Tie width
Most ties are about 8 cm wide at the widest point. Which width looks right on you depends mostly on your jacket, because the tie and the lapels sit side by side and are always seen together.
Match your lapels
The widest part of the tie should be about as wide as the widest part of your jacket lapel. The two lapels and the tie form a V that leads the eye up to your face, and it looks balanced when all of them are a similar width. Narrow lapels call for a narrower tie, and wide lapels for a wider one.
A tie much narrower than the lapels looks like an afterthought, while one much wider makes the jacket look too small. If you can't match them exactly, go a little narrower rather than wider.
Widths at a glance
- Slim
- About 6 to 7.5 cm. Suits a slim build and narrow lapels
- Standard
- About 7.5 to 8.5 cm. Suits most people and most suits, which makes it the easiest width to wear
- Wide
- About 9 cm. Suits a broad chest and wide lapels, where a narrow tie would look too thin
No jacket?
Without a jacket there are no lapels to measure against, so go by your build instead. A slimmer tie suits a slim frame. On a broad chest a skinny tie looks out of proportion, so choose a standard or wider one.