Far from one-size-fits-all, the wrong tie (in the wrong place, at the wrong time) can be just as bad for your look as any ill-fitting blazer. So it pays to know your stuff.

Find out exactly how you should be wearing a tie and why doing so the right way is the easiest way to up your tailoring game.

1.   Width And Length

This can be achieved by matching the width of your tie (and, by extension, your choice of tie knot) to the width of your lapels (slim for slim, wide for wide), which will already have been matched to your frame. Think of it like a sartorial Tetris.

“A broad man should consider a slightly wider tie [around three inches] to match his larger shoulders,”

As for the length of your tie, let your trousers be the guide. “A tie should always hit the waistband of a trouser,” 

2.   Colour

The aim should always be for the tie to be at least one shade darker than the shirt it’s paired with, but it is possible to make the whole process easier by keeping a few classic options to hand.

If you’re looking to start building a solid tie rotation, start with staple colours like navy and grey, which can be easily dressed up or down by your choice of shirt, then go beyond the normal by incorporating more saturated hues like green, yellow and red.