Tie Width – How Slim or Wide Should You Go?

Q: “I just bought my first slim-fit suit from Black Lapel. Do I need to slim down my ties to match my slimmer suit? What’s a simple way to determine the width of my tie to match the rest of my suit?” – Mike E.

Skinny Tie Width

A: This is a common question, often framed the wrong way. “What skinny tie width is in fashion these days?” “What are your thoughts on ultra skinny ties?” (No.) “How wide are the ties that Harvey Specter wears?” Instead of thinking about tie width by itself, its something you should consider in conjunction with your lapel width (learn more about lapel width here). We’ve said this before, and we’ll say it again, it’s about proportions. Choosing your tie width, much like choosing the other aspects of your favorite suit, should factor in its surroundings–your chest and shoulder size, the fit of your suit, dress shirt collar width, lapel width and your face shape. However, as our neighborhood oracle would say, “Ain’t nobody got time for that!” Here’s a simple rule that’s easy to remember: Match the widest point of your tie to the widest point of your suit lapel.

(*Black Lapel’s slim and normal lapels are approximately 2.75″ and 3.25″ at their widest point respectively, so you would choose a tie width around 3.00″ at its widest point.)

It’s not an exact science and you can go up or down (mismatch the width) by about 0.25″ either direction, but this rule of thumb will help you achieve a more balanced look. Just don’t start looking for suits with 1.00″ lapels to match your uber-skinny tie.

Got a question to ask us on tie width? Leave a comment below!