It's hard to visualize yourself in a suit without thinking about the tie you would match with it, as suits are, more often than not, worn with one.  Easy to tie and providing a central stylistic symmetry for balancing out a formal ensemble, it's no surprise that neckties dominate the top of the accessory market, and will likely continue to do so for the foreseeable future. While stylistic aspects of the necktie have fluctuated throughout the years, ranging from skinnier ties to wider knots, its place in formal wear is as ubiquitous as the white dress shirt.

            Before the necktie came into fashion prominence, the bow tie reigned supreme, and still does in the black-tie realm. Just as it is hard to picture a suit without a necktie, it's almost impossible to envision a tuxedo without a black bow tie giving the formal outfit one of its most defining characteristics. Although stylistic mores have deviated somewhat from traditional black-tie dress code rules in modern times, such as wearing a tuxedo without a cummerbund or vest and even daring to sport a necktie with a dinner jacket, black bow ties are still the gold standard for black-tie-only events.

            But bow ties aren't just for tuxedos and black-tie dinners. Just as the necktie has its own particular sets of charms and characteristics, a bow tie, when worn correctly, can liven up your cocktail and office attire just the same. So why is it that you don't see bow ties as often in formal settings outside of the black-tie realm? Perhaps the number-one reason for the majority of men favoring the necktie is because it's easier to tie, or at least has the perception of being easier. Another reason could be that neckties tend to offer more variety in terms of style, whereas bow ties available in most department stores have a more limited selection; finding a bow tie with enough flair to fit your personal style may take multiple trips to different stores or browsing online for a custom order.

            Stylistically, matching a bow tie correctly with a suit is a little more difficult than it would be with a necktie. A bow tie in and of itself is going to stand out more, simply because it's less common outside of wearing one with a tuxedo. But if you can pull off the distinguished look of a bow tie, you'll be able to take your personal style to new heights. In this piece, we'll go over the style nuances and special considerations to get you looking sharp in your suits when you decide to break tradition with a bow tie.

--Tying A Bow Tie--

            Opinions vary on the difficulty of tying a bow tie, but it's generally perceived to be more difficult than tying a necktie correctly. While the steps of tying a bow tie aren't all that complicated, getting them all just right can take a bit of trial and error and thus requires extra time to perfect. Whether you personally find tying a bow tie to be easy or hard, compared to neckties there is certainly less room for error.

            In one of our previous articles, we went over the steps needed to master the art of the bow tie. Although there are variations on how to properly tie a bow tie, they all should end up with the same result when you're dealing with most standard bow ties available on the market today. Even though the process is straightforward, it's best to ensure that you have the proper length of each end from the beginning, as this will save you time when you complete the rest of the steps.

            As it goes with anything that requires nuance, practice makes perfect. The more often you tie a bow tie, the better you'll be at it. Even if you're not particularly big on the bow tie look and prefer the necktie or none at all, it's still good to practice your tying abilities every once in a while to make sure those skills stay sharp, as silly as that might sound. If your professional sphere requires formal wear more often than it doesn't, there's a good chance you'll have to show up to a black-tie dinner or dressy work function every now and then. As it takes more time to get ready for an event that requires a tuxedo anyway, tying a bow tie in a timely manner can make the difference between showing up fashionably late or missing the party altogether.

            The good news is that most bow ties sold today come with an adjustable strap, so achieving the proper length before you even attempt to tie a bow tie isn't too much of a task. Balancing out each side might take a bit more time, but if you follow the steps correctly, you'll be a bow tie pro in no time at all.

--Matching Your Bow Tie With Your Suit--

            While wearing a black satin bow tie with a tuxedo is considered to be the pinnacle of formal attire, bow ties worn with a suit exude a little less formality than what you would achieve with a necktie in the same ensemble. This is not to say that bow ties are precluded from most formal settings where a suit would be expected. It's just that you need to be a little more mindful, as a bow tie is more or less of a statement piece after all. To use an obvious example, it would not be prudent for one to wear a bow tie to a funeral; neckties are the preferred accessories here. It would also be wise to exercise caution if you're considering a bow tie for a wedding that's not at least black-tie optional, lest you upstage the groom or anyone else in the actual wedding party.  Short of those narrow scenarios, however, bow ties are fair game if you want to add a bit of outstanding charm to your formal wear.

            From a style standpoint, bow ties are easiest to pull off if you plan to wear a two-piece suit, especially if your tie is brightly colored or uniquely patterned. The burst of color at the top of your ensemble will surely stand out in a way that complements rather than detracts from the rest of your outfit. Bow ties also tend to work best when they're paired with dress shirts in a solid color. Wearing a bright patterned bow tie with a shirt that has intricate patterns or pinstripes could make your formal wear appear too busy and loud, which could bring your personal style down a few notches. When it comes to formal wear, a little bit of brightness and color is a good thing, but it has to be properly balanced. Too much brightness, on the other hand, can wreak havoc on the stylistic symmetry of your suit components.

            Another important thing to keep in mind when wearing a bow tie with a suit is making sure that your overall ensemble doesn't end up resembling a tuxedo too closely. While wearing a black bow tie or a white shirt is perfectly fine, you wouldn't necessarily want to wear both of those components together. If you plan on wearing a white shirt with a bow tie, make sure that your bow tie has enough brightness or pattern to it in order to offset the sort of blank canvas a white dress shirt provides. Likewise, a black bow tie can provide a bold accent to dress shirts in pastel shades or darker blues and reds, but might end up looking a little out of place on those crisp whites.

            No matter what colors you choose for your bow tie or dress shirts, it's also generally a good idea to never wear a bow tie that exactly matches the color of your shirt. This rule is true for neckties as well. For any formal ensemble, the whole idea is for each component to be distinct enough to stand out, but not so different to the point where the components no longer function well together stylistically. The opposite of that, of course, is having too much uniformity in the colors and patterns of your shirt and primary accessories. Other than the jacket and trousers of the suit itself, there needs to be sufficient contrast between everything else.

            While a bow tie paired with a suit can look great by itself, adding a pocket square to the mix can bring yet another layer of nuance to your overall style. One thing to keep in mind, however, is subtlety. As pocket squares tend to be one of those accessories where pretty much anything goes, pairing a pocket square with a bow tie requires a little more restraint. A pocket square that's too busy or intricately folded could detract from the aesthetic purpose of the bow tie. Since a bow tie takes up less visual surface area than a necktie, pocket squares worn with bow ties look best when they trend toward the more minimalist side of things. A classic or presidential fold can really lift the color and style of a bow tie in a positive way, whereas puff or peak folds could take away from a bow tie's desired impact.

            Any gentleman that's serious about his wardrobe knows that it's important to keep an assortment of neckties on hand for maintaining a style that's novel and up to date no matter the occasion. By adding a few bow ties to the mix, you can further extend the mileage of your formal wear and bring more variety to your professional and personal spheres.