What Color Tie Goes With A Blue Shirt? (Outfit Ideas)

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While a white shirt is undeniably iconic, many men, myself included, favor a light blue shirt as it’s incredibly versatile and can be styled in various ways. But what color tie goes with a blue shirt? 

What Color Tie Goes With A Blue Shirt?

The tie colors that best complement a blue shirt are navy, brown, burgundy, pink, green, and grey.

The specific shade of blue in your shirt may influence your choice of necktie color. Certain color ties will produce a significant contrast with particular shades of blue, while others will result in a more subtle contrast.

Blue Shirt With A Navy Tie

A popular and straightforward choice is pairing a blue shirt with a navy necktie, creating a harmonious monochromatic look that can be extended throughout the rest of the outfit. It’s a classic choice for business meetings, presentations, or office attire.

The most obvious option is to pair a light blue shirt with a navy necktie, a classic choice in men’s fashion. Alternatively, you can choose a dark blue shirt with a navy necktie, which also works well with navy shirts. However, be mindful of ensuring distinct shades to maintain a noticeable contrast; otherwise, the necktie may not stand out as desired.

A combination of navy pants and a light blue shirt creates a beautifully balanced contrast. Enhance the ensemble with brown shoes, a coordinating belt, and a navy or brown leather watch to complete the look.

Blue Shirt With A Brown Tie

It’s puzzling why men don’t opt for a blue shirt or suit with a brown necktie more often, given how well these colors complement each other. Perhaps it’s because brown neckties aren’t as common as navy, burgundy, or grey ones? Depending on the shade you choose, a brown necktie can suit both professional and casual settings.

I lean towards pairing a light blue shirt with a dark brown necktie for professional settings, reserving lighter brown shades for casual occasions. I’m not entirely sold on a dark blue shirt with a light brown necktie, as I find the contrast less appealing, but it can work with darker browns for a more subtle effect.

For navy pants, brown dress shoes are by far the best choice. Opt for a brown belt that matches or closely complements the shade of brown in your shoes. Complete the ensemble with a navy or brown leather watch.

Blue Shirt With A Burgundy Tie

A burgundy necktie complements not only a black shirt but also looks fantastic with a blue shirt. Pairing a blue shirt with a burgundy necktie for men creates a stylish and sophisticated look that blends classic elegance with a touch of color. This combination works well for various occasions, from business meetings to formal events or social gatherings. A red necktie is also a great choice but I tend to prefer burgundy shades.

A burgundy necktie complements various shades of blue. The level of contrast depends on your preference; for instance, a light blue shirt offers a striking contrast, while a dark blue shirt provides a more subtle one. Personally, I find pairing a dark burgundy necktie with a cobalt blue shirt creates a perfect balance in contrast.

For a conservative style, choose navy or grey pants, or go bold with burgundy trousers. If you wear burgundy shoes, make sure they’re darker than your pants, and match with a burgundy belt. Finish off with a burgundy leather watch for a cohesive look.

Blue Shirt With A Pink Tie

Don’t hesitate to wear a pink necktie since it shows confidence, which is always attractive. Gone are the days of pink being solely for women. These days there are many contemporary examples of ways to incorporate pink into men’s fashion. Wearing a pink necktie with a blue shirt is one of them.

The usual choice is pairing a light blue shirt with a light pink necktie as the subtle contrast works well for various occasions. Dark blue shirts can also be matched with light or dark pink neckties, and a dark pink tie complements a light blue shirt. However, avoid vibrant pink neckties with dark blue shirts as the contrast can be too striking.

While khaki pants are an option, I personally prefer pairing a light blue shirt with navy pants. Brown shoes and a matching belt complement this choice nicely, and a navy leather watch adds a finishing touch. For a touch of formality, you can also consider adding a blazer to the navy pants.

Blue Shirt With A Green Tie

Pairing blue and green is straightforward in men’s style since they’re analogous colors that naturally complement each other. With various shades of green neckties and different hues of blue shirts available, it’s easy to create stylish combinations.

A light blue shirt pairs beautifully with dark green neckties, although I’m also fond of olive green ties. While some opt for a light green tie with a light blue shirt, it’s not my top choice, but it might appeal to others. With dark blue shirts, I lean towards dark olive greens or khaki greens, steering clear of lighter green neckties in general.

Khaki pants complement a light blue shirt quite well. I’d recommend pairing them with brown shoes and a matching belt, although navy shoes with a navy belt could also work if that’s your preference. To finish off the look, consider a brown, navy, or even green watch.

Blue Shirt With A Grey Tie

Another great option is to pair a blue shirt with a grey necktie, especially if you aim to maintain a sophisticated and formal look without opting for a black tie. The key is to choose the right shades and styles to achieve a well-coordinated and balanced outfit.

This is another straightforward pairing, as you can match a light or dark blue shirt with any shade of grey. For a professional appearance, choose dark grey ties, whereas for a more relaxed yet still professional look, opt for light grey shades. Personally, I find a cobalt blue shirt paired with a charcoal tie quite appealing.

Ensure the rest of your ensemble features grey shades, with the option to choose either light or dark grey pants based on your preference. Pair these with grey shoes that are darker than your grey pants. A grey belt and a matching grey watch will add the finishing touches to your outfit.

How To Match A Tie With A Blue Shirt?

When choosing a tie to match your blue shirt, factors such as color coordination, contrast, the rest of the outfit, and dressing according to the occasion are all crucial considerations.

Focus On Color

The critical aspect is to ensure that the color of your tie complements your blue shirt well; it sets the tone for the overall appearance, with other elements falling into place accordingly.

Selecting the ideal necktie for your blue shirt often involves opting for classic colors like grey, or navy. Additionally, less conventional choices such as burgundy, brown, pink or green ties can also complement a blue shirt.

Focus On Contrast And Patterns

Ideally, aiming for contrast between your tie and blue shirt is key to making your necktie stand out. Colors like navy, burgundy, and grey provide great contrast and enhance the overall look.

When selecting a patterned tie to pair with your blue shirt, it’s essential to ensure a balanced outfit by opting for a plain blue shirt. If your blue shirt features a pattern, choosing a non-patterned tie is the ideal choice. Moreover, if your patterned blue shirt includes a shade of navy, pairing it with a plain navy necktie can emphasize color harmony within your overall ensemble.

Focus On The Outfit

Your outfit should not be dictated by your tie; instead, your tie should complement your ensemble. Ensure that the necktie either stands out or harmonizes with the overall monochromatic appearance of your outfit. This approach helps achieve balance and prevents clashes in colors or patterns.

Focus On Occasion

It’s crucial to consider various factors such as the formality of the occasion, the setting among friends or clients, the seasonal aspect (summer or winter), and the event’s nature (celebratory or formal). All these elements significantly influence the choice of color for your necktie.