The Dark Knot carries a range of regular and skinny striped silk ties that can be viewed here.
The advent of neckwear, despite its waxing and waning, is something that has become a wardrobe staple over time. While ‘conventional’ necktie widths have changed, and patterns have come in and out of vogue, the striped tie has always remained an essential piece of a gentleman’s formalwear wardrobe.
The simplicity, structure and formality of a tie pattern delineated by stripes of equal or alternating thickness is something that many a gentleman’s wardrobe has embraced, and rightfully so.
While alternative tie patterns such as plaid, polka dots and novelty ties can raise intrigue and are great conversation starters, the striped tie has its place.
It fits the bill without bending any rules. It’s clean, concise and presentable; the exact characteristics we are looking to adorn our chests with the next time we walk into our office, deliver a game-changing presentation, are present at a pivotal company meeting, or are looking to make an impression outside of work.
With that said, here are 4 factors to consider when wearing a striped necktie.
1. Different Types of Striped Ties
British Regimental Stripes
British Regimental Stripes, often considered a pioneering piece of men’s neckwear, consist of stripes running from the wearers left shoulder down to his right waist.
Regimental Stripes, which are striped ties of varying colors, originally represented participation in the British Military. The word is derived from the Latin regimen, a rule or system of order, and refers to military organization.
The British Regimental Striped Tie is best used for more formal occasions including work, an important presentation or an interview setting.
The British Regimental Striped Tie, being used to dapper effect for a more formal setting. Courtesy of www.pinterest.com
American Regimental Striped
The American Regimental Striped Tie can be seen as a counterpart to the more traditional British Regimental Striped Tie. Brought into the mainstream by Brooks Brothers when they were introduced in the early 20th century, the pattern consists of stripes running from the wearer’s right shoulder to left waist (inverse of the British Regimental Striped Tie).
Similar to the British Regimental Striped Tie, this variant is best suited towards more formal occasions.
Exquisite use of the American Regimental Striped Tie. Courtesy of www.pinterest.com
University Striped Tie
The University Striped necktie has a pattern of diagonal stripes in equal size. Every stripe is the same size, but generally every other stripe is often in Navy. University Striped Ties are more versatile than the aforementioned Regimental Stripes, allowing them to be worn both in formal settings and in more casual settings. Because University Striped Ties have historically been associated with memberships of certain student clubs and unions, they tend to also lend themselves to informal settings in addition to being aptly worn at the workplace.
The University Striped Tie has become a wardrobe staple over the years for the discerning, dapper gentleman. Featured above is The Dark Knot's Canterbury Regimental Navy with Blue Striped Tie.
Repp Stripes
A Repp Striped Tie has more of a weave than a pattern, and hence creates visual interest through depth and texture. Due to the weight and feel of a repp striped necktie, this piece of neckwear is perfectly suited towards formal occasions such as daily work, business meetings and presentations.
A Repp Striped Tie creates extra depth and texture, as the pattern is woven in using different yarns. As a result of this weight, depth and texture, any ensemble with a repp tie will create further visual interest and intrigue.
Skinny Striped Ties
While the Skinny Striped Tie is not explicitly a different type of stripe pattern, the popularization of skinny ties as versatile pieces of neckwear for both formal and informal settings makes this type of striped tie a unique proposition. Due to the sleekness of the skinny silk tie, a striped pattern on this more contemporary piece will set you apart whether you are in formal or casual settings.
The Dark Knot's range of Skinny Striped Ties can be viewed here.
Skinny Striped Silk Ties are therefore suited for both formal work settings and for more informal occasions such as a night out with friends or while out on a date!
A Skinny Striped Silk Tie is a versatile men’s fashion accessory, that can be used with equal aplomb in both formal and informal settings!
Knitted Striped Tie
The Knitted Striped Tie has significantly increased in popularity in recent years. With gentlemen aspiring to dress better, the concept of textural variation has taken hold.
The Knitted Tie provides the perfect entry point for those looking to experiment with textural variation. Knitted Ties are at the less formal end of the neckwear spectrum and can be used to dress down a suit or dress up a more casual outfit.
Most knitted ties have square ends, and are constructed using either wool or silk, with the later primarily being worn during colder months of the year.
While Knitted Ties wouldn’t typically be worn to a formal business setting, they are ideal for a less than formal, casual setting, such as casual wedding where one can wear chinos and a button down blazer.
The beauty of the knitted striped tie is that in addition to having the aforementioned benefits: textural variation, aesthetic difference (square ends), ideal for less formal settings, it also has a completely unique striped pattern…the horizontal stripe!
