The world is full of awesome, colorful ties but sometimes it can be difficult to know exactly how to pair that bright, colorful tie with the right suit. In this quick guide, we offer a brief overview of color and how to work it into your wardrobe without being flamboyant or making a serious style error. Since the most interesting ties are typically a combination of colors – in plaids, checks, polka dots or otherwise textured – we’re going to concentrate on the dominate color in the tie. Accent colors can be used to highlight a tie and pocket square pairing or can also be downplayed by keeping to a more neutral palette.
Blue/Navy – Among the most popular in both suit and tie color is classic Navy. Pair navy ties with charcoal or brown for a strong, classic look. Choose pin or polka dots or stripes for more interest.
Red – Known as power ties, red ties are attention grabbers. Red ties are great for presentations, board meetings and television interviews or anytime you want the audience’s full attention. Try our Red and Navy Stripe tie for a powerful yet conservative look that works well with a navy, charcoal or grey suit.
Black – unless you’re in a tux and the tie is a bow-tie, avoid black ties unless you want to look like a waiter.
Brown– Rock a brown tie with your favorite navy suit for an on trend look that will be unexpected enough to grab everyone’s attention without being flamboyant. Go for a textured brown tie or one with minute details like beige or yellow polka dots. Brown ties are the perfect Thursday tie, the end of the week, need a lift kind of tie. Have fun with it.
Green – Great for summer office wear. Choose a lighter green and pair it with a white linen suit or go for a darker olive for fall. Green works well with brown and navy suits for the cooler months.
White – Black shirts with white ties were a thankfully short-lived trend in the 80s. We are glad the worst is over.
Yellow – Most would advise that you wear yellow ties on the rarest of occasions and typically ones that are outdoor like a wedding or other social engagements. We suggest, however, that you find a great yellow tie – perhaps textured or with subtle accents and consider how it works with the navy or charcoal suit you plan to wear for your next interview. Interviews are a time when you want to stand out from the crowd, when you want to be remembered for being smart, serious, fresh and a strategic yellow tie can help with all that. Just be careful to choose a medium hue and without any over-the-top graphics.