It has been a long time since I last wrote a blog post but this year I hope to have more time.
Let's move on to today's topic: How to combine shirt, tie and pocket square.
Many people underestimate the importance of the right balance between these three items. It is quite obvious that the three have to match in some way, BUT you don't want the tie and the pocket square to be identical in colour and pattern. People buy pocket squares and think that it automatically makes them a well-dressed person. A pocket square should be chosen very carefully because I have seen some cases where they ended up looking like clowns to put it mildly.
This is how I combine shirt, tie and pocket square:
1. I choose a theme. (Do I want it to be discreet and conservative or dandy-ish and eye-catching?)
2. Let's assume were going to an interview or a business meeting:
The strategy for an interview or a business meeting is to go for a discreet and conservative style if you want to play it safe and a dandy-ish and eye-catching style if you really want to stand out from the crowd (NOTE: I recommend you only choose the latter if you are (in case of an interview) self-confident and (in case of a business meeting) confident about what you are presenting or selling (the first one does also apply to business meetings). You obviously have to do it right to even consider doing it!
If you do really well at a business meeting or an interview then the interviewer or your prospective client is going remember you not only for your performance but also for your style.
If you don't do well then the person is very likely to forget about your business proposal but remember the ridiculous pocket square that you were wearing.
3. Choose a shirt.
A solid basis: a white or a light blue shirt. For the ones that like to mix it up a little - lilac and pale green. (NOTE: The tie should always be a darker colour than the shirt. So don't choose a black shirt as that would limit your options.)
4. Choose a tie.
Depending on whether the shirt is bright-coloured and/ or bold-patterned or not determines the colour and boldness of the pattern of your tie. If you choose a shirt that is quite busy (for example: a Paul Smith-like multi colour pattern) then for god's sake don't even think about wearing a bold-patterned tie (i.e. a bright-coloured tie with huge multicoloured polka dots). Even if the shirt has a two-colour striped pattern then try to tone it down a bit choosing a uni-coloured or patterned tie (if the stripes on the shirt are thin then you can go for a tie with a thicker striped or bolder patterned tie); NOTE: if the pattern of the shirt is bold then go for a tie with a pattern that is not bold and vice versa.
5. Choose a pocket square.
If your outfit is conservative it should go very well with a folded white cotton hanky. If your outfit, however, is very colourful and dandy-ish then you should choose the pocket square carefully. Paisley, polka and stripes can be considered. Whatever comes to your mind really. The colours of the pocket square should match the overall colour-theme!
I hope this helps you use your style to your advantage.
Philip
