Now, there’s nothing wrong with a little contrast; a good tie should have some room to speak up. However, it’s really easy to overdo it; I mean really easy. Learn where to draw the line, it takes some time.

Here’s what usually happens:

You go to an average local suit store, say Jos. A Bank or Men’s Warehouse. (Now, there’s nothing wrong with the two, in fact, I shop them myself from time to time.) You pick out a new suit, or perhaps just some dress shirts and pants. You realize you need a tie or a few.

The salesman comes back with a handful of inspiration. He convinces you that this goes with that and so on. You aren’t even sold hard; you just agree, because you have similar tastes. You pay for your clothes and go home.

Guess what? You took fashion advice from the bottom of the barrel! Sure, help in any form is always appreciated, but in order to dress like a man, you must understand how to coordinate your attire on your own. Remember, people have their own idea what looks good. They have their own sense of fashion, and nine out of ten times, it will never be the exact same as yours!

As much as I hate to say, a lot of the advice you get, is more than often, sh-t. Salesmen are excellent at showing you the ropes of fashion, but beyond the basics, your luck will run out. Understand, even small items like ties can make a big impact on your overall presentation. Unless you have Tom Ford at your disposal, or another person who lives and breathes fashion, it’s worth spending some time in learning how to properly match a tie to a dress shirt.

Just consider the business world. If someone’s giving you advice on success, and they’re not at a level you wish to obtain or have failed to reach it themselves, it means absolutely nothing! If your salesmen is selling you on fashion and their own attire is anything but, avoid their advice.