Paisley’s evolution saw it as a design for a larger garment – it wasn’t designed to be an accessory or to play second fiddle. But, fashion evolves, and for men, the Paisley tie is now arguably as famous as the Paisley shirt. But the two needed to be treated so differently in the wearing. Here followeth the Just Paisley guide to your Paisley tie colours:
A Paisley tie is almost as much about the colour as the pattern. But let’s get the shirt out of the way first.
Statement – wear a Paisley tie with a plain shirt. That’s it! …BUT! There’s always a BUT! A Paisley tie can work with a checkered Paisley shirt, BUT only where one of the checks is white, and the other check is the same color as the tie. Now… that’s it!
The Paisley tie is worn more for the suit than for the shirt. So, let’s move on to the suit. A Paisley print tie is a brilliant contrast to a conservative suit. And let’s face it, most suits - particularly business suits - are still conservative.
The most conservative Paisley tie sees the Paisley teardrop shape worn basically as a small repeating logo. It’s not the way Paisley is normally worn, but it works. It represents consistency and reliability but even the small hint of Paisley on the tie hints at a healthy creative rebelliousness.
For the less structured Paisley design, you will see on a Paisley tie, that it’s all about the colour. A tie covers a small space relative to the suit it’s worn with. That means it needs to stand out. And colour is the immediate differentiator.
The colour shows the intent – it is the body! The Paisley Pattern is the soul! So, let’s look at what the colour of your Paisley tie says about you – or indeed anyone you happen to see wearing a Paisley tie:
Blue Paisley tie
The wearer of a blue Paisley tie immediately demonstrates their composure, intelligence, and reliability. The pattern on their tie shows that they are not boring and that their responsible nature should not be mistaken for a lack of creativity.
Red Paisley tie
Everyone knows that politicians wear red ties to demonstrate their power and authority. It’s no different with a red Paisley tie. Red Paisleys say ‘Look at me – put your trust in me’. If you wear a red Paisley tie, you say ‘I will deliver’. So, if you are confident in yourself, go for that red Paisley tie!
Green Paisley tie
A green Paisley tie can be bland. Throw a little silver or dark blue into the pattern, it can be transformed into a stunning tie – elegant and sophisticated.
Black Paisley tie
Of all ties, a black Paisley tie is among the classiest. Best worn with a white shirt, or with white also in its pattern, it is perfect for a formal occasion. It just quietly tells people about your personality, while subtly reminding them that life goes on beyond the event.
Grey Paisley tie (Gray Paisley tie)
Closely related to the black Paisley tie, the American gray Paisley tie is a smidgeon less formal. That says it can still be worn at some formal events, but it can also cross over into everyday business use. Unsurprisingly, it oozes more personality when worn on the more serious occasion.
White Paisley tie
A white Paisley tie is the obvious formal wedding tie.
With white as the base colour, multiple colours patterned on top will make the perfect summer tie to complement that light summer jacket.
Purple Paisley tie
A purple Paisley tie is always striking and quickly noticed. Suitable for formal, business, or casual, the pattern holds the key here. While the colour is exotic, if you really want to amplify it, go for a larger and more detailed pattern.
Pink Paisley tie
The pink Paisley tie is another ‘look at me’ tie. Not quite as power-aggressive as red, it still shows others that you have complete confidence in yourself, but also that there is so much more to you than power.
Gold Paisley tie
Even the slightest touch of gold within a Paisley does what real gold does! It makes it appear richer and more expensive. Eminently suitable for any event – as with gold jewellery – increasing the intricacy of a gold Paisley tie's pattern will add to its beauty.
Silver Paisley tie
Much like gold, a silver Paisley tie does what real silver does. Only, unlike with metals, silver is not a poor relation. Perfect for formal events like weddings, coupled with black, it can also make a stunning business tie.
Yellow Paisley tie
Ah… the yellow Paisley tie! The perfect base colour for a summer tie - whether business or casual. The great thing is that there are so many other colours to jump into its pattern. And that’s not all, it’s also perfect with a dark or light jacket. Who would have thought that yellow would be the most versatile Paisley tie? A true star! I could go on and on about it… Suffice it to say, if you wear a yellow Paisley, your positivity will exude, and you will never go unnoticed.
Orange Paisley tie
If you wear orange in your Paisley tie, you’re probably in a minority. It’s not the most popular of colours for a tie. But, if you like to be different, and simply wearing a Paisley is not enough, add a bit of orange! Coupled with black or navy blue, an orange Paisley tie looks stunning when worn with that black or navy suit.
So, that’s a wrap! Or tie! We at Just Paisley reckon the Paisley tie is almost as iconic as the pattern itself. Like its cousin, the Paisley shirt, it would probably be safe to say that every man should have at least one in his wardrobe.