Best Ties for Button Down Collar Dress Shirts

Finding the Perfect Neckties for Your Button Down Collared Shirts

Perfect with or without a necktie: the somewhat casual, button-down collar dress shirt.

Owning a great collection of ties is only one small part of dressing well. Even more important is knowing how to pair them to the rest of your wardrobe. Last week we published an article on pairing striped ties and striped shirts - something that is, despite a popular misconception, a great sartorial choice. This time we are focusing our attention on matching ties to a particular dress shirt style: The button-down collar shirt.

Casual in Nature
Typically shirts that have button-down collar are a bit more casual in nature compared to standard turn-down collar shirts. To compliment the more casual feel, most shirt makers use this collar type in combination with casual fabrics and patterns. Solid shirts featuring this collar style are commonly made from a so-called oxford cloth - a fabric that is a bit coarser in nature and reminds a bit of linen. Common fabric patterns for button down collar shirts are narrow vertical stripes as well as check patterns (especially tattersall and window pane).

Wearing Ties with Button Down Collar Shirts
Because this collar style takes away a bit of the shirt's formality, it is a clothing piece that is best paired with more casual ties - meaning formal solid color ties made from a shiny satin-silk, as well as single color bow ties should be avoided. While this still leaves for a very wide range of tie choices, there are few neckties that are especially well suited in combination with button down collar shirts. The three best tie styles for these type of shirts are: Classic striped ties (repp-stripe and British regimental stripe ties), knitted neckties, fine polka dot and pin-dot ties.

Classic British regimental ties are perfect for button down collar dress shirt. Pair these two with a navy blazer or classic sports coat to create timelessly sophisticated style.

Here the button down collar shirt is paired with repp-stripe tie and vintage Harris-tweed sports coat. A perfect look for a dressy Sunday brunch.

Other Things to Consider
Button down collar dress shirts can certainly be worn without a tie, but the collar should always be buttoned down (unless you want to make a fashion statement). Double breasted and 3-piece suits should be avoided as these are two suit styles that are a bit too formal for a casual button-down collar dress shirt. Instead opt for classic single-breasted suits, or (even better) sports coats or blazer jackets. When it comes to footwear, consider oxford dress shoes as well as tasseled loafers as your top choice.

Your Cheap-Neckties.com Team