For most men, neck ties take up a small proportion of their entire wardrobe. However, it is such a critical element of the #naijamen of style’s wardrobe, that it is very important to know how to pick the right tie.
Check out our recommended steps below.
- Size matters
Ties come in different sizes. To achieve a balanced look, you should go for a tie that matches your body frame and also the outfit you will be wearing. Rule of thumb is to ensure that the width of your tie is consistent with the width of your suit or jacket lapel. Ideally, your tie should stay right at the top of your belt, so be sure to keep an eye on the length, too.
- Colour selection
When choosing a tie, there are often so many colours you can choose from. It is a good idea to choose a tie in a colour that goes with your overall outfit. For more formal occasions, a solid coloured tie that’s darker than your shirt is generally recommended. Of courser, there are also very colourful ties that work well with not so formal occasions. They key point to make here is that you choose to match both the occasion and your personality, so you don’t end up looking like a clown.
- Choose the right texture and fabric
Generally, silk ties go best with business suits, while wool ties go best with tweeds or heavyweight jackets (which are not too common in Nigeria due to our predominantly warm weather). Because silk is such a versatile fabric that offers so many benefits – drapes well; does not attract dirt; retains its shape for long periods etc – you never go wrong sticking to silk ties.
- Patterns
Just like there are a lot of colour options when you want to choose a tie, so many pattern options also exist. These include dots, repeat patterns, checks, stripes etc. It is vital to ensure balance with your overall look – if you are wearing a heavily patterned shirt or suit, a plain tie may be more desirable, while if other clothing elements are plain, then a more heavily patterned tie provides a nice contrast. As with every other kind of accessory, the goal is to achieve a look that is coordinated and properly matched.