How To Style A Patterned Shirt

How To Style A Patterned Shirt

Styling a patterned shirt doesn’t have to be complicated. Yes, you have to be careful that everything matches and goes together. 

However, you likely have more freedom than you think, whether wearing it as office clothes or part of a navy suit. 

Here’s some general advice on how to pull off this look: 


Pairing Your Patterned Shirt For A Polished Look

Your first job is to figure out how to pair your patterned shirt with your suits. This step can be tricky because it depends on the style and design of the pattern and the suit. 

If you want to wear a grey suit, pair it with a lightly patterned shirt. Donning anything with more than a few fine stripes is risky. 

If shooting for geometric patterns, keep them simple. Bold colors or lines don’t work as well with formal gray. 

By contrast, you can experiment with deeper hues and more detailed designs with a navy lapel jacket. You have more freedom to test outfits and see how people react. 

However, if the dress code is black and white tie, be careful with patterned shirts. Almost always, you should choose monochrome for these events (mostly because patterns can clash with deep black jackets and trousers). 


Finding Smart-Casual Officewear Combinations

Finding smart-casual combinations helps you look great at work. However, you’ll still need to watch the dress code. Some workplaces are stricter than others, so always err on the side of caution. 

One option is to pair your patterned shirt with a lapel jacket. These can look fantastic and give you a “put-together” look that’s hard to achieve with a regular men’s suit. 

If you want to make a statement, you could also pair a patterned shirt with a velvet jacket in green. No–it’s not normal. But it could be a way to stand out, as long as you are in a position to do so at work. 

A polo shirt-based outfit is another option for men’s work clothes, but again, be careful. The informal approach works well at tech companies and young startups, but might not fly in a more formal organization. 


Balancing Patterns

Lastly, consider balancing patterns on your shirt with the rest of your attire. Many Australian suit brands cater to this niche, but you should still be careful. 

For example, always wear solid trousers to avoid clashing prints. You don’t want to walk into the office looking like a checkerboard. 

You should also keep accessories minimal. Allowing the shirt to be the focal point is usually sufficient for this.

If you can stick to classic men's suits in Australia, that can help you even more. Many brands tailor their clothes to work with different shirt styles, keeping you looking fresh and dapper. 


Conclusion

Ultimately, most men's suits in Sydney will pair with patterned shirts. However, you need to be careful. Not all patterns will work with all suits, so always try things on in front of the mirror before walking out of the house. 

 

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