Matching your shirt and tie is not as easy as it sounds. Get it wrong and you'll end up looking like an optical illusion. But if you get it right, you'll add real character to your outfit. Follow our simple rules to avoid a fashion faux pas.

Gingham Shirt

Mixing and matching patterns adds a fun twist to your formal ensemble. If you opt for a gingham shirt, make sure the pattern on your tie is bigger than the checks to avoid it becoming lost. Choose a tie with complementary shades to the check colour, for example purple or pink looks great with royal blue.Stripe Shirt

Stripe shirts work well with stripe ties, as long as the stripes aren’t the same size. For example, a thin stripe shirt looks great with a wider college stripe tie. You can also vary the orientation of the stripe combinations to create a clear contrast. To pull your look together, choose the colour of the stripes in your shirt and match it with one of the shades on your tie.Large Check Shirt

Don’t be afraid to combine large Prince of Wales checks with a patterned tie. Because the scale of the check is so large and the pattern is so subtle, large check shirts offer a lot more flexibility. Polka dots or stripes work particularly well with this pattern. Just remember that your tie should always be darker than your shirt.Plain Shirt

Plain shirts are extremely versatile and can be paired with almost any tie. Whether you choose a tartan check, Bengal stripe or knitted tie, make sure your tie is full of character. 

And here are several unfortunate shirt and tie combinations that should be avoided at all costs…