The Complete Guide to Buying a Tie

Even if you don’t typically wear men’s suits, knowing how to properly wear a tie is a must for any man past the age of 16. Here’s the first part in a complete guide to everything you need to know about wearing, matching and tying your ties.

Choosing a Tie

You’ve got endless choices when it comes to men’s ties. They come in every colour, fabric, design, width and length. There are so many choices it can become somewhat intimidating—to make it easier, here are the 10 essential ties you should have to go with your men’s suits.

Starting with the most essential:

The Solid Navy Tie

Most men like blue, in fact, for many it’s their favourite colour. It’s also the perfect colour choice for your ties. If this is the first tie you’re purchasing, then the best choice is one that is solid navy and a standard width (3 – 3.25 inches wide). What’s great about a navy tie is that it can be matched easily to almost any color and pattern, making it appropriate for all seasons and suitable for any occasion.

A Classic Striped Tie

Stripes add a nice touch to most men’s suits, making a striped tie the most popular pattern in ties. For your first striped tie, choose a classic striped one showing no more than four colours, which will make pairing it with your shirts and suits easier. How wide the stripes are is a matter of personal preference. A navy striped tie is one of the easiest colours to pair.

A Solid Black Tie

A solid black tie is essential for every man’s wardrobe. It’s the perfect accessory for semi-formal occasions, can be worn at a funeral, and depending on the occasion, can replace the formal bow tie.

A Burgundy Tie

After navy, the most popular tie colour is burgundy along with other dark reds. A tie with a shade of red pairs wells with gray, navy and tan men’s suits.

The Skinny Tie

First made popular in the 1960s, the skinny tie has found its way back into fashion with men. With the influence of popular TV shows like Mad Men, it’s become a wardrobe staple for fashioned forward men. The best choices in men’s skinny ties are solid colours with a width of 1.75 – 2.5 inches.

LFGF Fashion House offers custom tailored business suits. Hand tailored and delivered to your office.

6. A Plaid Patterned Tie

If you already have a few solid and striped ties in your tie collection, adding some plaid will be the perfect choice. More casual than a solid coloured necktie, plaid is perfect if you’re looking to add some new texture and design features to your men’s suits.

7. Pastel Colored Ties

The ideal choice for sunny days. If a pink tie is a too feminine to suit your taste, then go with a light blue or mint green one. Pair a pastel tie with a tan suit and voila, the perfect summer look.

8. The Black Bow Tie

At some point, you’ll be invited to a formal black tie event. Go with a self-tied bow tie –much more elegant and classy than the clip-ons everyone wears to their high school prom!

9. The Paisley Patterned Tie

With solid, striped and plaid ties giving you the basics for your wardrobe, you can now add another design element to your tie rotation—the paisley tie. Bear in mind the look will be less formal with a larger and brighter pattern.

10. The Knitted Necktie

A great choice for fall and winter, a knitted tie is perfect for the man with a well-rounded tie selection who wants a little change. Best choices for knitted ties are a skinny width of about 2 – 2.5 inches, with a flat tip.

LGFG Fashion House delivers custom tailored, men’s suits. Highest quality and hand delivered.

Next week: Tying the Knot