When you’re used to wearing plain ties on smooth silk, and you catch a glimpse of a beautiful tie with an assertive pattern, or simply a club tie (with stripes), it’s very appealing, it’s a change from the ordinary and it makes you dream, but it can immediately look impressive. Sometimes we even wonder if we’d be able to wear a strong piece well. It’s an imposing, eye-catching motif! That’s the whole point of this kind of tie: to offer added value in terms of style. The problem is that you have to be comfortable and confident, otherwise the effect won’t be there! Here are a few tips to help you wear your first ties with ease:
I Start with a simple pattern
Going from a plain navy tie to an ancient madder pattern in yellow and orange might be a step too far stylistically. Moreover, your colleagues, surprised by such audacity, might point it out to you, which is not the desired effect.
It’s best to start with a simple striped tie (called a club tie) in two colors, like our blue/green or blue/brown striped tie. It’s a first step that will gradually enable you to wear more and more assertive ties.
II Don’t accumulate motifs
When you’re not used to wearing strong pieces in your outfit (in this case, one of our ties), you have to start simply. Wear it with a sober, plain suit (navy blue or gray will do just fine) and a white or sky-blue shirt, as well as a pair of black or dark brown oxfords.
The goal? Wear only simple pieces around them, so as not to weigh down your outfit. It’s best to avoid accumulating strong pieces in an outfit when you’re not used to it.
III Choosing the right width
Although the trend over the last ten years has been to wear skinny ties (between 6 and 7cm wide), the trend has been reversed over the last year or two, and standards will soon be rising again.
Our aim is not to get you to buy a trendy tie, but rather to choose one that will be timeless, which is why we often recommend starting with an intermediate width of 8cm.
A slim knit tie, with contrasting wide lapels.
It’s an all-purpose width, a sure-fire, timeless value that suits every body type and every outfit, because the width is never out of proportion.
For the second tie, you can opt for an 8.5 cm tie (my favourite width)! Provided, of course, that your collar shirt and suit lapels are consistent in terms of proportions. If they’re thin and short, go for 7.5 cm, and if they’re just the opposite, go for 8.5 cm wide! It’s just common sense.
