What Tie to Wear with a Navy Blue Suit

The navy suit is a staple of any discerning gentleman's wardrobe, and as a corollary, knowing which shirt and tie combinations complement a navy suit is of the utmost importance.

In this detailed guide, we explain how to pair ties with a navy suit based on the shirt color, pattern, and certain seasonal considerations!

The scene is set. You're ready to make a good impression. It's a closing presentation, and you've smoothed out every wrinkle. The suit is ready, the shirt is crisp, and your shoes are brand new.

Except there's a glaring problem. Your choice of tie has become a mystery. You don't know which tie will best complement your suit. How do you choose the centerpiece of your outfit?

Fast forward a week, and it's the evening of the date. Once again, you've planned everything perfectly. A new watch. That classic, timeless navy suit, and a superb pale pink Oxford shirt.

What could possibly happen? You're rummaging through your selection of ties, searching for the perfect finishing touch, but you can't seem to choose one. Your mind races and you start to get confused.

Do either of these situations sound familiar? The navy suit, a timeless classic, has been around as long as contemporary menswear, and while it's incredibly easy to put on, choosing a tie that's perfect for the shirt you're wearing, the suit, and the occasion can be downright baffling.

That being said, here is our complete guide on shirt and tie combinations with a navy suit!

Color Combinations (Shirt + Tie) with Navy Blue Suit

What tie should I wear with a white shirt?

Few things go together quite like a crisp white shirt and a navy suit. Whether you choose a plain Oxford, a pointed weave, or a white herringbone, there's a whole range of ties that can complement this classic combination.

For a white shirt and a navy suit, you can opt for a navy, red, or burgundy tie . Since a navy suit conveys a certain level of confidence, these ties are the perfect complement.

While a navy tie allows for a more monochrome look, burgundy or red ties will contrast perfectly with your navy suit.

Our Berkshire abstract silk tie, Burgundy/Blue, is a great way to add contrast and intricate detail to any navy suit/white shirt combination.

Grey and brown should also be staples in your wardrobe , as they allow you to keep your outfit a little more neutral - allowing you to project confidence while maintaining a certain level of neutrality.

A grenadine brown tie adds a perfect neutral element to an otherwise strong suit!

The autumn and winter months are best complemented by earthy tones, such as a mustard yellow, olive green, or brown tie . Looking to add a touch of sophistication to your next wedding? How about a grenadine tie?

Knitted ties are ideal for the colder months , as the higher quality ties are usually made in northern Italy, with a rich weave and texture!

Do you strut around in your navy suit and white shirt in spring and summer? How about introducing some pastels like pale green, lilac, pink or coral ties for the warmer seasons!

On a perfect spring or summer day, silk ties printed with repeating patterns such as animals are a great way to add color and personality to your outfits.

What tie goes with a blue shirt?

A navy suit with a blue shirt offers a monochromatic and cohesive look. Want to complement this suit-and-shirt combination with a suitable tie? A burgundy, dark purple, gray, or brown tie will do the trick .

You can also opt for a completely monochrome look. If you choose a navy tie, it's best to choose a very light blue shirt . Alternatively, a patterned navy tie will add a touch of personality to your outfit!

Looking for something a little more relaxed for the spring and summer months? How about a silk tie printed with animal motifs, which will add a touch of fun and eccentricity to your outfit? You could also opt for a knitted tie , which will add a textural variation to your ensembles.

What tie should I wear with a pink shirt?

Yes, real men do wear pink. Few things speak volumes about your sense of style like a pink shirt—especially a light pink one. As we've suggested in our many style articles over the years, a tie looks best when it's a shade darker than your shirt . That's why we favor pale pink shirts.

A light pink shirt looks best with a navy or burgundy tie . A navy tie provides the perfect level of contrast, complementing your suit beautifully, while a burgundy tie offers a monochromatic look. A deeper shade of red, the burgundy tie is the centerpiece of this impeccable pale pink shirt.

Are you looking for a shirt and tie combination more suitable for the spring and summer months? How about a royal blue tie ?

The blue silk tie is ideal for year-round wear, but would be particularly suitable for the spring and summer months.

Are you wearing a pink shirt with a subtle or micro-scale pattern, like a light herringbone or micro-check? How about a navy or burgundy polka dot or paisley tie? The wider spacing of these patterns will allow them to stand out much more than a finer, more subtle pattern on your pink shirt!

Which Tie to Wear with a Lilac Shirt

A lilac shirt, a lighter shade of purple, perfectly complements a navy suit. Purple and blue are adjacent on the color wheel, creating a familiar look (they are both cooler colors – red or burgundy, on the other hand, create a greater level of contrast because they are warmer colors).

Lilac shirts offer an elegant look without being too bold. Therefore, ties on the same side of the color wheel can be very effective here.

A navy blue tie will be the perfect accessory for your suit, complementing the lilac shirt beautifully . Looking for a monochromatic look? A darker purple tie will stand out perfectly against the lilac shirt.

A grenadine purple tie is the perfect complement to a handsome navy suit and a lilac shirt !

Finally, if you're looking for something really bold, an olive green tie will be the perfect piece (a direct complement to purple, and directly opposite on the color wheel)!

As we discussed earlier with pattern combinations, navy and darker purple ties will allow you to wear them with a range of underlying shirt patterns.

What Tie Goes With A Green Shirt

Nothing is cooler than a light green shirt. Green is an earthy color that has a calming effect, especially when presented in a lighter shade.

Looking for a sense of familiarity with your suit? How about a navy or darker blue tie with your light green shirt ? These two colors are adjacent on the color wheel and help create a cohesive, visually pleasing look.

How about an alternative piece that makes a statement without making the viewer feel like they're looking through a kaleidoscope? The purple tie. Purple, a cooler color, can be worn with a lighter green shirt . The trick, as always, is to opt for a darker shade of purple!

Looking for something bolder? Burgundy , which is a direct complement to green (directly across the color wheel), creates the greatest level of contrast.

A burgundy tie creates a sense of harmony between warm colors (burgundy is a darker variant of red) and cooler colors (green, blue, and purple are the coolest colors on the color wheel).

What Tie Pattern for a Navy Blue Suit

Now that we've looked at tie combinations with different shirts, we thought it would be helpful to spend some time on pattern matching. Pattern matching, like color, should create the ideal level of contrast. Therefore, the two most important elements of pattern matching are, in order, the following:

What Size Pattern for Navy Blue Suit

The scale of your pattern (that is, the spacing between the elements of the tie's pattern) is of paramount importance. For example, a navy blue polka dot tie would pair well with a pink micro-check shirt.

Even a navy regimental tie with wider stripes will pair well with a light blue shirt with thin stripes. The key here is the scale of the pattern/proportion. Without the pattern's proportion, the actual patterns won't have as much impact, as you'll simply end up with a visually cluttered effect.

The proportion of the pattern is perfectly illustrated! A wider striped knit tie pairs perfectly with a smaller micro-check shirt .

What Type of Pattern for a Navy Blue Suit

Once the proportion is assured, one can consider the type of pattern. Patterns that generally go well with a range of underlying shirt patterns, provided that the patterns are small (houndstooth, micro checks, pinpoint, etc.), are polka dots and paisley patterns .

Since most shirts are not of the polka dot or paisley type, these ties offer both differences in the proportion of the pattern AND in the type of pattern, creating an ideal look that can be considered incredibly stylish.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article as much as we enjoyed writing it! Feel free to browse our entire collection of ties!