How to Buy a Holiday Cumberbund and Tie

Make a splash at your office holiday party or formal family gathering by wearing a festive cumberbund and matching tie with your suit or tuxedo. Follow these tips to buy a set that you can wear again next year and to events that take place after the holidays.

Instructions

1. Determine if you'd rather have convenience or formality when choosing your bowtie style. Clip-on bowties or those with a hook-fastening neck strap give you ease of use, while traditional self-tie bowties achieve a more elegant appearance. Although cumberbund styles are all easy to fasten, consider a version with a stretch-panel back to keep you comfortable during long events.

2. Coordinate the finish and material of your cumberbund and tie with the suit or tuxedo that you plan to wear them with. The accessories are typically available in silk, nylon, polyester or wool.

3. Opt for festive colors like rich reds and greens or glitzy gold to make an impression at a holiday get together. Follow traditional etiquette, however, and ensure that your outfit doesn't overshadow what the host is wearing.

4. Consider a formal white or black cumberbund and tie set textured with subtle paisley, pinstripes or checks if you'll be attending a black or white tie affair for the holidays.

5. Get more for your money by buying a tie and cumberbund set in a more neutral, solid shade like gray or blue that you can wear to parties beyond the holiday season. Take an inventory of the suits in your closet or decide what color of tux you'd most likely rent for a dressy affair to determine what shade to buy.