Unfortunately, many people don't have an experienced fashion sense when it comes to choosing clothes. Choosing clothes to wear to even ordinary everyday events can be tricky at times, so pairing shirts, suits and ties for special occasions can be a chronic headache. Fear not - wikiHow is here to help. See the first step below to get started.
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Part 1 of 3: Choosing a Shirt
Step 1. In general, try to match the shirt and tie before thinking about the suit
While ideally all three items match, it's usually more important that the shirt and tie match each other than one of them matches the suit. Why is that? Because you can easily remove the suit, but must continue to wear the selected shirt and tie. So if you have an opinion on this, try to prioritize the clothes inside, over the suit.
Step 2. When in doubt, choose a solid, neutral-colored shirt
If you're not sure which shirt to wear when choosing an outfit, choosing a shirt that goes well with anything like a "white shirt" can never go wrong. for shirts, White, the most neutral color, is the easiest choice as it goes well with almost all ties and suits.
Other paler and softer colors, especially light blue, are also versatile and offer a wide range of tie options
Step 3. For a bolder (but harder) look, opt for a pastel or bold shirt
The second choice after white shirts and light-colored shirts is pastel-colored shirts. Pastel colors are quite light, but not as neutral as colors like white and light blue – pastel colored shirts give the wearer the opportunity to appear in extraordinary combinations – or even messy. In the end, richly colored and bold shirts offer truly unique possibilities. When paired with the right tie, it can give the wearer a more luxurious appearance, but can look flashy or silly with the wrong tie.
Black shirts are an exception to the last point – they are dark and bold, but like white shirts, they are versatile and can be paired with most types of ties
Step 4. Choose a striped or patterned shirt for complex color interactions
Of course not all shirts have one plain color. Many formal shirts have a light stripe (usually vertical, but sometimes horizontal), while others have dots, intricate stitching, or other patterns. In general, the larger and more complex the style of a shirt, the more eye-catching it will be, but the more difficult it will be to pair it with a tie and suit.
- For most formal or semi-formal events, choose a shirt with a simple pattern. Thin vertical stripes in neutral colors (such as white and light blue) are a safe choice, although minor repeating patterns such as dots can also be tolerated (especially if at least one color of the pattern is neutral).
- Shirts with more complex patterns, such as intricate stitching on the chest, are sometimes best worn without a tie, as the pattern and tie can vie for attention.
Part 2 of 3: Matching Tie to Shirt
Step 1. Choose a tie that is darker in color than the shirt
Ties are attention grabbers. When paired with the right shirt, a good tie will grab the attention of anyone looking around a crowded room and direct their attention to you. Get this effect by choosing a tie that stands out on your shirt. In general, this means choosing a tie that is darker than the shirt. For white and other neutrals, this means almost any tie will work. However, for dark or bold colored shirts, it will be more difficult.
Choosing a tie that is lighter in color than the shirt is sometimes a good choice as long as it stands out on your shirt. For example, if you're wearing a black shirt, all ties except the black one will be a lighter color than your shirt, so you might want to choose a tie that stands out with contrast – for example, a white tie
Step 2. For a plain colored tie, choose a color that matches your purpose
Plain-colored ties are quite versatile – almost every plain-colored tie looks great with a white shirt, while traditional colors like navy blue and black look great with bold-colored shirts. In general, you may want to choose a plain colored tie that grabs attention (or not) depending on the occasion. A red tie with a white shirt, for example, will create a striking (but not contradictory) contrast that can grab attention.
Don't pair a plain, bold tie with a shirt that's also a bold color unless you're sure the combination will work. Avoid extreme contrasts – a cherry red tie with a light green shirt, for example, can be difficult to look good on
Step 3. For a patterned tie, choose a tie that is the same color as your shirt
When choosing a patterned tie, a good way to make sure it matches your shirt is to make sure it's the same (or nearly the same) color as the shirt in some part of the pattern. In this case, assuming the colors in the tie pattern don't conflict with each other, your tie will automatically match your shirt.
- As an exception to this rule, it's best not to use a tie with a repeating pattern that is the same base color as the shirt color, as it only creates a slight contrast.
- For example, if you are wearing a light blue shirt, choose a plaid tie with a dominant dark blue and a little light blue.
Step 4. Avoid choosing a tie in the same pattern as your shirt
The first rule when pairing a tie and shirt is that similar patterns don't always match. A patterned tie should not be paired with a similar patterned shirt. In this combination, the interaction of the two shades can create a distracting and whimsical effect, not unlike an optical illusion. What's more, the tie has a similar pattern to the shirt, so the tie doesn't stand out from the shirt.
For example, you don't want to wear a plaid tie with a plaid shirt, a light striped tie with a light striped shirt, and so on
Part 3 of 3: Matching Suits with Shirts and Ties
Step 1. Choose a "serious" formal color
For suits, formal colors are your friends. Most people don't go well with bright and cute colored suits. That's not to say nothing can be – it just takes a lot of charisma and can also turn around making you look like a dumb game show host. Most people go with colors like black, gray, navy blue, and (sometimes) brown when it comes to formal pants and suits.
Not only is it more respectable (and thus a better choice for formal and classy events) but this color is easier to match with most shirts and ties
Step 2. When in doubt, choose a plain dark setting
For shirts, when wearing a suit, simplicity means flexibility. A plain black, gray or navy blue suit will go well with most shirt and tie combinations. What's more, a suit like this is perfect for a variety of occasions – from happy ones like weddings to somber ones like funerals. Most men should have at least one suit of this color.
- Pair a dark suit with a neutral shirt and dark tie for an overall dignified look. A light tie can go well with a dark suit, but can look informal if it's too light.
- Keep in mind that some sources claim dark blue doesn't go well with black or navy blue suits.
Step 3. Consider a plain lighter-colored suit to wear with a pastel and dark tie
Browns, pale grays, lighter styles of wool and sometimes even whites are options for happy occasions or celebrations. Try pairing this type of suit with a pastel or dark tie for contrast.
Step 4. Avoid pairing a patterned suit with a similarly patterned shirt or tie
When dealing with patterned shirts and ties, it's a good idea to avoid pairing a patterned suit with anything of a similar pattern. The most common style of suit is pinstripes (very thin vertical stripes), so in general, this means avoiding striped shirts or ties, especially if the stripes are vertical and thin.
As a general rule, try to avoid using three patterned fabrics. In other words, make sure one of your fabrics is a plain color. It's hard to look good with three different shades of clothing – turning around can make you look like a clown
Step 5. Try to choose a suit that keeps your outfit in no more than three colors
In the end, you may want to choose a shirt that doesn't add any new colors when your outfit is already full of color. Using a suit to add color to an outfit that already has a lot of color is a bad idea – it usually ends up being pretty messy.
To be clear, neutral-colored shirts such as white or ties of similar hues do not fall under the "three colors" rule. For example, if you wear a dark blue plaid tie, other shades of dark blue in the plaid pattern are not considered a different color
Tips
- A classic black suit with a white shirt should be worn with a light tie with a small pattern.
- If the shirt has a pattern, you should choose a plain colored tie.
- A one-color shirt goes well with a patterned tie. The larger pattern makes the tie less formal and more suitable to wear when hanging out with friends.
