How To Pick Out The Right Tie

Now that you have your nice collection of neckties, you need to match a tie to a shirt/suit. Your sense of style is your own but here are a few tips of what works and what does not work. The general idea with picking out a tie is get a good contrast that does not look harsh or confusing. The focus should be either on the shirt or tie. When you have a fancy shirt and fancy tie that both fight for attention, it doesn't work out well.

Matching Colors

Match with colors next to each other
Match with colors across from each other
Match with same color but with a different shade or hue

Matching patterns

GOOD - contrast in size of pattern
large checkered tie, small checkered shirt
wide striped tie, thin striped shirt
solid colored tie or solid colored shirt will go with anything

BAD - patterns that blend with each other striped tie and checkered shirt
stripes of same width on shirt and tie
checkered pattern of same size on shirt and tie

Classic Combinations

Here are some classic tie/shirt/suit combinations that don't go out of style
yellow tie and blue shirt
red tie, white shirt, light gray suit

when in doubt...
a white shirt will go with anything
a black suit will go with anything