Tied Up

The necktie. A staple in every business man's wardrobe. Where do they come from? Why do we insist on tying a piece of fabric around our necks? An even greater question is why do they continue to allow Jerry Garcia to make ties? Hasn't he done enough damage? That question may never be answered. Yet here they are. Every man in corporate America (and elsewhere in the world) gets up in the morning and is faced with the same question every day: "What tie do I wear today?" So yes, this is a rather simple post but nevertheless it's a topic that needs to be covered.

TIES

Skinny, wide, long, slim, striped, polka dotted, paisley, etc.

Ties come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Which variety you decide upon is totally up to your preference. However, there are still a few things to consider.

Skinny/slim ties are very popular right now. The problem is, there is good amount of men who don't know HOW to wear them. What I mean is, the tie has to fit the proportions of the suit and shirt you are wearing. If you are wearing a slim tie, think everything slim. Narrow lapels, smaller collar, slim suit.

Example:

The same goes for wider ties. Make sure the the collar is bigger and the lapels of your suit are wider. The proportions must match or it won't quite look right.

Now you may be the conservative type who sticks to dark ties with simple patterns and that is perfectly fine. As Donald Draper has shown very successfully, that is a winning combination. But I would encourage you to switch it up every once in a while. Throw some color in there. Mix patterns together. This can be tricky, I know. And sometimes it may not come out like you want but don't be afraid to experiment. 

Here's a few more examples: 

I had to repost the last one because....well because I like it so much. Now go get your Suit and Tie on. 

The Dress Shirt

Guys, it's time to step up your game with dress shirts. Get rid of that neon green shirt that resembles a night gown more than a proper dress shirt. Your newly fitted suit will thank you.

It doesn't matter if you only own one suit. If you have a nice assortment of dress shirts you can mix and match until you have your co-workers believing you own ten different suits. I know it sounds simple, but there are a few rules. 

First, get measured. Just like a suit you want your dress shirt to fit you properly. Simply get a measuring tape and follow the diagram below.

Second, check the collar. Depending on how wide or slim your tie is will determine the width of the collar. As a general rule if your tie is slim, go with the small collar. If your tie is standard width, choose the spread collar. 

Side note: Avoid collars like the top middle or bottom left. Those haven't been in style since the 80's. It's just not a good look. Choose the one that best fits your frame and style preference.

Thirdly, make sure it's fitted. Nothing says "I don't care" like an ill-fitted shirt. You want the shirt to hug your frame but not so tight that you can't be mobile or comfortable in it. When you remove your suit jacket you shouldn't have your sleeve bunching up at the wrist or billowing out of your waist line. It should fit snug without being too tight (that's not a good look either). Here are a few examples:

Lastly, don't be afraid to get creative with it. If your a "solids" kind of guy, try some patterned shirts. Or vice versa. Just have fun with it. If you're really brave you will try some of these combinations:

I'll leave you with that. Now go get yourself a new dress shirt and as always, stay classy.