Tips For Him: Shirts And Ties

Shirts

• There is no such thing as a short-sleeve dress shirt.
• A white dress shirt with a dark suit is always safe for semi-formal evening wear. Try a black suit with a colored shirt, such as dark red, for a change.
• At the office, white or blue dress shirts are business staples. Dark-toned, striped, or check will make a nice change.
• Normally you should wear a straight-collar shirt with a suit. A button-down collar dress shirt may be worn if it is one of high quality. Button downs also go nicely with a blazer or sports coat.
• Own at least two dress shirts of different colors with French cuffs. You can find cufflinks that are color-coordinated with your outfit, or wear silver, which goes with anything. Cufflinks with precious stones are the most formal.
• Poly/cotton blend dress shirts hold their press well but will fade over time. Spend the money and the effort to iron pure cotton shirts. You will look sharper and the shirts will hold that bright colour longer.

Opening your shirt collar and loosening your tie does not make you look cool or relaxed. It makes you look drunk.

Ties

• Adjust the width of your tie’s knot to the width of your shirt collar; the wider the collar, the wider the knot. From narrowest to widest knot, learn how to tie the four-in-hand, half-Windsor, and Windsor knot.
  A properly tied necktie will have a dimple under the knot.
  
• Neckties come in two lengths: the standard length of 56 inches and the longer 60 inches. Be sure to buy a standard 56-inch tie unless you are over six feet taller and have a protruding belly. The bottom of your tie should just cover your belt buckle.

Festive ties with teddy bears or Santa Claus faces are fine for festive occasions, but not for the office.