If you’ve seen the 10 Essential Ties video, you’ve seen this look. Even if you consider your style somewhat conservative, it’s important to have at least one tie in your collection that’s a little bolder as well as a little bit fun. Here’s a sharp look for the warmer months featuring one of my favorite spring/summer ties, my madras plaid tie.
Though when we hear the term “madras” we often think of bold plaids and patchwork or patterned textures, madras is actually a kind of lightweight cotton fabric. So even if an item has what we’d consider a typical madras pattern, it doesn’t necessarily make it madras. My tie, for example, falls into that category and is actually madras-inspired. For the purists, here’s one cut from the proper cloth.
This look also falls into one of my favorite categories: small changes, big impact. Regular readers know that I enjoy showing how a minor tweak to one outfit can make a drastic impact on its overall affect. About a year ago, I published this look without the tie. One simple addition takes it from sharp casual cool to office-appropriate.