9tailors How To: The Air Tie

While some may want to, few dare to sport the risquè air tie. Being a look that has gone in and out of style many a time, it takes no small amount of courage to wear. But if you have 'em, you can nail the look and stand out in all the right ways.

Here's how to do it:

WITH TWEED: Like a young Jagger, pairing a peter pan color with an air tie and a tweed blazer, you can emulate the post-punk English look like a pro.

DRESSED UP: Wear a patterned shirt with a two-piece suit and nix the tie. A more daring option is when going black tie. If you pull it off, you'll really turn heads.

GQ.com

FLORAL: A great look for summer and still wearable in fall (if you're crafty and subtle), the floral shirt with a blazer and air tie is the perfect combination. There is so much pattern in a floral shirt as it is, you can get away with it without a problem. Try it with tailored suit shorts or a navy suit in the summer.

LensCAP Productions

There you have it, a few good ways to rock the air tie! Custom suits, shirts and (despite the irony) ties are available at 9tailors. Contact us at info@9tailors.com to make an appointment with a style consultant.

How To: Pack a Suit Jacket

It's finally summer! It's time to gear up and unleash your inner adventurer. One of the worst things about travelling? Packing. If you're like many men out there, packing takes about 5 minutes. But, you might wind up with too few undershirts or too many socks. If you add a suit to mix, it adds another layer of tedium and challenge.

Lucky for you, we have just the trick when it comes to packing your sport coats and suit jackets.

Avoid ruining your valuables with this...

                                          

by using our step-by-step instruction:

1. Grab your suit jacket
2. Reach both hands into the shoulders of the jacket
3. Ensure your hands reach to the end of the shoulder inside the jacket
4. Fold the shoulders back to meet each other (as if clapping your hands together)
5. Take one of your hands and turn the jacket inside out by folding it over the other shoulder (Keeping the lining outside keeps the fabric safe when packed)
6. Ensure it's folded over neatly, meeting the other shoulder,
7. Straighten it out
8. Fold it half neatly
9. Place neatly in your suitcase and hop on the bus/car/boat/plane!

To see the full video how-to, follow us on Instagram. Happy travels, gentlemen!

Dive Into Summer

It's finally getting warmer and that means that summer is around the corner. Is your wardrobe ready? Here are 5 style tips on how to incorporate one of the most common menswear colors (you guessed it, blue!) in a warm weather style:

Tip #1: Liven up your navy blazer by wearing it with colored denim

http://bit.ly/Su0PCb

Tip #2: Pair a brilliant blue with a pair of khakis

http://tinyurl.com/l6rz5f6

http://tinyurl.com/kfo97bc

Tip #3: Subtle seersucker in a fine wale isn't just for Easter or Derby days

http://tinyurl.com/kjpkll4

More on the conservative side? Tip #4: A bright navy suit will give you that warm weather look without making you look too casual

http://tinyurl.com/jwygyfe

Tip #5: If a full suit of blue is too much for you, try some fun accessories with a pop of color

Available at 9tailors. Special sale - 9tailors small and large pocket squares - $12/$15, 9tailors bow ties - $15
9tailors knot cuff links - $5, shoelaces - $5

 So there you have it, a few ways to wear your summer blues (the good kind). Make an appointment with us for your custom, fit-you-just-right summer brights!

Chambray, lightweight wool and linen suit separates - available at 9tailors

March Madness is About to Begin with Our Client, Dana Ford

When thinking about athletes and fashion, you think the latest active wear from Nike and Under Armour and advertisements with gatorade coming out of their pores as sweat. They live and breathe these products and garments. But what about when they're not being active? Serena Williams was one of the first to push the relationship between fashion and professional sports on the tennis court. People started paying attention to what athletes wore during the game instead of just how they dressed off the courts. 

