Your Guide to Matching Suits with Shirts, Ties, and Accessories

We know the feeling. The feeling of dread you feel as you stand in front of your closet. You might not be wearing pants, and you're definitely shirtless.

“How the hell do I figure out what shirts go with what ties?” you’re asking yourself, “and how do I know which colors go well together?”

Before you give up and scream, “I can’t even!” to the sky, and opt to just wear a bathrobe to work, take a deep breath. We've got you.

In this guide, we have a few simple tips and tricks to help you look sharp and feel confident. These tips will make your morning routine easier so you don’t have to show up at the office in your bathroom attire!

How To Color Match

It doesn’t take an engineering degree to figure out how to put colors together, just a little bit of know-how.

Keep It Simple, Stupid

If you don’t know where to begin, K.I.S.S., as they say, or Keep It Simple Stupid. We agree that sometimes it’s best to focus on the basics. This is especially true if you want to save time in the morning and simplify your routine.

That means starting with a simple, solid shirt and a basic tie. Without fail, a white shirt goes with everything, no matter the suit or tie color. Plus, it doesn’t matter if you’re going with a pattern or not; that white shirt works.

As a general rule, your tie should always be darker than your shirt. If not, you might look like a mob boss or a Bond villain (but not in a good way).

When the shirt is dark, and the tie is light, the contrast changes. For example, a black shirt with a silver tie can look very different. This look may remind people of formal outfits worn by waiters or villains in 1970s movies and TV shows.

Win The Primaries

If you want to add some color to your wardrobe, start with primary colors:

Red
Blue
Yellow
Green

For this list, we're also including white and grey. These colors match well with each other and can be easily mixed.

For example, white, blue, and grey shirts can be matched with red, blue, yellow, green, and grey ties interchangeably. If you focus on primary colors, it doesn't matter how you pair them. They will always look great together.

The same goes for your suit colors like:

Navy
Charcoal
Grey
Tan

These suit colors pair well with nearly every combination of primary colors. That's why you see presidential candidates wear some combination of navy, blue, red, and white. This is because these colors look great together!

Get Monochromatic

Going monochromatic involves pairing different shades of the same color together for a complete look. Because they're in the same color family, the different shades automatically look good together.

A lot of monochromatic styles are seen in fashion magazines and store mannequins. This trend is easy to pull off, and it looks cool and modern.

You can add subtle tie patterns to monochromatic looks for visual interest. Just make sure the colors aren't too different, or you will look mismatched.

Our Favorite No-Fail Suit and Tie Color Combos

Navy + White + Red
Navy + Blue + Yellow
Navy + Blue + Brown
Charcoal/Grey + Blue + Red
Charcoal/Grey + White + Yellow
Charcoal/Grey + White + Purple or Lilac
Charcoal/Grey + White + Pink

Mix and Match Patterns The Right Way

Now that you feel good about choosing and mixing solid colors, let’s discuss how to easily add patterns to your wardrobe.

It’s All About Scale

The key to matching patterns is keeping the scale, or size, of the patterns in mind. You never want to have two big patterns that are the same size competing with each other. It will look off and be hard for the eye to take in.

Two small-scale patterns together can work so long as there is enough difference in what they look like. For example, if you have a nice gingham shirt, pair it with a tie that has a small pattern. A thin stripe or small geometric design works well.

If you have a boldly patterned foulard or striped tie, wear it with a small check or tattersall shirt. This creates a great look. You’ll keep everything in balance by letting the large patterns do the talking.

Colors Do Matter

The same rules that apply when matching colors apply when mixing patterns. Patterns with similar or matching colors always go well together, like gin and tonic.

So, try to keep them in the same color family. The more contrast and variation you add, the greater the risk of looking uncoordinated.

Keep One Thing Solid

When mixing big patterns, you need to be careful. Don’t just layer patterns on top of each other. It can look messy, like adding too much sauce to your food.

When in doubt, keep one of your three items (suit, shirt, tie) in a solid and mix the other two up. For example, if you’re going with a patterned shirt and tie, it’s best to pair them with a solid suit. Alternatively, wearing a patterned suit and a patterned tie together will look best when paired with a solid shirt.