Accessories

Ties & Pocket Squares

The tie and pocket square are the two accessories that speak loudest about a man's taste. Learn the grammar, and you are free to express yourself within it.

Overview

The art of the considered neckline

Few accessories have as much expressive potential as the tie. A navy silk repp is conservative authority. A soft wool grenadine is relaxed confidence. A printed knit tie is personality. The same suit says something entirely different depending on what you tie at the collar.

Silk ReppGrenadine TiePattern ScaleWhite Linen

Principles

Tie, pattern mixing, and the pocket square

The Tie

The tie is the single most expressive item in a man's formal wardrobe. Width, pattern, and material must harmonise with the shirt and suit.

Width should mirror the jacket lapel width
Silk repp stripe: the most versatile formal tie
Knot size must match the collar spread

Pattern Mixing

The art of mixing patterns — tie against shirt against suit — follows a simple rule: vary the scale. A large-pattern suit needs a fine-stripe tie, not another bold check.

Solid suit → patterned tie → solid shirt
Striped shirt → solid tie or small-pattern tie
Never two dominant patterns at the same scale

The Pocket Square

A pocket square should add personality without competing with the tie. The safest rule: use a different pattern but the same tonal family.

White linen square in a TV fold: always correct
Patterned silk square: casual fold, never formal
The square should not match the tie exactly

The Sartorial Standard

Dress how you want to be addressed.

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