While we have been accustomed to seeing diagonal stripes on ties for the longest time, the addition of a textured tie with horizontal stripes will add entirely new elements of novelty and intrigue that other ensembles simply cannot mimic!
The Knitted Striped Tie is the ideal men’s fashion accessory for a less than formal event, whether it be during the day or the evening! The textural and pattern (horizontal stripes) variation that comes with a knitted tie will clearly differentiate you from the crowd and will make your ensemble and instant conversation starter! Courtesy of men’s fashion blog www.trashness.com
2. Venue Considerations
When dressing for daily work or related formal events, it is best to go for a monochromatic (one tone) color scheme or an alternating (two tone) color scheme. Wearing striped ties with more than two colors can introduce complexity with regard to mixing and matching, and should best be reserved for gentlemen with more experience matching ties to shirts and suits.
A monochromatic or two tone color scheme will ensure that your dress sense comes across as conservative and not overtly loud, which is your safest bet for formal work settings.
A Two Tie, while simple, will play the part for work and will have you looking clean and presentable, without exposing you to any risks when dressing formally!
As mentioned above, British or American regimental striped ties, repp striped ties or university striped ties will make you look the part while at daily work. For critical business events such as a presentation or important meeting, a regimental or repp striped tie will work, but we would avoid the university striped tie.
When dressing informally for a night out with friends or on a date, a university striped tie or skinny silk tie will definitely have you looking dapper! Don that skinny silk tie with a vest and well fitted jeans, chinos or pants, and you will most definitely have a winning combination.
Alternatively, one can opt for a knitted striped tie to get that much desired textural variation and casual, yet elegant dapper look!
3. Color Considerations
When donning a regimental striped tie for work settings, the following colors can help to establish trust, authority and credibility, all of which are essential for any successful business setting. While similar connotations can apply in less formal settings, these are especially important for business settings.
Blue – represents approachability, and hence trust. A standard or royal blue hue will work best for daily work and interview settings.
Red – represents authority and credibility. The red tie has always been associated with leadership, and as such, the red tie is best suited for presentations and important business meetings.
Burgundy – represents authority and credibility. The burgundy tie is a slightly muted version of the red tie, and hence can be worn to daily work, for presentations and additionally important business meetings.
Navy – Establishes all of the above, with approachability, authority, credibility and trust. Navy ties are therefore the most versatile, and can be worn in any formal setting.
4. Matching Considerations for Striped Ties
When matching Striped Ties to your Suits and Shirts, the following considerations should generally be taken into account:
1. The most important rule when matching a striped tie is to vary pattern proportion. This is especially true of a striped tie with a striped shirt combination. Hence, the stripes of your shirt and that of your tie should be of different sizes. Wider striped ties such as a university striped tie are well paired against thinner striped shirts, while more narrowly spaced stripes would work best against a wider striped shirt (assuming you are opting for a striped shirt!).
A wider striped tie against a finer striped shirt creates the perfect contrast in pattern proportions, resulting in a visually striking shirt and tie combination. Featured above is The Dark Knot's Canterbury Navy with Red Striped Tie.
2. If matching a striped tie against a different patterned shirt, pattern proportion is still critical. Shirt and tie combinations including larger, block stripes tend to work best against smaller, finer patterns, such as a micro check or small checkered shirt.
Alternatively, thinner, narrower striped will work better against larger shirt patterns such as a window pane checkered shirt.
Pattern proportion is critical, even when the shirt and tie combination consists of different patterns. Here, a wider striped tie sits perfectly against a smaller checkered shirt, helping to create a striking and aesthetic ensemble!
3. If wearing a shirt with stripes and a tie with stripes, it is recommended that you wear a solid suit, so as not to create clashing from over indulgence in patterns!
When strutting a striped tie with a striped shirt, it is best to opt for a solid suit or something resembling a a solid so as not to indulge in pattern overload! (in this case, a much more subtle herringbone charcoal grey tweed jacket). Courtesy of www.djones.com
4. The colors of your shirt and tie should be complimentary or coordinating. As an example, blue goes well with yellow or red, but you can also pair a light blue shirt with a navy blue tie to create a monochromatic, but timeless and elegant look. For a detailed, insightful guide on matching ties to your suits and shirts, please click here.
A red and gold knitted striped tie provides for the perfect complementary color scheme against the narrower striped blue shirt.
5. When both your tie and shirt patterns are striped, it is best to opt for stripes that are going in different directions.
And that's a wrap for this one! I hope you have found this article as informative as I had fun writing it!
To view The Dark Knot's entire range of striped ties, please click here. Alternatively, you can find ties based on criteria such as matching shirts, matching suits and even the type of occasion that you are attending, by clicking here!
