#cket

From Zankyou No Terror OST 2

wow i love dying thanks

Patterns are if used right a nice and stylish way to make your clothes pop slightly. But as there are a few patterns there are also a few rules that must be applied for them to look stylish on you. Then again, there are more guidelines and not set in stone.

One of the major rules or guidelines if you so perfer is to never have two different pieces of the same pattern on you. This won’t just look good and it will make a confused look. It will look off and there will be something in the back of the viewers head saying something is wrong here and you do not want that do you?  

Layering with patterns could be nice but one should always do this as a step starting with the smallest pattern closest to the body. So if you are wearing a shirt with a large pattern on it you should not wear a jacket or a sweater with another large pattern.

Try to keep the numbers of your patterns small. One is of course best, artwo is allright and three is a bit of a streach but doable. You first two or three suits should be solids so no reason to worry there and if you wear them with solid white or light blue shirts you will have many options for ties and pocket squares.

So where to start with patterns?

Stripes is an easy and quite formal way to start. Striped ties are one of the most common and formal patterns after the solids. Pin striped suits are also quite common in some businesses but please mind that they might look bad outside these environments and not formal enough. Striped shirts are quite formal and as long as the stripes are small they might work in most situations. With my more formal suit I like to wear a solid white shirt but I can bring in striped shirts with sports jackets and navy blazers. As usual simple mute colors is the best. Vertical stripes is also something that a man that is not tall and skinny may want to bring in.

Regimental stripes / University stripes. Regimental stripes have a military orgins and goes from right to left upwards. True regimental stripes should only be worn by those that are serving or have served with the regiment. University stripes goes upwads and down right to left. The rules apply here as well but not as strict. Only if you are visiting a college or university that have a tie you might do best to check up if you are wearing it and have not attended that university.

Checks comes in a few different variants from smaller gingham patterns to windowpane patterns. Gingham patterns are small tri-colored chTecks that is mostly found in shirts.  Another nice pattern that works quite well with most occasions but for the most formal ones. Windowpane patterns are larger patterns with thinner stripes that is usual both in shirts and sports jacket. Quite a casual pattern but also one of the more popular around.

Tartan/Plaid. This type of pattern has of course alot of orgin in Scotland and the clans. A slightly more bold pattern that works best with ties, pocket squares and other accessoairs. Wearing this in Scotland or around scots might be a slightly bad idea but in most times you might get away with it. It won’t work at more formal occasions.

Polka dot / Foulard / Paisley A polka dot pattern has small dots all over it. A good semi-formal pattern most used on ties, bowties and pocket square this is a good pattern that suits most.

Foulard pattern has a small repeating pattern all over the fabric, less formal than both stripes and polka dot but still a nice pattern that is mostly used for ties, bowties and pocket squares. More traditional patterns and symbols are of course more formal than slightly more novelty symbols. A foulard pattern with for example the logo of your favourite sports team or branch of military service might work at some events but not at others. 

Paisley is a curved waterdrop pattern that has persian roots. One of my own favourite patterns it looks good on both ties and pocket squares. It should be avoided on larger items as it is quite intenmse and better in a small muted scale than larger.

Should you start bringing in patterns start small and simple with muted colors. A few striped shirts and some gingham shirts along withcone or two patterned tie and pocket square are a good way to start. But be cautious, patterns are a spice and should not be the main focus and should not be dominant.