What To Wear With Thin Black Ties

By: Ziggy Coventry

Break Studios Contributing Writer

Learning what to wear with a thin black tie is an absolute must. Skinny solid black ties are cool, sleek and classic, but you have to be careful what you wear with them. If you pair a thin tie with the wrong outfit or over accessorize, you may just wind up looking desperate and pathetic instead of cool and trendy. The key is to keep it simple. So, before your next night out, consider a few of these tips on what to wear with a thin black tie.

  1. Go formal with a simple, classic dark suit. If you are attending a more formal affair, a thin black tie can be a great complement. Just make sure you are wearing a suit that matches it. The suit should not be patterned and should have a sleek and classic look that helps accentuate your A-framed body. Remember, you want to look thin and sophisticated when donning this look. 
  2. Try it out in a casual setting with some jeans. You can also wear a thin black tie with a solid colored shirt and some jeans. This is a very fun and laid-back look, but you have to be careful not to overdo it. You need to partner the tie with a solid shirt and avoid plaids or thin stripes. Also, you can wear the tie loosely; this will help you sell the casual look.
  3. Dress it up with a vest. Nothing says hip quite like a thin black tie and a vest. This can be a cool look that lands somewhere between casual and trendy. Pairing the skinny tie with some nice dark jeans, a vest and a cool patterned or solid shirt can really make you stand out.
  4. Avoid the T-shirt and jeans look. Unless you want to go punk rock, never wear a thin black tie with a T-shirt. This just makes you desperate and overly trendy. Only the most misguided of men should ever attempt to pull this look off. 
Posted on: Dec. 22, 2010