*Featured image via Exquisite Weddings
A reader writes:
Dear dapperQ friends,
I am going to an event wearing dark pants and a royal blue dress shirt. Black vest. What color tie do I pair with that? Everything I read says your tie must be darker than your shirt, but I’m not wild about wearing a boring old black tie. How in the world can I dapper this up? Thoughts about ties with darker shirts in general?
Excellent question. Without knowing more about your outfit (dark pants + royal blue shirt + black vest, but what color pants/shoes/belt, etc?), I cannot recommend an exact color tie. But, you absolutely can wear dark ties with dark shirts and still look fashion-forward. You can dapper it up a notch by adding a tie with patterns and texture. For example, when it comes to pairing ties with black shirts, GQ states, “Reach for a graphic, colorful tie. It pops against the black. Here are some examples:
via The Rake
via Stay Classic
via Style.com
via GQ
via 
via GQ
via 
I'd say a different fabric/texture in the same shade of blue or darker. Or GQ's advise of graphic and colorful, but I'd stray away from greens, but that's a personal choice.
I think black is a great choice but other textures keep it interesting. But please, no feathers, ack! 😀