Ultimate Guide to Tie Patterns & How to Choose a Tie Pattern

Fashion is all about decisions: what to wear, when to wear, and how to wear. When it comes to ties, one of the most important choices you can make is your tie pattern.

At The Tie Bar, we offer anything you can imagine, from Cooper Paisley Chocolate Brown to Constellation Space Navy — and even your own design. Today, we’re here to help you choose the best tie pattern for any occasion.

How to Choose a Tie Pattern

The first thing to consider when deciding on a tie pattern is what shirt you’re going to pair it with. A solid shirt is always a safe bet, but there’s a right and wrong way to mix two patterns of the same design. How To Pair Patterned Ties & Patterned Shirts

The key is to look for contrast in the scale of the pattern on your shirt and tie. If both your shirt and tie have stripes, they should be as different in size as possible to avoid straining the eye. For example, a Pinpoint Stripe Blue Dress Shirt can pair well with our Ad Stripe Tie but would clash with our Shoreside Stripe Tie. This rule applies to every pattern.

Even more difficult can be mixing and matching patterns. Generally, the two different patterns should be the same scale — large plaid, large stripe. The problem arises when one of the patterns is extremely tight, in which case it must be offset by the other pattern in the opposite direction.

Color is just as, if not more, important. If you want to draw attention to your novelty tie, maybe wear an understated shirt. If your suit is a little more eccentric, a solid tie is the way to go.

Of course, the occasion will also dictate when and where you’ll wear your tie. Want to impress a prospective business partner? Maybe a Waverly Paisley Black Tie will do the trick. Hope to stand out at a holiday party? Our Partridge in a Pear Tree Burgundy Tie will have you counting down the days until you can wear it.

Types of Tie Patterns

Along with monthly collections and artist collaborations, The Tie Bar offers tried-and-true patterned ties for any occasion — as well as a feature to shop by pattern online.

Different types of tie patterns can serve as a way to quickly diversify your wardrobe and retool suit and shirt combinations for different occasions. A floral pattern works for a springtime wedding, but a novelty tie may get in the way of the nuptials.

In this guide, we’ll run through the different types of tie patterns, how to style them, and how to choose which one is most appropriate for the given occasion.

Floral Tie Patterns

One of the best benefits of a floral tie is how it can quickly add a splash of color to any ensemble. It’s hard to go wrong with a floral tie pattern, but there are so many different types of botanical patterns you can incorporate to curate an entirely new look.

A ditsy floral pattern — like our Marguerite or Falling Florals designs — features tiny flowers in a scattered and whimsical way. An abstract design like our Lace Floral Navy Tie can even masquerade as a very formal piece.

Even if you choose a tight calico floral pattern like our Freesia Floral, these ties are truly the perfect way to make your outfit more joyful to celebrate someone’s special wedding day. But really, once spring blooms, a floral pattern tie is always in season, even when paired with a casual pair of jeans.

SEE ALL FLORAL TIES

Striped Tie Patterns

A striped tie is as versatile as it gets.

A regimental stripe tie pattern generally features a thick stripe going from high left to low right, like our Boarding Stripe Navy Tie. The double stripe — like the Bali Tie — is exactly what it sounds like, featuring two stripes close to one another, sometimes with a third to break up the pattern.

While it’s always safe to wear a solid-colored shirt or suit, you can match stripes with stripes with stripes — as long as they’re spaced at different scales. Our Mega Stripe with a pinstripe shirt or suit is a safe bet.

Ideally, you would match your pocket square with the secondary or tertiary colored stripe. For example, our Laclaire Double Stripe Charcoal Tie — which features white and orange contrasting stripes — can be best dressed with a white dress shirt and an orange pocket square.

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Plaid Tie Patterns

You can go for a classic Scottish tartan or a Royal Houndstooth pattern — which we carry in navy, olive, and mustard — but either way, a plaid tie pattern is the perfect way to add a bit of sophistication or fun to any outfit.

Because of how complex the plaid tie patterns can be, it’s hard to pair plaid with anything but solids, unless it’s a houndstooth or one of our Barberis Wool Arlecchino ties where the pattern is woven into the tie. These would work perfectly with one of our suits, especially if they’re Made to Measure in our Chicago store.

