Stuck in the safety rut of solids?

You’re probably bored. Here are five easy guidelines to add interest to your look—without losing face. Welcome to a new horizon of wardrobe options.

1.  Myth: If I wear a patterned tie, I must wear a solid shirt.
False! Here are two examples from Esquire.com, which bust the “solids” myth:

Stripe Shirt + Dot Tie = Thumbs Up

Glen Plaid Shirt + Striped Tie = Thumbs up

2.  Simple patterns can be considered “solids”

A shirt with a single color pattern on top of a solid background (ie: pinstripe, check, plaid, etc.) can be worn like  a “solid” shirt. For example, this grey and white plaid shirt can be work like a “solid” white shirt. Why?

Simple patterns create the effect of a “solid” from a distance. Imagine a white shirt with blue pinstripes: If the stripes are close together, the shirt creates the illusion of a solid blue when you step back. If the stripes are thin and far apart, the shirt can be considered a “solid” white.

If you keep this in mind, mixing patterns becomes easy. And unlike sticking with true solids, you’ve added more style and interest to your look.

3.  Contrast is king!

Thin stripes + Smallish dots = Handsomely elegant

Wearing multiple items with the same pattern can be overkill on the eyes. Try mixing patterns instead. (ie: A vertical stripe shirt pairs well with plaid, paisley, dots, etc.)

If you want to wear two items with the same pattern, make sure the patterns contrast in scale and/or angle. For example, if the shirt has narrow vertical stripes, pair it with a tie with wide diagonal stripes.

Easy Add-On: Textured ties are a fun and versatile option. The texture adds interest, while pairing well with just about any pattern (and solid). Own a handful of these and you’ll always have an easy go-to accent piece.

4.  It’s all about balance.
If you have more than one bold pattern, your patterns start competing against each other, rather than coordinating. Below we have a great shirt and two nice ties—but not all are a good combo together. The large dots of the first tie look unbalanced with the thin stripes of the shirt. However pair the shirt with the smaller dots of the orange tie below, and you have a classy (not clownish) balance.

5. Style isn’t something you wear, it’s something you own.
When you feel awkward, you look awkward, regardless of what you’re wearing. When you own it: you have style. Keep in mind: The first thing people notice is your confidence. Everything else you wear and do is received in this context.

Your Style Expert assignment this summer:

Push your boundaries with new patterns. Start simple to build confidence, with one new combination each week. (Try the ideas in this article to get you going.) You’ll quickly discover the value of expanding your look—plus a stronger sense of your personal style. Just remember: Style is all about confidence. Own it.

Have fun!

—The Hendricks Park Style Team