I borrowed my first tie on a whim — it was hanging in a vintage shop next to the silk scarves, navy with a cream stripe, and it felt too good to leave behind. I wore it loose over a white shirt that evening, and I have not really stopped since. A tie does something a necklace cannot: it pulls an outfit into focus, adds a little structure, and makes even jeans and a tee look like you meant it.
The best part is how forgiving it is. You do not need a perfect knot or a formal shirt. Half the looks I love most are slightly undone — collar open, knot low, sleeves pushed up. If you have been curious about tie accessory fashion, start with what is already in your wardrobe and treat the tie as the finishing touch, not the costume.
Start Classic: Shirt, Blazer and a Loose Knot
The easiest entry point is the one in the photo: a crisp white or pale blue shirt, a tailored blazer, and a striped or polka-dot tie knotted loosely at the throat. Keep the top button open so it reads relaxed rather than uniform. Wide-leg trousers or straight jeans underneath keep the proportions modern, and loafers or clean sneakers stop it feeling too corporate. For colour, navy, burgundy and forest green ties work with almost everything, while a soft pink or butter-yellow silk tie lightens a black blazer beautifully.
If the knot feels fiddly, try a simple four-in-hand and slide it down an inch or two. Perfection is not the point — a slightly imperfect knot has more personality, and you can always tuck the narrow end into your shirt placket for a cleaner line.
Wear It Your Way: Belts, Hair and Bags
Once you are comfortable, take the tie off your neck entirely. Threaded through belt loops, a slim tie makes a soft belt over a slip dress or an oversized shirt dress — tie it in a bow at the side rather than a knot at the front. Wrapped around a low ponytail or woven into a braid, a patterned tie works like a ribbon but with more weight, so it actually stays put. I also love one looped around the handle of a plain tote or messenger bag; it is a two-minute change that makes a bag you have carried for years look new again.
Shorter, skinnier ties from the 2000s are especially good for this. They are easy to find second-hand, they cost very little, and the prints — tiny florals, checks, retro geometrics — are exactly what a plain outfit needs.
Softening the Look for Evenings and Weekends
A tie does not have to mean tailoring head to toe. Over a satin slip dress, a long tie worn loose like a scarf, ends hanging down the front, adds contrast without a jacket. With a knit cardigan and a midi skirt, a tie tucked under the cardigan collar gives a gentle preppy feel that still reads cosy. For evenings, swap cotton for silk or satin, add a bold earring, and let the tie be the only structured piece — everything else can stay soft.
My honest advice: buy one good tie you genuinely like the feel of, in a colour you already wear a lot. Wear it three different ways in one week. By the third outing you will stop feeling like you are trying a trend and start feeling like it is just yours — and that is when it really starts to work.