Men’s Fashion Palettes: Printed Neckties
Neckties are usually worn by the middle class working man out of convention, tradition and a respect for the dress code, but there’s a sartorial angle to the practice too. From a fashion perspective mens ties are a strategic addition to any wardrobe to make your daily outfit rotation more varied and interesting. Once you start looking at your ties that way, you’ll realize that you don’t have nearly as many as you really need.
Take a Good Look at Your Ties
Round up all the office neckwear that you own and, as honestly as you can, see just how similar they are to each other. Even though men today are much more liberal with style (and spending for it), too many are buying ties that simply look too alike. Even if you own three striped ties, they don’t add much to your wardrobe if they’re all blue.
It’s time to expand your consciousness with regard to the selection that’s available. Now that the market’s becoming much more adventurous in terms of the colors and styles on the shelves, you have a much wider range to work with. Don’t stick to the boring stripes and ho-hum red-yellow-blue color palettes that your dad had! Men’s fashion today gives you a vast world of options that’s just waiting to be explored by your outfits.
Pattern Picking
Repp and variegated stripes are the most common styles that men own; even the most fashion-oblivious guys have a few of those. The pin dot pattern is a refreshing change since it introduces some non-striped color, while at the same time remaining subtle. It’s not your hideous old polka dot pattern; the micro dot style uses barely visible pricks of color so that it remains discreet, businesslike and unquestionably masculine.
Checks have also begun entering the world of necktie patterns, and it looks like they’re here to stay. Checked ties closely follow the rules of checked shirts: the more formal the event, the smaller the checks should be. For daily office wear, that means a check pattern that, like the micro dot, should be barely visible from arm’s length.
Necktie makers have also moved past mere lines and geometric designs of color. Some are also using logos, symbols and even team insignias as patterns. When done on a small enough scale, they can pass off as some sort of stripe that’s appropriate for the office. It’s only upon closer inspection that they reveal the visual surprise they hold.
Considering Color
Patterns aren’t the only new things you can explore with your neckwear. It’s very likely that you currently have a palette of just three to five colors (in very typical shades, too), so new colors are worth considering as well for your next shopping trip.
Non-standard colors like purples (royally deep shades are said to be selling well), silvers (which work great with navy or black shirts) and even pinks (dark or light, according to your fashion preferences) are fast becoming staples in the modern man’s wardrobe. The bold tie isn’t as big a risk as you might think, as long as you know how to color match neckties with shirts. They won’t cost much more than your old blue ties, either.
The most crucial thing to remember about bold colors is to wear them one at a time. Too many all at once won’t just drown you out, it’ll make you look comical to boot. Subtlety and restraint are the cornerstones of men’s fashion; it’d be good to exercise them her
Other Suggested Readings:
Basic Necktie Guide
Tips for Matching Ties
Your Mens-Ties.com Team