Putting On Ties with Stripes

Whether you are going to the office on a weekday or to that classy restaurant downtown on a weekend, the default combination for a two-piece suit is a plain shirt and a simple tie. As straightforward and foolproof as this duo might be, the pairing can get, well, dull. Mix up your look by using a striped tie for work or leisure the next time you tie that Windsor knot.

There is a option, even for something as seemingly simple as striped ties. Regimental stripes, which are contrasting lines in groups of two or three that run up from left to right are the ones you will want to get if you want to update your outfit a bit without stepping outside the bounds of formality. Although you dont have to come from a certain group in the British army to wear them, there is a style to using them nonetheless.

Seeing Stripes
When you are out buying ties, always ask for regimental stripe ties whose stripes contrast sharply against the background. Navy and white, navy and light blue, and red and yellow are some of the more common color combinations for regiment stripes. Stripes that are too close in color to the background, such as navy and black will be a little awkward not to mention more difficult to pair with shirts.

You might also encounter the American version of the regiment stripe, which runs downwards from left to right. It follows the same pattern of lines, which is, two equal lines, three equal lines or one line with two thinner lines before and after it. The American version will work just as well there is little difference between them, really so long as you follow the same rule for color.

Stripes on Your Shirts
The color of your shirt will also be a major consideration for the color combination on your striped tie. This is where a lot of guys make glaring errors in judgment by choosing colors that obviously dont work with each other. Unless it is Christmas, for example, a green tie over a red shirt or vice versa almost never works well. Shirts with the same stripe pattern as the tie also makes ties look like discolorations, not accessories.

Neutral colored shirts including black or white can be paired with just about any kind of striped tie except, of course, ones with a predominant color that matches the shirt. Although you do want to aim for some contrast to make the tie stand out, you also have to choose with complementary colors in mind. Get yourself a color wheel and then find the color of your shirt there. The colors on either side of that color will be the good ones for your tie.

A shirt that matches the stripes of your tie a British regiment stripe tie with shirt stripes that go up from left to right, for example is also a big no-no. If you cant get a different pattern like checks, get stripes of a different thickness and in a different direction. A shirt with vertical chalkstripes, for instance, and a regiment stripe tie will come together pretty well.

When in doubt, try the shirt and the tie on together. If something seems to be off at first glance, try a new combination. Wearing stripes is on the tricky side and may require some practice (preferably with a more fashion-experienced friend). Once you have gotten the hang of it, however, you will instantly slash a decade off your age and update countless looks in your wardrobe.

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