History and High Heels: Men's Shirt / Tie Ratio

When I’ve inquired with guys what their common fashion problems are, repeatedly I have heard the dilemma of choosing what tie to wear with a certain shirt. This can be especially problematic when shirts and ties have patterns and fabrics that complicate matters. As a result, I’ve come up with a step by step guide for guys on coordinating shirts and ties!

In case you were wondering, like I was on Friday morning, how did the necktie come about? It actually emerged as an adaptation to its predecessor the cravat by King Louis XIV of France and the outfit he created for his Croatian soldiers in the 17th century. The soldiers had to wear a form of cravat as part of their uniform and the accessory actually ended up looking similar to a shortened necktie seen today! It wasn’t until two centuries later during the mass production of the Industrial Revolution that the necktie really took off thanks to an American tailor in 1924, Jesse Langsdorf. He developed the necktie into what it is known today with the bias cut and three-part construction. Over the years trends have come and gone, but ties still remain an outfit essential for guys in more formal occasions or who just want to dress nicely.

Below is the results of my research on the shirt / tie pattern ratio. Boldly patterned shirts should never be worn with bold pattern ties. The reason is that too much pattern tends to overwhelm making the wearer seem messy, disjointed, and a bit crazy. It is best to keep your patterned ties to solid or barely-there pattern shirts as this will let the print stand out without competing with the rest of your outfit. Right now knit ties are really popular so if you are wanting to bring an edge to your outfit through fabric, knit ties are the way to go! Also, chambray denim shirts are like normal solid shirts, except they have a bit more flexibility in dressing casual. I think they are great with bold patterned ties or knitted ties if you want to make them a bit more formal!

If you are ever looking for nice, well-maid ties, bow ties, tie bars, or pocket squares, check out thetiebar.com. They have wonderful pieces for $15 or less!