Matching A Tie, Without A Sport Coat

November 16, 2001

I am a college student and going out to a nice dinner that requires me to dress up. I am not wearing a sportcoat, however, I am wearing black dress pants with a navy blue dress shirt. My question is what color tie should I wear? I have a stylish blue one, a nice gold-ish looking one, and a plain black one. (Flint, MI)

It's hard to escape the image of randy school boy in his shirt and tie, but there certainly are plenty of situations where wearing a jacket is unnecessary (think lab coat), even though sporting a sportcoat will finish the look.

When spurning a jacket, your tie acts as an anchor and introducing a third color, like the goldtone tie, will break up the line. Best bet would be a blue tie that matches your shirt with some black pattern to coordinate your pants.

Word to the wise, before you leave the house, double-check that jackets are not required or you'll be forced to wear the restaurant's rancid, ill-fitting polyester loaner jacket that the maitre d' snidely presents- ouch!

-November 16, 2001

Tags: fashion advice, matching a tie, men's dress code, men's dress riule, men's style, mens fashion, tie tips, what color tie

Stefani Germanotta at the Bitter End in NYC , 2006

Lady Gaga undone was Stefani Germanotta and very brunette

Before there was a whole lot of styling and theatrics there was a brunette girl with a very good voice

Recent posts: HM Garden Collection First Look is Eco Chic and Sweet
> Lady Gaga Telephone Video featuring Beyonce is a homage to prison chick flicks
> First Lady Gowns at the Smithsonian Behind the Scenes Video

Fashion Shows

Latest shows (Fall / Winter 2010-2011)

Celine
Jean Paul Gaultier
Gareth Pugh

View all shows

LUICHINY - RING A LING

Mixed prints and animal prints, what else can we say? Pair these with other complimenting prints for an on-trend look, or spice up something simple and clean. Fab!

See more Animal Prints