Many men find it difficult to choose the right tie for the right shirt. Matching shirt to ties can be quite fun. The range of patterns, colors, fabrics, and cuts will allow for endless possibilities-so many that many men wouldn't even know where to start. This article will teach you the essentials that will help you create a wide range of outfits with different dress shirts and neckties.

Classic White Shirts

A dress shirt for the businessman is like a canvas for the artist. There are days when you are all too confused with what you wanted to wear for the day. A basic white top is the solution. With it, any necktie will be well matched.

The Solid Color Dress Shirt

A single colored top would sometimes require slight contemplation. Use a necktie and top of the same color so long as one is lighter than the other. Having both necktie and top of the same shade would appear like a patched-up shirt. For starters, the solid light blue dress shirt is a great alternative to the plain white one. Using a foulard or striped necktie with a plain colored top is very easy to match. In fact any necktie pattern would work as long as the colors harmonize.

Striped and Checkered Shirts

You want a different look today then wear something out of the ordinary. Try wearing a striped or checkered shirt. When picking the right necktie for the shirt make sure that the patterns are different in size.

Examples

Examine the top and determine the major color. Match this color with a tie of a similar color. The best match with a plaid top is based on the neckties design and hue. If your top is mostly yellow, wear a blue necktie that has polka dots, pin dots or box patterns. Nowadays, men also wear neckties made of soft wool either printed or woven with colorful curved abstract figures known as paisley pattern.

In review, the striped pattern top paired with a dot, box or paisley patterned necktie when combined, a contrast is made using different patterns that split the stripes on the shirt.

Also acceptable are slanted stripes. Do remember that the size of the necktie stripes and the top should be dissimilar. Different sizes means that stripes of the necktie should be twice larger than the ones found on the shirt. If the stripes of the top are one fourth inch then the neckties should be one half inch. This way, the necktie would be prominent instead of appearing vague on the shirt.

Plaid Shirts

Same rules apply to plaid tops as with striped tops. Initially determine the dominant color of the top. Then find a necktie that matches this color. It would be best to have diagonal stripes on the necktie. The contrast to the top would be nice. Or you can use a necktie with boxed or dot patterns so long as these are larger than the plaid pattern.