How to Match a Shirt and Tie with Your Suit: Simple Colour Rules

Matching a shirt, tie and suit looks complicated, but it comes down to a few principles. Learn them once and you can build good combinations from almost any wardrobe, without checking a chart each morning.

Rule 1: Work from light to dark

Your shirt should be the lightest item, the suit the darkest, and the tie somewhere in between. This creates a natural gradient that looks balanced. A white or pale blue shirt, a mid-tone tie and a navy suit is the textbook example.

Rule 2: Vary the scale of patterns

If you combine patterns, make them different sizes. A fine stripe shirt works with a wider-spaced tie pattern, and a bold stripe shirt pairs with a smaller dot or textured tie. Matching scales makes the outfit look busy.

Rule 3: Pick up one colour

Choose one colour from your shirt or tie and echo it elsewhere — a burgundy tie with a fine burgundy stripe in the shirt, for example. Subtle repetition looks intentional.

Combinations that always work

• Navy suit: white or light blue shirt with a burgundy, forest green or silver tie
• Charcoal suit: white or pale pink shirt with a navy, grey or deep red tie
• Light grey suit: light blue shirt with a navy or muted purple tie
• Black suit: crisp white shirt with a black or charcoal tie for formal events

When in doubt, keep the shirt quiet and let the tie speak. You can always add personality; it's harder to take it away.