Jul 24, 2019

How To Nail The “Suit With No Tie” Look

The “suit with no tie” look is essential for most men to master. However, the challenge is knowing when this style is suitable for the occasion. At some weddings, it may look too casual. On some dates, it may look too formal. To avoid any of these faux pas, we’ll explore everything you need to know on how to nail the “suit with no tie” look.

Step One: Iron Your Shirt

Without the tie that usually holds your collar in place, things change. The way the collar appears on your neck and upper chest will determine your entire look. A flimsy collar that upturns the fabric between the top buttons will give you a “sloppy” look—a look that says, “I probably should have worn a tie.”

One way to fix this is to iron the shirt, making sure to use the top portion of the iron to press the collar stiff. Do this thoroughly by pressing the collar on both the outside and the inside, flipping the collar up, and keeping it extended. Ironing the collar from both sides keeps its straight appearance more readily.

But, if your shirt still curls up, you might consider buttoning the top button below the collar, especially in formal situations.

Step Two: Pick Your Button Arrangement Carefully

It’s not just the subtraction of the tie that makes this look work. It’s also about how you arrange everything once you decide not to wear the tie.

One of the most important decisions is where to button the shirt. Some men will leave the top one or two buttons underneath the collar unbuttoned. But, be warned: the more buttons you leave undone, the more casual the suit gets. In situations that call for respect and propriety, we usually advise against undoing more than one button.

You should also consider taking the lead from the jacket you wear. A jacket with one or two buttons tends to be more casual, which calls for a more casual flair from your dress shirt as well. But if you’re wearing a formal jacket, undoing two of the top buttons from your dress shirt will simply look out of place.

Step Three: Accessorize

Without a tie, the “finishing touch” on the suit has to go to another accessory. There are a few options here:

Cufflinks. Without a tie, you can go even more bold with your choice of cufflinks.
Pocket square. The same logic applies here. Think of the pocket square as becoming the “tie” of a suit. It should have the same effect of drawing the eye and applying some contrast with the suit when it comes to color.
Lapel. More specifically, wearing a lapel pin can be a great way to accessorize—that’s why so many men’s suits at weddings call for ornamentation like flowers.
Belt. You can, of course, choose to go beltless. But without a tie, an accessory like the belt will stand out even more, giving you a chance to contrast your belt with the rest of a suit (say, a brown belt with an olive suit).

Complete Your Suit With Berle Tailored Trousers

When you don’t wear a tie, every detail of the suit matters, especially the quality of the suit and trousers. We recommend getting your own custom-tailored suit trousers from Berle now that you know how to nail the “suite with no tie” look perfectly!

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