Shirt and tie... remember those?

There are many who seem to have written off the tie in recent years, given how casual our collective wardrobes have become, but this sartorially dynamic duo are going nowhere. Sure, you can walk around the streets of Mayfair and see hedge fund types and city operators sans neckwear, and we say all the power to them. But when everyone starts to zig, the truly stylish start to zag, and that's our philosophy about the shirt and tie.

Cambridge Spot Pink/Cream Silk Tie

White Poplin Cotton Wedding Shirt

Cambridge Spot Sky/Cream Silk Tie

Yes, one could argue that the tie is mere decoration and serves no functional purpose whatsoever, and that an open collar with a suit is a much more natural and modern approach, but the tie brings multiple colours, texture in the form of glossy silk or the knitted variety, and helps to draw the eye to one's face. As a sartorial device, it is an excellent means of being noticed, especially in an office an environment when one is swimming in a sea of similar suits.

Rust Durlston Paisley Silk/wool Tie

Blue Fine Stripe Cotton Ivy Shirt

Cobalt Durlston Paisley Silk/wool Tie

At Favourbrook we understand the importance of colour in formalwear, as evidenced by our extensive waistcoat collection, and our dedication to great shirts and ties is undimmed even in this era of tielessness. A great tie is like a fine pair of formal shoes - it can make a cheap suit look expensive - but a poor tie can make an expensive suit look cheap, so tread carefully!

Red Bees Silk Tie

White Colne Linen Helford Shirt

Green Bees Silk Tie

Contrast can be a key element when selecting a tie, but likewise tonality too. A flash of bold red, or orange when worn with a white shirt and navy suit draws the eye naturally to the face, whereas a tonal blue textural tie has a lesser effect but achieves a chic and minimalistic look. Pattern, too, is important. A polka dot, repp stripe, floral pattern or paisley style bring to life the suit with very little effort bar the tying of a knot. Geometric jacquard prints maintain the essence of uniformity that a suit has in spades, whereas a more abstract pattern can sometimes appear messy.

Plum Ludwell Silk/ Linen Tie

Frejus Blue Colne Linen Shirt

Navy Brimstone Silk Tie

The colour of your shirt should also be a consideration. A simple white business shirt is the ultimate blank canvas for any type of tie, whereas a light blue business shirt works extremely well with other pastel tones, as well as darker blue tones. Darker blue shirts become a little more tricky and call for tonal ties rather than bright, bold contrasts.

The simple fact is a great shirt and tie can totally transform an otherwise muted tailored look with sartorial flair and personality.