Everything you are wearing on your own needs to be in harmony. Knowing how to combine tie or pocket square with suit or blazer/sport coat will help you own a beautifully harmonious whole.
A simple rule to remember: everything you wear needs to have the same spirit, only then can they give a coherent appearance.
The next thing to remember is to avoid making rudimentary mistakes, such as using too similar accessories, typically pocket squares and ties that are too similar.
Other mistakes to avoid can include color matching errors, when mixing colors that don’t work together, such as light blue with green.
Many people think that for those who are not sure about the ability to combine accessories, the safest way is to use a white linen pocket square. But if you like playing with color, this tip will obviously get boring.
First, how to choose a tie?
Choose a tie that intuitively tells you it will go well with your outfit.
For example, if your outfit is a plain gray or navy suit, pair it with a dark Grenadine tie (but avoid black).
In contrast, a patterned tie with a combination of colors will be an interesting highlight against the background of a darker suit.
If you need to combine a tie with a casual outfit like a navy sport coat and khaki pants, choose a tie with a textured surface, not plain silk ties.
Once you’ve mastered choosing texture ties for winter and linen or cotton ties for summer, that’s when your dressing skills have taken to the next level (congratulations!).
Remember these 4 things by heart:
- Always keep the same level of formality for all components of the outfit, when it’s formal, everything is formal, if it’s casual, there’s no trace of formality left.
- Choose elements with textured surfaces for a casual effect, and smooth textures for a more formal look, or if combined they need to be used skillfully to create balance.
- Avoid using identical ties and pocket squares, and don’t use clashing colors either.
- Finally, use materials sensibly, flannel for winter and linen for summer for example. Once you have mastered this step, choosing a tie is also much easier.
In addition, there are 2 issues you need to consider before choosing accessories:
- Patterned outfits should be accompanied by simple accessories. For example, a patterned suit should be paired with a white or light blue shirt, and ties and pocket squares also require subtle choices if you want a softer, more balanced look.
- Conversely, a striped shirt will bring interesting accents to a plain suit and plain tie (while it will be a disaster if not carefully combined with a patterned suit or patterned tie). Remember, always strive for overall balance.
How to choose pocket squares?
After completing the process of choosing a tie, the next thing to worry about is which pocket square will elevate the overall outfit to a new level.
Yes, the pocket square should be the final piece to complete your look, although by itself it shouldn’t be too attention-grabbing. A well-chosen pocket square will complement the main colors of an outfit, or give it a breath of fresh air.
A casually folded white pocket square linen will complement a dark ensemble and be just enough of a focal point. The pocket square folded in a TV fold will pair well with most outfits, but there’s one thing to keep in mind: don’t wear it with a blue shirt.
Color interaction between accessories
What is a color interaction between accessories? Simply put, it is harmony.
If you’re confident enough to step out of your comfort zone with one-color pocket squares, matching accessories becomes much more challenging.
Make sure the colors and textures of the tie and pocket square match. Next, with your sense, make sure the accessory goes well with the suit/jacket, pants and shirt.
Don’t forget to keep the weather in mind (One tip: Avoid bright silk pocket squares, use wool or matte silk instead).
How to choose color?
Now comes the story of color. The choice of colors is always very important, for this part nothing is more effective than practical examples. For example, with a solid purple tie, use a patterned pocket square with a dominant color that matches the color of the suit/jacket. It will be even more perfect if the pattern of the pocket square has purple accents of the tie.
Another example. If you wear an orange tie with a blue floral pattern, the pocket square needs to balance out the outfit with neutral colors, and a little bit of orange.
If you’re wearing a patterned suit with a patterned tie, choose a plain linen pocket square with a tie-like border. The aim is still to do the overall balance.
A pocket square that is difficult to match, requires advanced players will include one main color and 2 to 3 complementary colors.
The rule to not get confused here is to choose a pocket square with a complementary color similar to the main color of the tie. The remaining colors on the pocket square should not be matched with the color of the tie, otherwise the harmony will be lost.
Let’s start by imitating
There’s a very effective tip for the start-up phase. That is, list what you have, as detailed as possible. Then look at lots of pictures (on Instagram, Pinterest, anywhere). Save outfits that you find beautiful and have one (or more) similar elements to your list. Try to dress like them, and if you’re missing an item, at least you’ll have a direction for your next garment. This way will save you a lot of time and money!
Be confident and comfortable in your chosen outfit
If you are passionate about dressing, there are billions of things for you to worry about. Even when you step out into the street with the most carefully chosen outfit, you can still go wrong.
Don’t forget that mistakes are a prerequisite for progress. And if it’s a mistake, try not to think about it, or your gestures make it obvious and aggravate it.
The supreme realm of dress is comfort, confidence in a beautiful outfit. But if you don’t have the second, at least start with the first.
Remember that whatever you wear has been carefully chosen by you, and it partly says who you are. Be confident and comfortable first, then gradually you will dress better.
