This Valentine’s Day, don’t just gift your man WHATEVER! Follow these 5 rules to pick out the best tie for him.

- Size matters

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Let the sales assistant know your man's frame. The best measurements for a tie: Not wider than 7.5 - 9.5 cm for the average-built man. If he wears a blazer/ suit jacket, make sure the tie matches the size of the lapels. 

Note exactly where his belt buckle is. When knotted, the length of his tie must reach the buckle. cc: Donald Trump

- Watch out for patterns

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If your man mainly owns plain/solid-coloured/small-patterned shirts, get him a large-printed tie. So, both materials won't clash with one another. 

Let's say his shirt is white. A bold-coloured, striped tie of different width & size will not make your man look tacky.

It works the opposite way too: if he has large-patterned shirts, get him the tie with tiny prints or in solid colours.

3- Fabric Check

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There's a tie for every occasion. Find the right one that goes with his daily routine. 

- Silk ties are more traditional & reserved, best for formal business. It has a smooth finish & long-lasting shape. 

- Wool & cashmere ties make the cut for casual & laidback settings. 

- Cotton & knitted ties are flexible & fits in both formal & casual environment. 

4- Colour Wheel

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This might be a little tricky. So, here's a quick match up for the 3 basic shirt colours your man should have. Save this!

- White shirts: Any colour

- Light blue shirts: Dark, burnt orange / burgundy/ pink/ mustard/ dark forest green

-  Pink shirts: Dark mauve/ dark purple/ khaki/ navy blue

Ditch the tie if he's only wearing black shirts every time. 

5- Bar Tack

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At the back of the tie, towards the end, you'll see a heavy stitch. It either looks like a handsewn emblem or just two extra stitches. 

That tack keeps the tie in shape. So, it won't seem like his tie has air pockets inside.  In some stores, you can request to add a bar tack if the tie is missing one. 

A well-tailored suit is to women what lingerie is to men. -H.M. Cole