Suit Accessories: The Essentials and the Order to Buy Them
The best suit accessories for men earn their place one at a time. Start with the pieces you can wear repeatedly, then add the ones your shirt, trousers or next invitation actually needs.
Buy a navy tie, a white pocket square and dark dress socks first. Add a silver tie bar, then collar stays if your shirts take them. Cufflinks come with French cuffs; braces replace a belt. A black bow tie, lapel pin and seasonal pieces follow when the occasion calls for them.
The essentials, in order
Buy the pieces.
Skip the clutter.
A tie that works with your shirts. A square that works with almost everything. The rest earns its place when the outfit needs it.
Which suit accessories should you buy first?
Before step one: check your shirt fits, your dress shoes are ready and your trousers have suitable support. A belt may help trousers with loops; side adjusters or braces may do the job instead. Keep a watch you already wear, but do not buy one just for a suit.
| Step | Accessory | Buy it when | Start here |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Navy tie | You need neckwear for work or an invitation | Navy Blue Weave Necktie |
| 2 | White pocket square | You want a simple jacket accent | White Linen Pocket Square |
| 3 | Dark dress socks | You need socks for the suit | Midnight Navy Blue Flat Knit Sock |
| 4 | Silver tie bar (tie clip) | You want to secure the tie | Hoffa Silver Tie Bar |
| 5 | Collar stays | Your shirt has removable-stay pockets | Brushed Silver Collar Stays |
| 6 | Cufflinks | Your shirt has French cuffs | Silver Cuboid Cufflinks |
| 7 | Braces (suspenders) | Your trousers sit high, or you'd rather skip the belt | Black Suspender Braces |
| 8 | Black bow tie | An invitation says black tie | Bond Black - Bow Tie (Untied) |
| 9 | Lapel pin | A wedding or event has room for one more detail | Feather Lapel Pin |
| 10 | Seasonal pieces | The weather calls for a change | A scarf or wool pocket square in winter |
If you buy only three: a navy tie, a white pocket square and navy socks. It is also where our customers start: ties and pocket squares are what they buy from us most. Buy the missing pieces first. The order changes when a shirt needs cufflinks or an invitation needs a bow tie.
The starter three
White Linen Pocket Square
A white accent that does not need to match the tie.
Explore pocket squares.
Explore suit accessories by category, then use the guide below to decide which pieces belong in your wardrobe.
What accessories do men need with a suit?
Suit accessories for men fall into three groups. Essentials finish the outfit you need today: dress socks, neckwear when required and a simple square.
Conditional pieces fit the construction: cufflinks, stays and trouser support. Optional extras include a lapel pin, a collar bar and a bracelet. Buy for a job before buying for the drawer.
Steps 1 and 2 / The two easy additions
A navy tie and a white pocket square
Our pick is the Navy Blue Weave Necktie for a dark focal point with white or pale blue. Burgundy is a warmer second choice. For a classic stripe, the Navy Blue Pencil Stripe Tie is one of our most popular navy ties.
The White Linen Pocket Square works with either. Let a straight white edge show above the breast pocket (the TV fold), or use a soft puff for a less formal jacket. For a wedding or evening jacket, a three-point fold adds a little shape. A pocket square is decorative, so keep a separate handkerchief if you need one.
Both are in the starter three above, with a button to add all three to your bag.
Coordinate the square without copying the tie exactly. White gives a patterned tie some space; with a patterned square, repeat one small colour from the outfit and change the pattern scale. Our guide to matching ties and pocket squares covers the details.
Add variety slowly. Use our tie rotation, tie colour and tie pattern guides before buying duplicates.
Browse navy ties and white pocket squares. For the suit itself, use our grey suit guide, blue suit guide or black suit guide.
Step 3 / The quiet foundation
Dress socks before novelty details
Begin with socks that sit comfortably with the trousers. Dark navy with navy, charcoal with grey and black with black make a quiet foundation. Choose mid-calf or over-the-calf socks, so no skin shows when you sit.
Our pick is the Midnight Navy Blue Flat Knit Sock: plain, dark and easy with navy or charcoal. Once you have a plain pair, the Navy Blue Polka Dots Cotton-Blend Socks add a small pattern without shouting. Both come in multi-packs on the product page.
Echoing the trousers is easier than matching a bright tie. No-show socks suit some relaxed outfits. Our dress sock rules explain the navy-suit and brown-shoe combination.
