Shirts, Accessories, And Co

Throwing on a black necktie over a plain white shirt might be fine for some days at work, but you've got to admit that you can't leave the house looking like that too often. Working with shirts, ties and suits is more complicated than it would seem at first. Rules have to be followed, to some extent, so that you can look great and unique in a shirt and tie without looking weird or comical.

Safety First!
It pays to get familiar with the 'safe' choices first because they are the options that you can wear to any occasion, from the boardroom to the bar. Combinations considered safe might not look as stylish or fashionable as other more daring combinations, it is almost impossible for you to make a fashion faux pas with the safe choices. Besides, these basic pairings will help you make your own combinations in the future.

Look at your suit, your tie and your shirt individually, and then see if any of them have prints or patterns. The safest way to put those three together is to have a print, if any, on just one of them. For example, wear a solid colored shirt and a plain suit if your tie already has a print. If, on the other hand, your shirt is patterned, a solid tie and a simple suit will yield a very safe outfit.

In terms of color, you could also go with combinations that are recognized as safe. For almost all cases, this means a light colored shirt paired with a tie in a much deeper or darker shade of the same color. A light pink shirt should thus be paired with something like a burgundy or maroon tie. Finish off the look with a suit in neutral tones like beige or classic colors like black or navy.

Exploring Your Other Wardrobe Options
Once you've gotten comfortable with wearing colors on your shirts, ties and suits, you may want to begin exploring other combinations that come with a bit of additional risk but with a lot of extra style. When playing around with these new combinations, it is a good idea to have a friend with you who can give an editing eye to your experimental look.

Before anything else, grab a color wheel to help guide you in trying new combinations of colors. A color wheel will tell you if the colors you are considering are analogous (beside each other on the wheel), a complementary pair (across each other on the wheel) or a complementary triad (they form an equilateral triangle on the wheel. It is these colors that will work together most of the time.

Once again, think of your outfit as composed of three different elements - the suit, the shirt and the tie. Each one should be in a color that, when put together, will form a combination that fits into one of the three 'good' categories mentioned earlier. This will result in a look that's livelier and more colorful than usual, yet is still cohesive and stylish.

The key to getting these color combination right is some practice and a little bit of study. You might not get it right the first few times, but keep trying and you are bound to achieve that well put together look.

About the Author

Mens fashion is Hendrik's favorite topics to write about. Not only is he an aficionado for silk ties, but he also works in the industry. Especially popular for this year's spring fashion are bright green neckties in shade of sage and lime