7 Fashion Faux Pas to Avoid When Wearing a Necktie

7 Fashion Faux Pas to Avoid When Wearing a Necktie

A necktie is an essential fashion accessory for a suit. Whether you're wearing a two-piece suit or a three-piece suit, you should consider accessorizing it with a necktie. Also known simply as a tie, it will enhance your suit with new colors -- and new patterns in some cases -- while offering a more formal appearance. There are several fashion faux pas, however, you should avoid wearing a necktie, some of which include the following.

#1) Too Wide

When choosing a necktie to wear, make sure it's not too wide. Some neckties are wider than others. The problem with ultra-wide neckties is that they create an unflattering appearance. They'll make you look shorter, as well as wider, when worn. You can avoid this faux pas by choosing a necktie in an appropriate width.

How wide should your necktie be exactly? A good rule of thumb is to choose a necktie in about the same width as the lapels on your suit jacket. If the lapels are 3 inches wide, your necktie should be about 3 inches wide. If the lapels are 3.25 inches wide, your necktie should be roughly this same width.

#2) Same Color as Shirt

Another fashion pas to avoid is wearing a necktie in the same color as your dress shirt. You should always choose a necktie in a color that flows cohesively with that of your dress shirt. Nonetheless, your necktie shouldn't be the exact same color as your dress shirt.

If your necktie and dress shirt are the same color, there won't be any visible distinction between them. Rather, your necktie will essentially blend into your dress shirt while offering little or no aesthetic value to your suit outfit. You can avoid this fashion faux pas by choosing a necktie in the same color as your suit jacket. Your necktie will be worn over your dress shirt, so it can feature the same color as your suit jacket.

#3) Off-Centered

Don't make the mistake of wearing your necktie off-centered. Off-centered means that it's not in the center of your dress shirt's collar. The proper way to wear a necktie is to position it in the center of the collar. If it's tilted to the right or left side of the collar, it won't look right. Therefore, you should center your necktie when wearing it.

Keep in mind that just because you center your necktie, there's no guarantee that it will stay there. Neckties can shift and move around throughout the day. Ensuring that your necktie is secure and not loose can reduce the risk of this happening. Even then, you should check your necktie periodically throughout the day to make sure that it hasn't shifted from the center of the collar.

#4) Wrinkled

Before putting on your necktie, take a moment to inspect it for wrinkles. Neckties can develop wrinkles just like the suits with which you wear them. While a few wrinkles won't harm your necktie, they can lower its aesthetic value. Your necktie will messy and unkempt if it's wrinkled. For a cleaner and more uniform appearance, you should only wear wrinkle-free neckties.

You can eliminate wrinkles from a necktie by using a garment steamers. Alternatively, you may be able to press the wrinkles out of it by using an iron. Just remember to check the care tag for instructions on how to safely and effectively deal with wrinkles. Depending on the fabric, some of them may allow for ironing, whereas others may require steaming or even dry cleaning.

#5) Using the Wrong Knot

There are different types of knots that you can use to secure your necktie around the collar of your dress shirt. Some of these knots are better than others. Using the wrong knot can an adverse impact on your suit's appearance. With the wrong knot, your necktie may fail to stay in place, or it may simply stick out.

What type of knot should you use for your necktie exactly? You can't go wrong with the four-in-hand knot. Of all the different types of knots for neckties, it's the most popular. The four-in-hand knot offers clean and uniform appearance. There's also the Windsor knot. While it's more difficult to create than the four-in-hand knot, the Windsor knot is a viable alternative that many men prefer. Other popular knot types include the half-Windsor, the Pratt knot and the small knot.

#6) Mixing Different Patterns

You should avoid mixing patterns with your necktie. In other words, don't wear a necktie in a different pattern than that of your suit. Many suits have patterns. Some of them have vertical stripes, whereas others have horizontal stripes. You can also find suits in plaid and even polka-dot patterns. If you're going to wear a patterned suit, you should avoid choosing a necktie in a starkly different pattern.

There's nothing wrong with wearing a patterned necktie. A pattern simply means that it features multiple colors in a particular pattern. Nonetheless, you should try to avoid mixing patterns with your necktie and your suit.

#7) Overlooking the Tie Bar

Finally, failure to wear a tie bar with a necktie is a fashion faux pas. A tie bar, of course, is a clip-on accessory that's worn in conjunction with a necktie. It's used to prevent neckties from swinging or moving around. If you don't wear a tie bar, your necktie will be more susceptible to shifting. As you walk and go about your daily activities, you may discover that your necktie is no longer in place.

You can keep your necktie in place by wearing a tie bar. There are different types of tie bars. Some of them are made of stainless steel, whereas others are made of copper or titanium. Regardless, they all consist of a clip. You can clip a tie bar onto your necktie and dress shirt. Once connected, your necktie will remain secure throughout the day.