Step 4 / Metal with a job
A tie bar (tie clip), once the tie is in place
A tie bar fastens the tie to the shirt, not just the two blades to each other. Position it around the space between the third and fourth shirt buttons. Get the tie's length right first; our tie length guide has the measurements. Keep the bar narrower than the tie, about three-quarters of its width. Start with the Hoffa Silver Tie Bar for a simple silver-toned line. On a skinny tie it covers the full width, so choose the Mini Brushed Silver Skinny Tie Bar instead.
Hoffa Silver Tie Bar
A simple silver-toned tie bar. Compare its width with your tie before buying.
Explore tie bars.
Keep to one main metal tone. Our tie-bar guide covers fastening.
A waistcoat may already secure the tie. Try the outfit before adding another fastening.
Step 5 / Collar shape
Collar stays, if your shirts take them
Collar stays, also called collar stiffeners, hold the collar points in shape. Look underneath the collar first. Some shirts have pockets for removable stays; others have their support built in. Do not buy an extra pair for a collar that cannot take them.
The Brushed Silver Collar Stays are a simple first pair. The stays measure 6 cm by 8 mm. Compare those dimensions with the removable-stay pockets before choosing them.
Compare the stays with the collar pocket. Remove removable stays before washing or ironing, following the shirt care label. Our collar stays guide explains whether your shirt needs them.
Step 6 / Let the cuffs decide
Cufflinks, once you own French cuffs
Cufflinks come next only if the cuffs need them. French cuffs fold back and fasten through paired holes. A conventional button cuff does not need a cufflink pushed through it. The Silver Cuboid Cufflinks are an easy first pair: their rectangular shape suits a plain shirt.
Need the shirt first? The Walters White Twill French Cuff Shirt is a crisp white place to start.
Choose one main metal tone and a shape that suits the shirt. Browse cufflinks and read how to style cufflinks before buying a larger collection.
Step 7 / Keep the trousers where they belong
Belt or braces: let the trousers decide
Start with the trousers. Belt loops may call for a belt; side adjusters may do the job already. OTAA's woven elastic belts suit more relaxed or summer outfits. They are different from a plain leather dress belt. Braces, also called suspenders, support the trousers from the shoulders. Wear them instead of a belt.
Match the attachment before buying. Clip-on braces and button-on braces need different preparation; trousers for button-on styles need suitable buttons inside the waistband. The Black Suspender Braces are a clip-on, cross-back style with plenty of stretch, so they work on trousers without brace buttons.
Relate belt colour and formality to the shoes. With braces, choose a colour that belongs with the outfit. Our suspenders guide covers fit and attachment.
Follow the black-tie guide for evening dress rather than adding an office belt.
Step 8 / Black tie
A black bow tie when the invitation calls for it
Black tie changes the neckwear: the long tie stays at home. Traditional black tie means an appropriate dinner suit or tuxedo; a black necktie does not turn an ordinary suit into black tie.
Our pick is the Bond Black - Bow Tie (Untied) for someone who wants to tie the bow himself. The strap adjusts to fit your collar. The pre-tied Bond Black - Bow Tie is the quicker option; the self-tie versus pre-tied guide explains the difference.
Bond Black - Bow Tie (Untied)
A self-tie black bow with an adjustable strap.
Explore black bow ties.
Studs fasten an evening shirt front made for them; cufflinks fasten the cuffs. Check the shirt first. Use our bow-tie knot tutorial before the evening.
A cummerbund and shirt studs depend on the evening outfit and shirt you choose. Do not add studs to a conventional button-front shirt. Our cummerbund guide covers the waist covering.
Step 9 / The final accent
Lapel pins and the point at which to stop
A lapel pin is optional. Wear it on the left lapel and check the fastening does not pull the cloth.
The Feather Lapel Pin adds a small decorative detail. It is rose gold, so it suits an outfit with warm metal or none; with a silver tie bar and cufflinks, the silver Fox Lapel Pin keeps one metal tone. If the wedding party has supplied a buttonhole flower (a boutonniere), let it take that space. A patterned tie, a bright square and a large lapel flower rarely all need to speak at once.
Try removing one accessory before leaving. Use the lapel pin guide for placement or the Style Quiz for colour.
Step 10 / The weather
Seasonal swaps: scarf, wool square or linen
In winter, consider a wool pocket square, knitted tie or Midnight Navy Scarf with heavier jackets.
For summer, choose lighter colours and linen ties. Change the weight, not the order. Read how to wear a scarf with a suit.
