25 Comments on "White Buttondown + Knit Tie"

  1. Truly a brilliant and universal look. Was hoping for more photos, though.

  2. I suppose this could be a post in progress with more images to come.

    I wore a black knit with white BD and tweed jacket to my Japanese-owned coworking space several months back. One of the Japanese engineering interns asked ‘why?’ I was wearing a black tie.

  3. White Pinpoint | October 11, 2016 at 4:01 pm |

    At one point, we grow up and graduate from blue to white.
    Now, the comments will start to flow about how white doesn’t look good on guys with light complexions.
    Humbug.

  4. Minimalist Trad | October 11, 2016 at 4:26 pm |

    The tie looks dark greenish on my monitor, but I can assure you that it was black in the film:

    https://ebbingtoflowing.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/1310_the_graduate_08a.jpeg

  5. With respect, Harrison Ford would look handsome wearing a mint green leisure suit. A white oxford shirt and solid knit tie is about as good as it gets.

    Will

  6. Bags' Groove | October 11, 2016 at 5:30 pm |

    Wear whatever colours you want. Or decide upon one colour of tie, then dye your hair different colours and/or apply varying amounts of fake tan until you get the perfect match.
    White shirt with a black tie? Not my bag. Too starchy, even if it can be elegant with the right jacket and handkerchief. After all’s said and done, where’s the flair, the danger…the sharpness?

  7. Well, no. Uh, that is–there are combos that (easily) look better.

    If your complexion tends toward pale, white–especially severe, chalk white–shirts do not flatter. Blue is always better. The Mercer & Son’s “cream” oxford is another good choice.

  8. NaturalShoulder | October 11, 2016 at 8:20 pm |

    I try and stick with colors which favor my complexion (pale) but have high contrast dark hair, but am not orthodox about the matter. The only colors I avoid are yellow and gold. My dear departed mother told me I did not look good in them and believe she was correct.

  9. Can’t imagine anyone looking bad in a white shirt, but knit ties are over rated, especially in silk. Black is for formal wear, dress shoes, motorcycle gear and ninjas. 😉

  10. Bags' Groove | October 12, 2016 at 3:33 am |

    Are you kidding, Mac? For me a knitted tie (cri de la soie particularly, though i also love wool) is almost as important as a natural shoulder. Infact I’ll go so far as to say that they’re the only elements that truly move my Ivy soul. I almost never wear a button down collared shirt with a tie, much preferring Milano collared shirts, the stronger the colour the better (white for weddings and funerals only) and as much as I love Ivy staples classic loafers and full brogue oxfords (wingtips to you), I’ve always had a special love for semi brogue oxfords.
    As for not being able to imagine anyone looking bad in a white shirt, my wife’s always been of the opinion that those of a “pasty-face” should never wear them.

  11. There was a time when all I owned were white button-downs. Now, I think I only own one and rarely pull it out. I find myself wearing tattersall and blue oxford… they both transition with or without a tie from weekend to business meeting. It just doesn’t seem correct to be on the beach or golf course in a white button-down.

  12. @Jerry

    In my early days, I wore white button downs almost exclusively, too. Today, I looked in my dresser, and I currently own just one, new in package, and waiting for its owner to need it for his own funeral. Blue has been my color of choice, either solid, or candy stripes.

    A couple years ago, on a lark, I bought two light green OCBD’s, after watching a stupid movie about a guy being told by the salesgirl in Macy’s that green was sexy. Chris Rock was the actor buying shirts in the movie.

    Funny, I’ve BEEN COMPLIMENTED many times on my sexy green shirt. Can’t go wrong taking advice from the Macy salesgirls, I guess. Even the missus refers to my “sexy green shirts.”

    I’ll buy a couple more when I find them at clearance sales.

    OCBD’s are getting harder to find in department stores. JC Penney seems to have the best selection, I have found. Pretty poor quality, though.

  13. I remember when men would buy white or blue OCBDs by the box for work. I remember when I did. That’s not to say I didn’t have a load of other shirts. I still have loads of shirts, actually too many.

    I understand the Ivy knit tie connection. But for me I have an aversion to silk knit ties. I have worn wool knit tie with tweeds, but there are far more interesting alternatives, like wool challis or silk grenadine for solid colored ties.

    Wriggles
    If you don’t mind the player and pony RL logo, check out Macy, for their sales. They damn near pay you to leave the store with them.

  14. I still prefer the worn blue color of OCBD over white…

    If I am in a situation where I will wear casual button down and knit tie.. the blue shirt just feels better to me.

    often times, a white shirt and black tie in today’s sartorial climate gets mistaken for someone “trying to dress up”

    Us gentlemen who enjoy dressing this way are not too common, so instead of someone noting a button down and black knit tie as being casual, most everyone thinks it’s “dressed up” and this irks for some reason. A blue OCBD seems to fit in more.

  15. Marcantonio | November 9, 2016 at 1:28 am |

    If the white BD shirt is broadcloth/poplin, it looks even better. The texture of oxford cloth tones down the whiteness; broadcloth amplifies it.

  16. .weston.pecos. | May 1, 2017 at 7:34 pm |

    I disagree to an extent. I think that white shirts of any type of cloth just look generic. You can’t tell the quality of the fabric when the shirt is white, so you may as well buy from Target and be done with it.

    I think white shirts only look good when worn to a funeral. Otherwise, blue for me, all the way.

