Comment bien choisir sa cravate ?

How to choose the right tie?

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The tie has a special place in the male wardrobe. It is certainly the most important piece in a man's wardrobe, not having the function of covering a part of the body.

Whether in the office for certain professions, or at events, the tie is de rigueur. However, in recent years, thanks to a renewed interest fueled by the internet for the sartorial style, the tie is also increasingly worn for pleasure.

All our advice to avoid making a mistake when choosing your tie!


A bit of history

The word tie comes from Croatian (memory of a recent World Cup final). Under Louis XIII, Croatian hussars fighting for France wore a silk ribbon around their necks. This accessory greatly intrigued the French nobility at the time who quickly adopted it , before this fashion spread to Europe. The tie as we know it today dates from the end of the 19th century.


The color

The blue

Blue is the perfect color if you don't want to take any risks. A navy blue tie will go with almost anything: navy, gray or beige suit, sky blue, white or pink shirt. A medium blue or sky blue tie is a great choice to start with.


Bordeaux

If you want to get away from blue, burgundy is a safe choice. Less bright than primary red, it will highlight your outfit and of course you by extension. You can wear a burgundy tie without any problem with a blue or gray suit and with a white or blue shirt .



The gray

In addition to blue and burgundy, which are safe choices, you can also turn to red, dark green, gray or brown without showing too much adventurous spirit. A bright gray, for example, can turn out to be a very good alternative.


The fabric

For many, ties rhyme with silk. And yet, silk is not the only fabric you can find on ties.

First of all, there is a very fashionable variant at the moment, silk grenadine. Its recognizable textured appearance is part of its charm. Silk grenadine ties have the particularity of being made on old looms. With a blue or burgundy silk grenadine tie , you can't go wrong.

Cotton

A great classic for shirts, cotton is also a fabric that can be found in ties. Appreciated for its flexibility, it can be mixed with silk, wool or linen depending on the season.

Flax

Linen is a fabric made for summer, and you can find it on ties. It brings a raw side, with an irregularity in the fabric that changes from the usual smooth silk ties.

Wool

When temperatures get cooler, wool is ideal with a more generous rendering in terms of volume. It will help you add texture and relief to your outfit.


The reasons

If you don't want to take any risks, a plain tie is a safe choice. However, you can also opt for discreet patterns such as houndstooth, puce or Prince of Wales.
The polka dot tie is a great alternative. It is safe, modern and brings a touch of originality. The striped tie, also called "regimental tie", is not worn very often in France, but can allow you to stand out with very beautiful patterns.
Finally, the more daring can try more original patterns, such as Paisley.


Peas

A pattern can be perfectly added to an already present texture: interesting details that liven up a somewhat sober outfit, like thispolka dot model.

Houndstooth

Houndstooth is the large-scale variant of the pied-de-puce. A pattern that stands out while maintaining a beautiful harmony. Optical play.

Gallic Tongs

A pattern that has become a great classic, the Prince of Wales check is one of the most refined tiles! Tone on tone, it is discreet without losing interest.


The width

It is important that the tie is neither too wide nor too narrow, and in accordance with your build. A width of 7 or 8 centimeters will suit most people. For a modern look, you can also opt for a slightly slimmer tie, between 5 and 6 centimeters. Be careful, however, the width of your tie must be proportional to that of the lapels of your jacket. No wide lapels with a slim tie.

So here you are, we hope, ready to navigate without any problems in the wonderful world of the tie.