Matching Accessories the Right Way
How does a man look “put together”? It’s a whole new level of style. It’s how a man looks in an outfit that’s coordinated and harmonious – down to the very last detail.
It separates the men from the boys. The boss from the new hire. The good… from the great.
Accessories are the little “extras” that give a sharp outfit an extra layer of class, flair, and individuality. Some – like ties – are basic and ubiquitous, but in the context of a full outfit knowing the right way to wear them can make or break a man’s look.
Others – like pocket squares – are less common in everyday settings (like a business meeting) but, when done correctly, can make a man stand out from the pack before he even says a word.
1. Matching Watch to Outfit
The first rule of matching watch to outfit is a common theme when it comes to matching men’s accessories: the man should keep his metals, leathers, and formality level consistent.
If he wants to own only one watch, then he shall pick the dress code he wants to match it to (probably what he wears to work), and wear it only with that. If he wants to wear a watch every day, he shall shop smart and build up a versatile collection:
Dress watch with a silver case and interchangeable black and brown straps;
A second dress watch with a gold case if he’s likely to wear one with gold accessories;
Casual/sports watch – that should be water resistant, with any bells and whistles he desires (such as a stylish chronograph watch), a dial in a neutral color like white or dark blue, and a metal bracelet or dark strap.
A good choice would be one casual watch with a metal bracelet and one with a canvas strap if he wants to match any outfit, including summer casuals.
2. A Belt to Wear with Different Outfits
Again, the man will want to match his leathers and metals as well as the dress code of the rest of his outfit (no heavy dress belts with a pair of khaki Bermuda shorts to a cookout). This includes matching the type of leather, example: brown suede with brown suede.
There are time-tested rules about what belt to wear with shorts, jeans, dress pants, and suits. The breakdown is:
Shorts: Casual Belt. Webbing, canvas, leather-backed canvas, or colorful braided leather.
Jeans: Casual belt. Work belt, tooled leather, or rodeo belt.
Business Casual: Dress Belt. Or suspenders. Business Suit: Dress Belt. Or suspenders, or side adjusters.
Black Tie: No Belt. You’re expected to wear suspenders and trousers with no belt loops, but if ones with loops are all you have, a polished black dress belt.
White Tie: No Belt. Always suspenders.
3. Matching Ties to Shirts and Jackets
The man shall not buy a tie without something to match it to, but instead buy jackets and suits first, then shirts, then ties.
If his tie and shirt are both patterned, the patterns should be different sizes (not necessarily different shapes – wide and narrow stripes, for example, play together just fine). Generally, the tie pattern should be bigger, although pin-dots are an exception.
He may refer to the men’s style color wheel to coordinate ties with shirts and jackets. He may go for either complementary, triad or analogous colors. Cooler tones like deep blue, olive green, and royal purple are most versatile – these don’t fight with other hues for attention. Warm tones like red, orange and yellow are riskier to match but more eye-catching and go well with a navy or charcoal suit.
If he can only buy a few ties, darker colors are preferable. These will be more versatile and easier to match because they read as more neutral.
Here again, the level of formality shall be matched. Bolder patterned shirts, button-downs, and chambray shirts are more casual and go well with knit and other casual ties. Plain dress shirts deserve nothing short of silk.
4. Pocket Square Matching Tips
Even if the suit rental place recommended it for his senior prom back in the day, his pocket square isn’t supposed to match his tie. Better to have matched colors, but contrasting yet complementary patterns.
Alternatively, he may pick up shirt or jacket colors in the pocket square. He shall make sure it’s not so similar to the jacket that it disappears in the look. For instance, with a navy jacket, white with navy polka dots is better than navy with white dots.
Matching pocket square to the outfit isn’t just a matter of matching colors and patterns. It also needs to match the formality of the outfit. The most formal variety of pocket square is plain white. This is suitable for serious business suits and tuxes and is a good choice for a job interview. At the other end of the spectrum, an eye-catching floral is probably best kept out of the office altogether.
5. Matching Men’s Jewelry
Tie bars, cufflinks, bracelets, necklaces, and rings should match the metals in the belt and watch and complement the overall style of the outfit.
The man shall keep in mind that shiny accents inherently draw the eye, so it shall be worn somewhere that can carry the weight of that. Simple is generally better. He must also make sure to balance sides – not load one hand with rings or one wrist with bracelets and leave the other bare.
If he buys jewelry with stones, a good choice are those in dark, neutral colors (example: hematite, onyx) to increase versatility and make them easier to match. Understated pieces work just fine – stones in men’s jewelry always have an impressive effect, and the man doesn’t want to end up with an expensive accessory that’s not really appropriate to wear to anything.
Small extras may be added to the outfits gradually as the man begins to get more comfortable with the general laws of accessorizing. There’s no need to be afraid to experiment to find his own signature pieces. Accessories are what make a classic (like a navy suit, for instance) one’s own. (www.realmenrealstyle.com)