I'm somewhat of a fashion dolt. And, on top of that, complicated style rules are just beyond me. I actually do try but more often than not I decide to go the conservative route and stay far away from the fashion boundaries.
This morning, however, AskMen.com posted an article outlining the 4 Rules for Mixing Shirt and Tie Patterns that I think could help me and others like me. The rule most helpful for me is the one that deals directly with a patterned tie on top of a patterned shirt.
Skillfully combining a checked shirt with a differently checked tie is a quick way to get a quirky look. The rule to follow in this case is to always wear smaller checked prints on your body and larger checks around your neck. Again, make sure you pay attention to color and choose a shirt and tie in a similar color palette. Take, for example, this hip combination of a pumpkin-plaid, Hickey Freeman shirt with a navy-striped silk tie from Luciano Barbera: The shirt has smaller, thinner checks, while the tie has a larger and brighter pattern. As the checks become larger from the shirt to the tie, the effect is more Johnny Depp than Screech. Just remember to keep your trousers in the same overall color scheme.
Simple rules make me happy. Now I just need an occasion to give these a trial run.
