Accessorizing might not seem like a big deal, but the thing is that many guys end up making huge mistakes when doing so. Here’s how to correctly match accessories.

Accessories are a great way to upgrade your look and add more personality to the outfit, yet there are a few styling guidelines you need to know about. It’s all about finding the right balance between all three elements: your personal style, the clothes and the accessories. And, of course, knowing where you are going.

Ties are a must-have in any man’s wardrobe, yet that doesn’t mean they are suitable for all kinds of situations, like going out with friends, for example. You should always keep in mind the location.

Before we start, be aware that accessories shouldn’t overshadow your outfit. In fact, they are not the main character, they are here to complement it.

As well, remember that this category is not limited to rings, bracelets, watches and necklaces. Accessories also include ties and bow ties, suspenders, pocket squares, belts, cufflinks, hats, tie bars and even bags, among others.

In case you are interested, this is how to wear a fedora with style.

Matching metals

While mixing textures and materials is a great idea to make your look more interesting, this doesn’t apply to metal accessories. They should always match.

That is, if you are wearing a silver bracelet, then your watch should also be silver. If you choose a golden necklace, then your ring should also be golden. It’s a simple rule, but not all men are aware of it.

Matching leathers

As well as metals, leathers should match too. For instance, if you choose to wear a brown leather messenger bag to go to work, then your leather shoes should match it.

Or if you picked a black leather belt, then make sure your shoes go accordingly as well.

It doesn’t have to be the exact same color shade, but they should belong to the same color palette. In addition, leather shoes will always determine the color of your leather accessories, and not the other way around.

Pick a side

We recommend not to wear more than two or three accessories at most, at the same time. You can wear your wedding ring, a watch and a necklace, for example, but adding one more accessory would be too much.

On a similar end, try not to wear all accessories on one side and none on the other. For instance, if you choose a watch and a bracelet to spice up your look, don’t wear them all on the same wrist. Instead, wear them on opposite sides.

Just like you need to find balance between your look and your accessories, you should also find balance on how and where to wear them.

Less is more

We have said it already, but accessories are incredibly useful to make your look stand out, make it more interesting and add more personality to it. They are the icing of the cake. However, you shouldn’t overdo it.

Matching rings, bracelets, tie, belt, pocket square… It’s a lot. People won’t know where to focus on. Therefore, the rule is simple: less is more.

How to match colors & patterns

Matching colors and patterns can also be a tricky task. But don’t worry, we’ve got your back.

First of all, opposites attract each other. If you are wearing a patterned shirt, then your tie, bow tie or pocket square should be of solid color. If it was the other way around 一your shirt being plain一, then you can play with prints when it comes to your accessories.

Now, how do you match colors and patterns? You can go two ways: monochromatic or complementary.

Going monochromatic means you stay within the same color family. For example, if your shirt is solid navy blue, then your tie and/or pocket square should also be from the same color family.

And this applies to patterns as well. If you chose a printed shirt where purple prevails, your tie and pocket square should also be of that same color shade.

The second path you can take is complementary colors. This means that looking at a color wheel, you want to go with the opposite color to what you have. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you should stick to those striking shades, instead you can actually choose more quiet shades from that same color family.

When matching patterns and solid colors, you can stand by this simple rule. Look at the pattern and see what colors it shows: they will be your guide when choosing a solid color to match. And the same way around. If you already know which solid color you’ll be wearing, it will be easy for you to find patterns to match it.

What about texture?

Accessories can also be featured in bold, eye-catching textures, such as a knitted tie or bow tie, for example.

In this case, there are two guidelines to take into account. On one hand, don’t mix too many textures. Instead, stick to only one textured piece that sets apart from the others. Again, it’s all about balance.

On the other hand, that one textured piece should always be featured in a solid color. Combining patterns and textures in one same accessory would be too much. For more insight on this matter, here’s everything you need to know about ties.

Don’t mix seasons up

When it comes to accessories, there’s one thing you can never miss out and that’s the season. It might seem like an obvious rule, yet hear us out. Lots of guys believe that style is above weather, but that’s simply not true.

If it is summer and you chose to put on a beanie, it doesn’t matter how stylish it looks, it doesn’t make much sense, does it? Therefore, when accessorizing, always work with seasonal items that are not only fashionable, but functional to the weather.