True style goes beyond money, age or anything else. It’s all about knowing how to work with clothes that will make you not only look, but feel your best as well.

One of the most effective ways a man can add a dash of style to his look is to wear a striped shirt with a striped tie.

 

While many men think that achieving a good combination is hard, wearing striped shirts with striped ties is in fact very easy. There is one rule of thumb that you need to follow, and once you have that down, you can play with it as you wish.

 

 

The main rule

 

 

 

The rule is that the stripes of your tie and the stripes of your shirt should be very different in size. This basically means that if you are wearing a shirt that features very thin stripes, you should match it to a tie that features very thick stripes. The same rule applies the other way around: a shirt that features thick stripes should be worn with a tie that features thin ones.

If you have a tie that features both thick and thin stripes, make sure you wear it with a shirt that features the opposite type of stripes than the most dominant type of stripes featured on your tie.

 

 

The orientation of the stripes

 

 

 

Remember that the orientation of the stripes is not very important: you may wear a shirt that features vertical stripes and a tie that features diagonal stripes. In fact, it is more recommended to wear stripes that are different in orientation. This way, you will add visual interest and depth to your outfit, which is what you are going for.

 

 

The exception

Once you get the hang of a sartorial rule such as how to match stripes correctly, you can play with it and create your own rules. You may break the rule we just mentioned if you do it in a very cohesive and affirmed way. For example, you may wear stripes that are the same exact thickness and even of the same orientation if they clash greatly in terms of color. For example, you may wear a shirt that features red and orange stripes with a tie that features purple and green stripes. This type of look very casual though and should not be worn in a conservative environment, such as an office or another similar business setting.

 

Remember that this rule applies to any type of pattern (checkers, paisley, dots) and not just to stripes. Also, if you want to mix two or more different patterns, make sure they are different in size. For example, thin stripes go with big polka dots and, obviously, the other way around.

 

Wearing a striped shirt with a striped tie is a very elegant and subtle way to add personality and style to a classic item. We encourage you to experiment with mixing up ties and shirts and discover what types of combinations you enjoy and look good on you!

Remember that looking good will help you a lot to feel good, which is why you should always invest time and effort in your style and make sure you put your best foot forward.

 

Fraquoh and Franchomme

 

 

 

 

 

Further reading:

The complete guide to mixing patterns and prints

Choose the colors of your clothes like a pro

A guide to coordinating the colors of your clothes (+examples)

Choosing the colors of your clothes according to your skin tone

Discovering what colors to wear according to your natural features

Choosing the best color of clothes for dark skin tones

Matching your shirt and tie: A guide

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