“Does This Shirt Go With That Tie?”

Now more than ever, a man must know his shirt and tie combos.

Think of the soirées. The pictures. The eyes across the room.

To assist you on the finer points of sartorial mix-and-match, we hooked up with Allyson Wicha Lewis at Tie Bar for five steadfast rules and looks that you can easily pull off this holiday season, and beyond.

Lewis is the VP of Merchandising. She’s been a busy woman, all with opening of Tie Bar’s first New York outpost, and the newly remodeled flagship store in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. Suffice to say, she’s something of a neckwear aficionado.

What you’re after: personal flair. An open imagination. A balance that clashes ever so slightly, but never overpowers.

And should you want to acquire the looks below in toto, we went ahead and linked up with our friends at Billy Reid on five no-fail shirts and jackets that’ll round out the look.

All shoppable online, and ready to add to your arsenal.

Fail-safe rule for dressing: your tie should be darker than your shirt. If the shirt is dark, just reverse the rule and go with a light tie option. This is the easiest way for your shirt and tie to get along, and one way you’ll never go wrong.

Because the small details can make or break a combination. In general, the patterns on your tie should be larger and bolder than the patterns on your shirt. Match a detail in the tie with the dominant color of the shirt. Avoid having the same pattern appear in both your shirt and your tie (i.e., gingham on gingham, because — egad, man! — never do that).

This is all about proportioning. A classic skinny width (2.5 inches), for instance, favors slimmer jacket silhouettes and lapels. Three things to always ask yourself: Is it similar in size to the width of your jacket’s lapel? Is it proportionate to your body size? And does it represent your personal style? If the answer to these questions is “yes,” you’ve chosen the right tie.

When trying out accessories, you always want to make sure they aren’t too bold in a way that makes your shirt, tie and jacket compete against each other. Allow one item do all the “talking” — the right amount of panache will complete any ensemble. A tie bar will not only keep your tie in place, but adds a dash of pep. Lapel flowers are also a great way to add a pop of pattern.

The holidays are the perfect time to incorporate patterns into your look without being flashy. The season may call for “ugly sweater” parties, but that doesn’t have to be the case. A little sparkle or an elegant print like a paisley are perfect for the season. And whether the event calls for a suit and tie or just a jacket, you can’t go wrong with a classic Fair Isle print tie.