Wednesday, 8 October 2014

Choosing a Perfect Necktie

Men are spoilt for choice when it comes to ties since they come in countless colors, designs, textures and cuts. A tie is the first thing people notice. "Nice tie!" That's always what people say. Men who have been wearing ties for many years also at times find it difficult making a choice from a tie rack. The tie is no longer something reserved for formal events and big meetings; done right, the tie can be an off-duty accessory, too. You can also use it to sharpen up your weekend style, or freshen up your date night look.

So while you do want a tie that looks great all on its own, remember, it shouldn't be a novelty piece. It's meant to speak to the rest of your outfit, not stand apart from or clash with it. Apart from ones own personal choices, one also needs to keep some basics in mind while choosing a tie.

There are three broad guidelines while you need to keep in mind while purchasing your tie:

1.  Proportion (Length/Width) : I cannot even explain how important this is. It is crucial you pay attention to the length and the width of the tie while purchasing. The proportion of the tie is directly proportional to the built of the person. Men who fit into the “big and tall” category, for example, require a tie that is a little bit longer.  Similarly very short and stout men should avoid ties that are too long. Bigger men typically look best with regular width ties (3.25 to 3.75 inches) while shorter and/or thin men can add a trendy touch by wearing skinny ties (2 – 2.75 inches). Besides your built, the type of jacket you wear needs to complement your tie. As a good rule of thumb: The narrower a tie the narrower the lapels of the jacket should be.


2. Color: There is no set formula for this. The tie color would primarily depend on the occasion for which you are wearing it. It is but obvious that a tie that you would wear for work will not be appropriate for a party. One should have a tie for every occasion. At “Black Tie” events, call for just that (black bow tie), with other tie colors being off limits. Semi-formal “suit and tie” scenarios, on the other hand, offer up a great deal of other possibilities. Red and blue ties are popular in the corporate scene. Even in the political circle, one will see a lot of these colors being worn since it signifies professionalism and confidence. A brown tie would be considered inappropriate for a high profile job. Bright colors would be considered casual.

3.  Pattern?: You have a whole range of patterned ties starting from solid colors to stripes to plaids, from polkas to paisleys and figures. There are a variety of different schools of thought regarding how to properly pair a patterned tie with an ensemble, but perhaps the most important thing to understand is that the pattern of your tie should not otherwise be present in the rest of your outfit in the same proportion (otherwise, clashing will almost always occur).



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