However, college basketball has always required their coaches to wear suits. The sharper you're dressed, the greater presence you hold on the court and the more respect is demanded for you and your team. While coaching is absolutely the #1 priority for coaches, a well fitted suit that makes a statement comes second. 

Mike Krzyzewski, Duke
Best Dressed Coach in America, 2012
source: Esquire

March Madness is about to begin in a couple of weeks, round 1 is on March 18th. It is a time for betting and being glued to the T.V in sports bars rooting for your old colleges. It is also a time to keep an eye on the coaches and how they present themselves. They know this is the season to bring out their best suits and put on their game faces because if their team goes down, so does their wardrobe. The fashion during March Madness is understatedly important that Esquire has even done reviews of the best and worst dressed coaches. 

Rick Pitino, Louisville
The Most Overrated Sideline Style in America, 2012
source: Esquire

Here's to hoping our coach and client from Illinois State University makes it to the best dressed list, meet Dana Ford. 

Name: Dana Ford

Age: 29

Hometown: Tamms, IL

Current Residence: Normal, IL

Occupation: College Basketball Coach

How Long Have You Been a 9tailors Client? 
1 year

Why Choose Custom?
9tailors was recommended to me by a close friend. So, I checked out the website and liked what I saw.

What Would Be Your Style Advice to Men in Your Professional Field?
Be clean and sharp, at all times.

Who Inspires Your Style?
Jay Wright, Head Coach from Villanova. He always looks nice and sharp.

What is Your Favorite Piece from 9tailors?
My custom made dress shirt.

How Difficult is it to Find Garments That Targets Your Specific Needs and Style? 
Very.

Dana Ford on Redbird's Illinois State University Court 

Best of Luck to Dana Ford and his Redbird's in this year's March Madness. The man has crisp style and represents his team colors in his tie and pocket square without being overtly obnoxious. He displays the perfect balance between being fashionable and practical. 

In the mean time, get your brackets ready and set alarms on your smart phones for this year's schedule, you don't want to miss out. 

Interested in getting a custom suit to represent your team spirit? Does your team need matching blazers? Contact a style consultant at info@9tailors.com. 

Beer and Blazers

Today is Samuel Adam's Cicerone Test. 

Samuel Adams Beer
source: thedraftlist

A cicerone is an official beer connoisseur who has been officially certified by the Cicerone Certification Program. Samuel Adams offers their employees training within the company to pass their cicerone program. As a reward, the company generously gives them a custom made blazer (made by us), commemorating their achievement. 

Custom 9tailors Blazer exclusively for Samuel Adams Cicerones
(tie: Jegman)

Just like our other garments, these are custom made to each person. A few days before the exam, our expert style consultants go to the Boston Beer Company's Headquarters at the Design Center to measure each potential cicerone.

You need more than just love for craft beer and being able to handle beer so hoppy you can chew it (gross). Having a beer belly, drinking copious amounts of Sam Adams beers and going on multiple brewery tours doesn't get you into the club either, becoming a cicerone is not easy. There were a handful of candidates that were getting measured for a second time and they've made the test more difficult. Some students say they recommend opening their books 4 months in advance, otherwise, study for as long as you can. One guy decided it was best to cram everything in, in 3 weeks to which another candidate scoffed at and says there's no way he'll pass. 

Employees fly to Boston from all over the country to take this test with a few cram days beforehand for review. Different brew samples are laid out in front of them mixed in with good batches, bad batches and stale beers; ingredients need to be identified and it's freshness pinpointed. 

When all is said and done, they get a beautiful custom navy blazer with the official club patch with a monogram of their choosing on the inside. There's nothing like local brews and local fashion love affairs. 

And for those of you who are curious, there was a healthy amount of woman candidates present, it's not just all men. I'm excited to see how many blazers of the 25 people we measured get made. Best of luck to everyone! 

Interested in getting custom blazers for your company? Have a team sport coming up that you need blazers for? Like the Henley Royal Regatta? Contact us at info@9tailors.com!