Building your wardrobe: the essential tie(s).

So we've covered the shirt and the pants in our "essentials" series; time to move on to the tie! Because our goal here is to give helpful suggestions for additions to your wardrobe, and not to establish a uniform for men everywhere, we're going to provide several "basic" tie suggestions. All of these are classic and would be a solid addition to your wardrobe...add all of them for some variety that will cover you for all situations!

Before we list our specific suggestions, a few general tie tips. First, know what tie width you want. These days, the "mainstream" tie width is about 3.5".  Get much wider and you'll look dated; go 3" or below and you'll look trendy. What width you want is up to you, but a commonly-observed rule is to wear a tie that is about as wide as the lapels on your suit coat or sportcoat. This helps keep everything proportional.

Second, know that silk ties can be bought woven or printed. Woven means that the pattern is woven with differently-colored silk, while printed means that the pattern is printed on the same silk cloth with differently-colored dye. There are high-quality ties available that are made with either method. Our own preference tends to be for woven ties, as they give the pattern more depth and interplay with the light, but we'll buy a quality printed tie, as well.

Third, buy your ties from thetiebar.com. Their ties are the best bang for the buck you're going to find: made from substantial silk, many of them woven, for $15 each. These are better ties than you'll find in most department stores for $40-$60. Many of their ties are offered in different widths, depending on your personal preference.

Okay, on to the recommendations.

The Repp Stripe

"Repp" actually refers to the pattern of the weave of these ties. Their different stripes originally denoted membership in different military units, clubs, or universities. Find stripes in your school colors or favorite colors and wear this classic English tie that was later adopted as part of American Ivy League or prep style.

The Pindot Tie

More formal than the repp tie, the pindot will be appropriate in any setting with your suit, or it will dress up your sportcoat. 

The Grenadine*

Okay, the asterisk is because this version isn't actually a grenadine tie, which is more expensive. This is the Tie Bar's "Grenafaux," which gives much the same visual effect at a fraction of the price. Although this may be the most formal of these three ties, it is also the most versatile. You'll never go wrong wearing it.