Different Types of Tie Patterns

Are you looking for ties that complement your existing wardrobe (suits & shirts), in addition to your lifestyle needs? The Dark Knot's extensive luxurious hand made silk tie selection provides you with a filtered search option that allows you to search for ties based on your Matching Suits, Matching Shirts & Even The Type of Occasion you are dressing up for! To view this inbuilt system here at The Dark Knot, please click here.

While the popularity of neckties have waxed and waned over the last few decades, the variety of tie patterns has held steady, with certain patterns over time such as the foulard proving to be increasingly more popular. With a men’s fashion renaissance now truly underway, we believe that every aspiring sartorialist out there should be aware of different types of tie patterns and how they can be used across different settings:

Solid Ties

The Solid necktie is the most versatile. While other options such as foulard ties can also be highly versatile, a solid necktie can be worn by anyone without prior knowledge of pattern mixing and matching.

As long as color coordination is not completely off (please reference a color wheel), solid ties can sit perfectly against a solid, striped or checkered shirt, and help to accentuate contrast between shirt and tie, especially if the shirt is patterned.

Solid neckties are often deemed as fit for people of a more conservative ilk, but the reality is, they tend to go well with anyone. The message that is portrayed may be one of conservatism, but they are sure to make you look dapper.

Whether you are looking to dress for a work, an important presentation, an interview or a wedding, a solid tie will ensure that the trick gets done and that your ensemble looks well put together. Every gentleman should own at least a couple of solid ties for their wardrobe.

To view The Dark Knot's range of exquisite, hand made solid silk ties that are doubled lined with wool and cotton, please click here.

Featuring The Dark Knot's Waterbury Blue Silk Tie.

Striped Ties

British Regimental Striped Ties

The British Regimental Stripe Tie can be considered one of the ‘original’ pieces of men’s neckwear. With a stripe running downwards from the wearers left shoulder to his right waist, the British Regimental tie has its roots in history.

Regimental Stripes, which are striped ties of varying colors, originally represented membership in British military regiments. The word is derived from the Latin regimen, a rule or system of order, and refers to military organization. In Britain, regimental stripes have been continuously used in designs at least since the 1920’s.

Some reports allude to British schools, colleges, universities and regimental ties having dated back to the 1880’s. In commonwealth countries, necktie stripes run down from a person’s heart (left shoulder) to their sword (right waist). It is also believed that the stripes ran in the same direction as the rifles that were strapped over British shoulders.

The British Regimental Striped Tie, like any other striped tie, is best suited for more formal occasions, such as work, an important presentation or an interview setting.

American Regimental Striped Ties

The American Regimental Stripe can be seen as a modern counterpart to the British Regimental Stripe. Popularized by the Brooks Brothers when they were introduced in the early 20^th century, they had their stripes run from the right shoulder to the left side, in part to distinguish them from British regimental (and organizational, school and university) striped neckties.

Featuring The Dark Knot's Canterbury Regimental Navy / Blue Silk Tie

University Striped Ties

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.

The University Striped tie has become a staple for the modern businessman, and goes well with a solid or checkered shirt. Additionally, it can also sit well against a narrow pinstriped shirt, as the thick blocks of stripe from a University Striped Tie contrast well with a thin narrowly striped pinstripe shirt.

The Dark Knot's extensive range of hand made striped silk ties, double lined with wool and cotton, can be viewed here.

Featuring The Dark Knot's Canterbury Regimental Navy & Red Striped Silk Tie

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Repp Striped Neckties

The Repp Striped necktie is a weave and not a pattern. A repp weave is a subtly raised weave which creates a ribbing – or texture which then a pattern of stripes is woven into. The repp necktie is more about weight and feel, though it creates a fantastic depth to the finished tie.

Foulard Ties

The Foulard is a neat geometric repeating pattern and is appropriate for business meetings, other formal settings or even less formal occasions.

Foulard refers to a small scale pattern with basic block repeat. It is believed to have originated in the Far East, coming from the French word Foulard, with the same meaning.

The repeating pattern can be flowers, geometric shapes (squares, diamonds etc), dots or isolated paisley shapes. When looking for a foulard tie, you are specifically looking for small repeating patterns. Hence a dotted foulard tie will consist of pin dots (please see below) and not polka dots.

The foulard is a classic tie that is appropriate in any situation.

To view The Dark Knot's impressive range of Hand Made Foulard (Abstract) Silk Ties, please click here.