    White shirt and black tie does not look good on anyone and I would not wear a black tie with a business shirt even if I was going to a funeral.

  17. EVAN EVERHART | September 7, 2018 at 4:51 pm |

    I certainly find it entertaining how opinionated some of the gentlemen on her are getting regarding their position against the wearing of A.) a white shirt, B.) a black knit tie, and/or C.) wearing a white shirt and black knit tie together.

    It certainly boggles the mind. There’s nothing wrong with the combination, it’s simple and classic and a style and combination that used to be quite commonplace. Actually, prior to our current “era”, plain black was the number one most common color of necktie purchased, and available.

    That said, while I love knit ties, particularly silk ones, I am not a fan of crie de la soie as I don’t like crunchy silk that feels as if it’s been starched. I won’t make rules for other people about it as it’s a purely personal and tactile thing, but I have my own predilections. I much prefer the old BB made in England silk knits that are luxely plush and firm, but still soft. Grenadine is always nice of course, but knits are just fun, and playful.

    For the people who feel over-dressed; attitude is everything. If you feel like an undertaker wearing something, you’ll surely look like one to anyone who sees you.

    At the fellow who refused to wear a white shirt and black necktie even to a funeral; you are abandoning even the basics of what used to be considered common decency and commiseration of mourning. A black tie worn to a funeral is the one requisite item aside from the prohibition against wearing bright colors, as an attendee who is not immediate family – this is known. However you feel about it, you should show your respect.

    @ SackSuit: Yes, Mr. Ford probably could pull off the above mentioned clothes. Ha! I don’t know about looking good, but he’d probably look better than anyone else who wore them would.

    At the fellow who suggested Target shirts. Really? The quality of the shirt shows the most on a white shirt of quality. Try a fine quality 2 or 3 ply pinpoint oxford shirt that requires ironing and you’ll see what I’m talking about, like the ones that BB used to make. Or a Beefy textured regular Oxford button down, The quality of the fabric shows.

    Also, I think that the more casual the occasion, the more perfectly suited the white OCBD is! I just prefer beefier ones for more sporting activities, or more ratty (beater) ones for more outdoorsy ones. They are the quintessential every day shirt and their perfection lies in their versatility, vis a vis the philosophy, elan, personality, and confidence of the wearer at any given moment. Consider it.

  18. I’ve realized this about myself two years ago: matter how many different colored shirts I have, I always end up wearing a white OCBD; no matter how many different ties I have, I always end up reaching for the black knit tie … Pair it with a dark colored jacket, it’s the ultimate display of harmony through contrast.

  19. The combination was imprinted on me as a child watching
    the iconic Jack Webb in “Dragnet” (1951-59).
    From a every early age I was very aware of mens clothing:
    the way my Dad dressed (trad) vs my uncles, a bit flashy.
    So it was natural that I remember the unvarying tie shirt
    combo.

    https://i.pinimg.com/736x/00/c5/6c/00c56ce04cae6d2a2d424a7252e7b007.jpg

  20. Michael Powell | November 30, 2020 at 10:05 pm |

    I haven’t worn a white shirt (BD or standard) with a suit in 29+ years. I just prefer the way I look in a blue shirt. On the other hand, I have always loved a knit tie. I’ve got more than a dozen; most solid colors, 5 rugby stripes. My only problem, finding knit ties that are about 3 inches wide.

  21. whiskeydent | December 1, 2020 at 9:11 am |

    I can’t get past that pre-mature comb-over on Harrison’s head.

  22. Henry Contestwinner | December 2, 2020 at 7:27 pm |

    Combover? He looks like that because his hair is so thick and luxuriant. Kind of the opposite of the combover look. Might look better shorter, though.

  23. whiskeydent | December 3, 2020 at 1:53 pm |

    Henry
    That part looks pretty low to me. It’s significantly lower than the peak of his eyebrow, putting it on the side of his head and not at the junction of the side and top. I recognize it could just be me.

    Separately, the way his hair curls back at the part suggests to me that his natural part is on the other side. Mine used to do that until I switched to the right side. But again, it could just be me.

  24. Henry Contestwinner | December 4, 2020 at 12:18 pm |

    whiskeydent, I agree that the hairstyle in this picture is not the most flattering. Fortunately for Mr. Ford, if you’re handsome, you look good just about any way you do your hair.

    I think you’re right about his natural part. In many photos, he parts his hair on the other side, and it looks better than this picture. Then again, it might also be due to his parting it higher on his head.

  25. RaleighPrep | August 17, 2022 at 9:20 am |

    I’ve got a fair amount of Irish blood, hence fair skin. White OCBs look better on me with a tan. That said, I’ve got a smashing madras-like plaid blazer that screams for a white OCBD and dark navy knit square bottomed tie. With light khakis and a black belt and loafers, it’s a snazzy look. My red or maroon knits look great with a navy blue blazer, light blue & white university stripe OCBD, khakis, brown croc belt and penny loafers. Love the casual, rogue elegance of the knit tie. It’s dressy without trying too hard.

    I do reach more for the university stripe and plain blue (or pink, light green, tattersall, gingham check, etc.) over plain white. But I think a white OCBD works well anywhere, anytime.

    Harrison Ford could look pretty cool in any outfit, especially at that age. (That pic appears to be an old studio contract actor headshot.) His addition of a late-in-life diamond earring was sort of puzzling though…

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