Which suit accessories suit the occasion?
| Occasion | Start with | Add only if needed |
|---|---|---|
| First interview | Restrained tie, dress socks and suitable shoes | Cufflinks if the shirt has French cuffs; a quiet tie bar |
| Everyday office | A small tie rotation and socks that sit with the trousers | A square or bar; not every piece at once |
| Wedding guest | Follow the dress code; tie and square with a suit | Compatible cufflinks or one lapel accent |
| Traditional black tie | Black bow tie, appropriate evening shirt and formal shoes | Studs and cufflinks to suit the shirt; suitable waist covering |
| Funeral | Plain, dark and understated; follow the family's wishes | Leave decorative accents out unless requested |
| Relaxed summer event | Lighter accessories and the right shoes for the setting | An open collar and square when the invitation allows it |
| Groom and groomsmen | Follow the agreed palette and dress code | Explore wedding ties and pocket squares, then add cufflinks or braces only where the shirts and trousers take them. |
For a first job, start with the first work wardrobe guide. For an invitation, read the dress-code guide before adding evening pieces.
The accessory guides, in one place
Our men's suit accessories guides, one per piece, cover fit, placement and matching.
- Tie rotation: the first three, five and ten
- Ties and pocket squares: how to coordinate them
- Dress socks: colour, trousers and shoes
- Tie bars: placement and fastening
- Cufflinks: styling and French cuffs
- Collar stays: pockets and compatibility
- Braces: how to wear them
- Bow ties: choosing self-tie or pre-tied
- Lapel pins: placement and scale
- Grey suits: light grey and charcoal
- Blue suits: tie pairings
- Black suits: tie pairings
- Cummerbunds: evening waist covering
- Scarves: wearing one with a suit
- Dress codes: what the invitation means
- First jobs: build a work wardrobe
Suit accessories questions
What accessories do men need with a suit?
Start with suitable shoes, dress socks and trouser support if needed. A tie and white pocket square are the first finishing pieces to consider. Then add a tie bar, cufflinks for French cuffs and evening accessories only when the shirt or invitation calls for them.
What suit accessories should I buy first?
A navy tie, a white pocket square and navy socks are our starting three. Add a silver tie bar once you want to secure the tie. Check your existing shoes, shirt and trouser support first, so the new pieces finish an outfit you can already wear.
Do I need cufflinks with a suit?
Only if the shirt cuffs are designed for them, such as French cuffs. The shirt decides, not the suit. Buy cufflinks with a French-cuff shirt and leave them out of a conventional button-cuff outfit unless the cuff specifically offers that option.
Should a tie and pocket square match?
Coordinate them rather than copying the same pattern and cloth. A white square works with any coloured or patterned tie. With a patterned square, repeat one small colour from the outfit and vary the scale so the two pieces do not compete.
Can you wear a belt and braces together?
Choose one, not both. Each supports the trousers, so wearing both adds unnecessary hardware. Check the attachment before buying braces: button-on styles need suitable trouser buttons, while clip-on styles use clips. Side adjusters may mean you need neither for the outfit.
What's the difference between a tie bar and a tie clip, and where does it go?
They do the same job: fastening the tie to the shirt. A slide-on bar and a hinged clip fasten differently, though shops use the names loosely. Position either between the third and fourth shirt buttons, keep it narrower than the tie and include the shirt placket.
Should your belt match your shoes?
Broadly, yes: brown with brown and black with black is the simple rule. The tones should sit comfortably together, but they do not need to be identical. Match the level of formality too; a woven elastic belt reads more relaxed than a plain leather dress belt.
Which side does a lapel pin go on?
The left lapel is the usual position, through the buttonhole when suitable. Check that the fastening is secure and does not pull the jacket cloth. If you have a buttonhole flower, let it take that space rather than adding a competing pin beside it.
Can I wear a black necktie to a black-tie event?
A black necktie does not meet traditional black tie. Wear a black bow tie with the appropriate dinner suit or tuxedo and evening shirt. Choose cufflinks, studs and a waist covering to suit that outfit rather than adding them automatically to an ordinary suit.
Are suit accessories a good gift?
Yes, when you know the recipient's shirts, suits and occasions. A navy tie or white square is a safe first gift; cufflinks need French cuffs. A ready-made tie set is another option when choosing individual colours feels uncertain. Exchanges are free within 60 days if a colour isn't right.
Buy what the outfit needs
The essentials, without the excess
Start with a tie and square you can wear repeatedly. Add hardware for the shirt you own and evening pieces for the invitation in hand. Buying for someone else? Our ready-made tie sets make choosing easier.
Shop suit accessoriesBuild a tie setFind your styleNot quite right? Exchanges are free within 60 days from fulfilment. See returns and exchanges.
The Brothers at OTAA
The Brothers at OTAA write The Journal: practical notes on ties, shirts and the details in between, from a Melbourne-founded menswear label.
The Brothers at OTAA.