SEE ALL PLAID TIES

Geometric Tie Patterns

Geometric ties often feature a small, ornate design repeated over and over from the point to the neck of a tie. These ties are usually ideal in an office or business casual setting.

Our Geo Scales ties — in navy, chocolate brown, and burgundy — are inspired by 1920s art deco architecture throughout Chicago. Similarly, our Deco Scallops Hunter Green Tie and Art Deco Gems Black Tie pull from the same design motifs to add a retro feel to your fashion.

For less tight and symmetrical designs, neckties from our Leah Duncan collaboration like the Balsam Geo Classic Blue and the City Streets Geo Almond Tie add a bit more playfulness to a still timeless and pleasing geometric design.

SEE ALL GEOMETRIC TIES

Polka Dot Tie Patterns

A few dots on a silk tie can make all the difference. Polka dot ties are charming, timeless, and versatile.

Even if polka dot tie patterns often only involve a small amount of a secondary color, they can be utilized to bring out a color in a matching pocket square or dress shirt. Pair a navy blue polka dot tie with our Wells Vintage Olive Jacket for a formal day on the town.

Additionally, a polka dot tie may be the perfect tie pattern to incorporate with a patterned shirt. Try a wide striped shirt pattern with one of our Mini Dots tie — also known as a pin dot pattern — to successfully pair two patterns.

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Paisley Tie Patterns

A paisley tie pattern is defined by a teardrop shape in varying sizes and arrangements.

Large paisleys are usually intertwined with foliage-like designs between them. Smaller paisleys are similar to geometric tie patterns — as seen in our Paisley Prep ties — with the teardrops evenly and symmetrically spaced throughout.

Because of its intricacy, it’s best to pair a paisley tie pattern with a simple, solid shirt and suit combination.

Paisley can definitely be perceived as a little more formal, fit for a wedding or dinner, but there’s no reason you can’t introduce something like the Randolph Paisley Gold Tie to your regular tie rotation.

SEE ALL PAISLEY TIES

Solid Tie Patterns

There’s nothing more classic than a solid tie. The most popular material, Grosgrain, is a woven silk that can go with literally anything — but is perfect for a groom and his party.

When choosing a solid tie color, there are a few things to consider. First, you generally want your tie to be darker than your shirt, but lighter than your suit.

To add a bit more texture to a solid tie pattern, a wool tie — knitted or not — could add a bit of sophistication, fit for the colder fall or winter. A hidden pattern like the Solid Wool Herringbone Silver Tie can subtly make an outfit immediately more dynamic.

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Novelty Tie Patterns

Love avocados? What about flamingos? Maybe you just want to accentuate hints of green or pink in an outfit. Either way, a novelty tie pattern might be the way to go.

Novelty ties may not offer the same versatility as different types of tie patterns, but more than any other, they can truly define an ensemble. Maybe it’s an office party or a date night where you want to express a little bit of your personality, but a unique necktie can set you and your outfit apart.

Understated designs like our Art Deco Cranes Brown Tie or Palm Frond Sage Green Tie can provide you with a more subtle centerpiece for your outfit.

For more of a conversation starter, anything from our Miller High Life Collection or frequent artist collaborations are sure to liven up a room and get people asking, “Where did you get that tie?”

SEE ALL NOVELTY TIES

Holiday Tie Patterns

Even if you don’t have a holiday party this month, a holiday tie pattern could be the perfect way to show the office your favorite time of the year is on the way.

Much like a novelty tie, a holiday tie will likely be the focal point of an outfit, but there are ways to style them so they aren’t distracting. You can pair a green pocket square with a Lucky Four Leaf Clover Navy Tie or focus on the soft green, pink, and blue pastels during Easter season.

But maybe you do want to stand out! If so, throw on a Mistletoe Kiss Navy Tie in the middle of September. Maybe you’ll get some confused looks at first, but you’ll probably make someone smile that day.

No matter what holiday you celebrate, The Tie Bar has the tie for you.

SEE ALL HOLIDAY TIES

Conclusion

There’s an almost never-ending combination of tie patterns you can wear on a daily basis, but we hope this guide will help you the next time you’re looking through your wardrobe or shopping online. Even still, The Tie Bar’s biggest advice is to wear what feels right.

Find our ties online or click the button below to explore our full collection of ties in every pattern.