Dressing up for events, work and dates is often more difficult for men, since we’re limited to fewer options. It generally comes down to a suit, dress shirt, tie or bow tie. And it’s not easy to get the most important part right – the tie.

Why is that so difficult?

Well – color coordination and complementing other elements in the outfit become major factors. I mean, it can be a dilemma getting a good fitting suit and shirt, but usually if you don’t coordinate your tie properly – you end up with a messy combination. It can also be the shape and quality of the tie that throws people off (and yourself, of course).

The important thing to keep in mind here is that you are matching the tie to the rest of the outfit, not the other way around. You’ll sometimes see guys with classic fit suits and skinny ties and wonder to yourself – why did they do this to themselves? It just doesn’t look right.

You might also be thinking about the style of the knot. That is another story for another time, but it’s crucial to get the right type of tie to look like you know what you’re doing – wherever you are.

Here’s what you can do if you don’t have many ties or are generally picky with your tie choice: find yourself a quality tie that is versatile and well-made. It’ll last you a lot longer than you’ll expect and you can wear it with almost anything. The tie I have below is from aklasu and it’s definitely one of the best I’ve owned. The quality and construction of the necktie give it a refined and sturdy look, which ultimately elevates your whole ensemble. It also doesn’t get very wrinkly after use, although I prefer to iron it out every once in a while to keep it looking crisp. As for the color, I needed a fall toned tie that I could actually carry forward into other seasons (such as this one) and I’ve found that it can really go well with anything. Other notable colors to keep in mind are: burgundy, navy, British green, light blue, and grey.

You can find this particular tie here. Photographs are courtesy of Julie Yeh.