Featuring The Dark Knot's Georgetown Foulard Navy & Blue Silk Tie

Plaid Ties

Plaid Patterns consist of checkered patterns formed by overlaying stripes. They are a great tie for less formal or casual purposes. A plaid tie during the winter season can look great with a brown blazer, or fantastic during the summer with a cotton or Seersucker jacket. In recent years, madras cotton plaid ties have become exceedingly popular as a choice of tie during the summer months.

The Dark Knot's Plaid Silk Tie Collection can be viewed here.

Pin Dot Neckties

Pin Dot is a pattern of very small repeating dots over the entire necktie. The pin dot necktie is a great compliment to a wider striped (spacing on stripes contrasts well with close proximity of dots on the tie) or solid colored shirt.

Polka Dot Ties

Polka Dot is a pattern consisting of an array of filled circles. Polka Dotted ties work well as they contrast beautifully against a solid, striped or checkered shirt, especially if the dots are widely spaced apart, creating pattern contrast both from type of pattern and proportion / spacing of pattern.

While a polka dot tie might not be appropriate for an all important business presentation, these ties can be worn to work on a daily basis, to a wedding or a less formal event!

The Dark Knot's line of stunning Polka Dot Ties can be found here.

Featuring The Dark Knot's Newport Dots Burgundy / Silver Silk Tie

Paisley Ties

The Paisley Tie is a droplet shaped motif of Persian origin. Such designs became popular in the West in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, following imports of post-Muhgal versions of the design from India, especially in the form of Kashmiri shawls. Resembling a twisted teardrop, the name is derived from the town Paisley in West Scotland, a center for Textiles where Paisley designs were first introduced.

Paisley ties serve the same benefit that many polka dot ties too. Because they are generally more widely spaced and are in a pattern that are not incorporated into shirts and suits, they make for a great contrasting piece in your ensemble. Paisley ties are great for business casual and less formal settings.

Owning a paisley necktie is something every sartorially inclined gentleman could do with!

The Dark Knot's beautiful Hand Made Paisley Silk Ties can be found be found here.

Featuring The Dark Knot's Exeter Paisley Blue & Brown Silk Tie

Animal Print Ties

Animal Print Ties are a great addition to any man’s wardrobe, as they can be worn in both a professional and personal setting. The unique element regarding animal print ties is that they are visually appealing, where the actual animal pattern is only revealed upon close inspection.

As opposed to novelty ties, that will feature Santa for Christmas or a Superhero such as Spiderman, animal print ties are repeating printed silk ties with smaller animal patterns such as repeating fish, chicks, birds or sometimes sports equipment such as repeating tennis racquets, golf balls, lacrosse sticks etc…

The Dark Knot's stunning line of Hand Made Printed Silk Ties can be viewed here.

This was a lot of information, so to recap!

Solid Ties are the most versatile. Whether you are looking to dress for a work, an important presentation, an interview or a wedding, a solid tie will ensure that the trick gets done and that your ensemble looks well put together. Every gentleman should own at least a couple of solid ties for their wardrobe.
Striped Ties are best suited for formal occasions, and can be broken down into the following:
British Regimental Stripes – running from upper right to lower left.
American Regimental Stripes – running from upper left to lower right.
University Striped Tie – has stripes of equal size.
Repp Striped Tie – consists of a ribbed weave, with the stripes floating on top of the underlying fabric, creating a textured pattern.
The Foulard is a neat geometric repeating pattern and is appropriate for business meetings, other formal settings or even less formal occasions.
Plaid Patterns consist of checkered patterns formed by overlaying stripes. They are a great tie for less formal or casual purposes.
Pin Dot Ties are a dotted version of the foulard tie. A pin dot tie sits well against a widely striped shirt, creating a strong element of contrast. Pin Dot ties work well in a daily work setting or for less formal events.
Polka Dot Ties work well as they contrast beautifully against a solid, striped or checkered shirt, especially if the dots are widely spaced apart, creating pattern contrast both from type of pattern and proportion / spacing of pattern. While a polka dot tie might not be appropriate for an all important business presentation, these ties can be worn to work on a daily basis, to a wedding or a less formal event!
Paisley Ties serve the same benefit that many polka dot ties too. Because they are generally more widely spaced and are in a pattern that are not incorporated into shirts and suits, they make for a great contrasting piece in your ensemble. Paisley Ties are great for business casual and less formal settings. Owning a paisley necktie is something every sartorially inclined gentleman could do with!
Animal Print Ties are a great addition to any man’s wardrobe, as they can worn in both a professional and personal setting. The unique element regarding animal print ties is that they are visually appealing, where the actual animal pattern is only revealed upon closer inspection.