When you want to sport a classic and conservative look, make sure that the tie is darker than your shirt. The color may be the same, but one should ensure that the tie is darker. White Dress Shirt The classic of all dress shirts is white. A white shirt provides for a more formal look. Charcoal suits pair well with white dress shirts. The dress shirt should be a medium-spread collar. Avoid the breast pocket as much as possible. And don some French cuffs with cufflinks. To be very honest, a white dress shirt pairs well with any gray suit. Whether it is dark, medium gray, or a light gray suit, a white dress shirt is always perfect. There just seems to be something about a white dress shirt that provides for a nice contrast with gray. Should you be wearing a medium or light gray suit, you can do away with the cuffs. You can perhaps choose a more textured fabric. Or go for a more relaxed collar style. If it’s a solid gray suit and a solid white dress shirt, this is where the playful tie comes in. Infuse some colors with your tie or your pocket square. One very good pairing that works is a gray suit, a solid white shirt, and a red tie. If red is too glaring for you, go with navy blue or a blue tie. The one great thing about this combination is that it allows for more options for your tie. You can even don a forest green, plum, or a bronze orange tie with this suit and dress shirt pairing. In general, when wearing a gray suit and a white dress shirt, your tie should be in darker tones. This sets the mood for a cocktail and even black-tie events. But when what you have are lighter-toned ties, they work well with light gray suits. And oh, before we forget, let’s discuss the patterns for a bit. When it comes to the patterns, there is just one small thing you have to remember. The smaller the patterns are, the more formal it is.