How To Wear a Suit Without a Tie

When it comes to suits and ties, there’s no question about: The two are a match made in heaven. They go together like peanut butter and jelly. But what happens when you elect to go tieless for the day?

In reality, it doesn’t matter if you’re a tie loving guy or not a tie guy at all.

For most men, wearing a suit without a tie can feel rather awkward and unnatural at first.

Truthfully, that’s normal. It happens to a lot of guys out there. Perhaps you’ve worried yourself into thinking you’ll be the only personal without a tie. Or perhaps you feel you’ll end up dressing too casual for a specific occasion.

Don’t sweat it. When it comes to funerals, weddings, luxury restaurants, formal events, and professional environments for example, you’ll want to wear one. For everything else, going tieless is fare game. By this I mean it’s perfectly fine to wear a suit without a tie when it comes to business casual, industry conferences and seminars, dates on the weekend or weekday, and so on.

Think of it this way: If the occasion or environment you’re attending requires you to show a higher level of respect, then wear one. For example: If your boss wears a tie, don’t be a dofus and think that just because you’re lower on the totem pole, you can easily avoid one.

Now, what happens when the majority of your workplace wears dress shirts and jeans, and you want to wear a suit casually? Don’t worry, I’ve been there. You’ve probably worried about standing out like a sore thumb either in the present moment or the past.

In reality, there’s a lot of truth behind the old saying, “dress for success.” Even if you’re the only person who sets the standard in the office, it is still far better to be first than last. As the last person to hop on board, almost always is the first to be fired. The truth is, you can’t go wrong with business casual if you’re in a workplace that lacks a dress code. A suit without a tie will set you miles apart from the rest of the pack in a scenario like that. Who cares what you co-workers think? So what, you are an overachiever? When the boss is ultimately the one who signs your paycheck and bumps you up the ladder, none of that matters!

Ultimately, just remember that you can never be over-dressed, only underdressed!

Crinkled collars kill the look.

The number one mistake men make wearing a suit without tie is by ignoring the collar!

Without a tie in place, the collar is left to do whatever it wants. By this I mean flop downward, crinkle like an accordion and vanish slightly inside the jacket like the work of a terrible magician. Luckily, there are a few super easy ways to solve this.

You know those budget button down shirts you got on sale for a few bucks? Don’t wear them! While dropping the tie does offer a more casual look, you certainly don’t want to take the sharp look of a suit and mix it with relaxed button down look of a farmer. You’ve got to pick just one. It’s like wearing a Tuxedo with sweatpants, who even does that? Okay, not as dramatic but hopefully you get the idea.

With that said, opt for a real dress shirt instead. For good measure, throw in some collar stays, make sure you use the iron beforehand, and use a little starch for a crisp and strong collar hold. If you want to be lazy about it, just ask your dry cleaner to do it for you.

How many buttons? It’s really up to you.

The more buttons you open, the more dramatic the look gets.

The same can be said for women looking to expose a little more of their boobs. One button is casual, two buttons is in the range of casual, while three could be considered reserved for those looking to give off some serious sex appeal and relaxed, romantic vibes. In the opposite regard, fully buttoning up your dress shirt brings back a bit of the professional look.

Your undershirt should remain a mystery to wandering eyes.

No one should see it.

That means a crew cut t-shit isn’t going to well, cut it. Go with a deep v-neck tee. Of course, also consider that you don’t have to wear an undershirt if you prefer not to. Granted for most of you gentleman, you might feel somewhat “naked” at first. Though, over time that feeling fades away and you will forget about it entirely.

A little bolder look.

No tie, no dress shirt? No problem.

Choosing a v-neck instead can seriously up the masculine and manly tone. It creates a more aggressive, fashion-forward look that says screw traditional casual, I trust my own taste. It’s a good reason as to why you don’t see a whole lot of men doing it these days. It takes some confidence to get past the tie first, then of course, the dress shirt. When done properly, the combination is rather different, and eye catching to say the least.

Move the eyes away from the chest.

Compare a suit with a tie to a suit without a tie. Now, add in a nice watch.

Which do you notice first? The tie, up front and center with a pattern or color that draws you in? Or the watch that’s slightly poking out under the cuff of the shirt? For most, the eyes hit the tie first, after the suit of course, then bounce to the watch and other accessories last.

When the tie is removed, accessories steal or better said, “own” the spotlight. A really fine watch, gold for that matter, stands out incredibly well against a suit without a tie. It’s an eye-catcher. As do other things like the pocket square and cuff links for example.

Needless to say, it’s really important to take note of how your accessories will play with your look when you go tieless. Ultimately they will stand out more and garnish a higher level of focus of attention. Just by removing the tie you might end up turning an otherwise subtle outfit into a rather flashy one.

Picking the right combinations and finding the perfect look can be tough.

Look, I get it, the process isn’t easy; especially for you younger gentlemen just starting out. To help, I’ve put together a stellar collection of ideas and styles below on how to wear a suit without a tie. You’ll find a massive assortment to work with.

If you’ve been wondering if a black v-neck would pair well, or perhaps a light blue dress shirt, and so on, you’ll find the answer just down below in this male fashion guide. Of course, if you still have style questions later, you can always mail me. I’d be more than happy to help!