Mystery Married Style Consultant Revealed!

Tomorrow night is the night for first loves, long loves and those awkward ones where you don't want to call them your love, but you have romantic feelings for that person you've been hanging out with, but are unsure of how they feel. So, you just kind of like them... and hope they like you back. 

source: Emily McDowell

So rare are the days where you get it right on your first try and don't need to learn the rules or games of the dating world. Luckily, there are still modern love stories that are reminiscent of past times with love at first sight and no awkward exes. 

Meet our beloved Style Consultant and Alterations Manager, Karly. 

A sweetheart from the South with a romantic love story to match the tender love that is associated with a Southern Gentleman. 

Her Love Story:

It was her Junior year in High School when Karly began working at the local coffee shop, Convenant Coffee. Her days were filled with making caramel mochas and peanut butter mochas, better than any other place around. A fun after school job with her fellow co-worker, Shane. Shane didn't go to the same high school as Karly and only talked during work while serving strawberry and cream cheese croissants. Karly had a crush on Shane, but didn't know how he felt about her. So, she never made a move. 

Her crush became dormant as she went to college in Nebraska and he remained in North Carolina for his studies. Little did they know, they thought of each other. 

Thank goodness for Thanksgiving and being home for the holidays. All was not lost. Shane asked Karly out over the long weekend and began a long distance relationship by the time Christmas came. After her first year away in Nebraska, she transferred colleges back to North Carolina. Home is where the hear is. Karly knew he was the one once they were together again. 

Shane designed Karly's engagement ring. He carved it out of wax and had it casted before popping the question. 

His Proposal:

"He's a little bit of a joker. I was kind of expecting it but didn't know when. Of course, he wanted it to be a surprise. We went out to dinner as a week late birthday dinner for me. We went to the restaurant where we had our first date in downtown Charlotte. When we got to downtown, there was a really big 7 - 10 story parking deck. There are spots everywhere but he continues to go up to the roof deck and then we have to go all the way down for dinner. There was no one else for the top 7 stories, it was completely desolate. After dinner we walk around and I'm wondering if he was trying to lead me somewhere. But it begins to rain. So, we go back to the car. We get to the car and tries to start it but it won't start. I thought he was joking but it really wasn't starting. He went to the front of the car, under the hood to check the engine. He sends me to the driver seat to try starting it again and still nothing. He has me come around to the front of the car to help him. So, I walk over to look under the hood and then he got down on one knee. 

He set up the whole thing. He pulled something out to prevent it from starting so I could help him with the engine and just put it back in afterwards so we could get out of the rain. He had a cheesy song mix prepared for our ride back. Everything was wedding related, it was really funny. Some of the stuff was really nice but then there were some horribly corny ones" 

Shane and Karly's Wedding Picture

It only took Shane two years to propose with a walk down the aisle eight months later! By this coming May, they will have been married for a solid four years. 

Their Secret:

Karly and Shane have similar personalities and balance each other out in different ways. Also, they are both really creative. They like to make their gifts for one another instead of defaulting to buying something. It keeps them constantly thinking of one another and new ways to keep things exciting. 

And they're living happily ever after...

Voted "Best Of" The Knot's 2012, 2013 & 2014

Interested in designing your husband-to-be's suit for your upcoming wedding? Have the perfect suit in mind for your wedding day but can't find it anywhere? Want all of you groomsmen to feel special with their own custom suits? Thinking of saying "Thank You" to the father's of the bride and groom with a custom suit? Contact a style consultant at weddings@9tailors.com. 

Valentine's Day Extra with VienneMilano

Valentine's Day is just a couple of days away and there's only so much time to top off your plans and put the final touches on your lady love's gift. If you want to get her something sexy but something that she can also wear whenever she feels like it for herself and can use in her everyday life, think about gifting her with some luxuriously Italian-made thigh highs by VienneMilano.

All of VienneMilano thigh highs feature playful bands to keep them up without pulling the skin. 

This relatively new company has been making it's mark this past year, gaining traction for their multi-purpose thigh highs outside of the bedroom. Their fun colors make them wearable for all seasons while their thicker thigh highs make them perfect for under jeans or pants in the winter for a little extra warmth. Who doesn't doesn't want to feel sexy in the dead of winter wearing a jacket that makes them look like a marshmellow. It's what underneath that makes all the difference. 

Vienne of VienneMilano speaks about her love for thigh highs,

When did you start VienneMilano? 

November 1, 2011

What made you want to start the company and why thigh highs?

I created the brand as there was a lack of comfortable, luxurious thigh highs in US. At the time, everything I found was either made for Halloween or was very trasy. As such, with the vision of re-introducing thigh high stockings as a fashion complement that can be work outside of the bedroom, VienneMilano was born.

Can you tell me a little bit about your company and product?

VienneMilano is the first luxury hosiery brand dedicated to thigh high stockings. All of our products are made in Italy for women who want to reveal their style and confidence by being elegant, playful and sexy in every occasion. 

Do you wear thigh highs every day?

No, I dont wear thigh highs every day. However, I do wear it very often - particularly to parties and formal occasions. 

How many pairs do you own?

My boyfriend loves it too when I wear thigh highs...hehe. I own every pair of thigh highs from our collection, which is about 36 in total. 

Do you ever wear tights instead? How do you feel about tights?

Nope. I can't remember the last time I wore tights! From what I can remember, pantyhose were too tight for us curvy chicks!

What is the benefit of wearing thigh highs over tights?

Oh where do I begin? Unlike grandma's pantyhose, thigh highs are very comfortable, fitted, sanitary, playful and obviously very sexy. First of all, with thigh highs, there are no uncomfortable waistbands that cut into your waistline. In addition, thigh highs will not flatten your curves under fitted skirts, dresses or pants. 

Playful thigh highs for festive parties, vibrant colors for keeping spirits up in the cold weather and thigh highs for that extra warmth. 

When is it appropriate to gift thigh highs? Do you need to be dating someone for a certain amount of time to gift these?

Well let's not get ahead of ourselves here; you don't need to be dating someone to get them luxurious thigh highs as a gift. With that said, since thigh highs are considered lingerie, you'll want to get VienneMilano thigh highs for someone that you either want to or are already in an intimate relationship with. These are a perfect gift for Valentine's Day, bridal showers, or just because presents. Our hosiery comes in a beautiful (no-need-to-wrap) purple box. 

Practical product boxes doubling as a gift box with a pull tab, sliding it open to reveal the luxurious product. 

Can you offer some guidance for someone looking to buy your thigh highs as a gift? Any advice for someone new to wearing thigh highs?

The first thing you'll want to do is figure out how tall the intended recipient is. Is she tall or petite? If she's somewhere between 5' 4" to 6' 2", then she is considered a large. If she is shorter than 5' 4", then she would be considered a small. Black is also very classic, so I high recommend going with black stockings as a gift. My advice for someone new to wearing thigh highs is, ENJOY! You (and your significant other) are going to love it. For those how plan on wearing thigh highs on a hot date, flaunting the band for strategic reasons is OK in my book. ;-)

Anything else you would like to add?

As VienneMilano approaches its third year, I am excited to enter 2014 with a new collection of hosiery, boasting our band as, I kid you not, the largest selection of thigh highs in the world. Our new collection embodies the brand's idea that thigh highs are appropriate for every occasion. In our latest collection, consumers will find reinterpretations of Spring 2014 must-have colors, red, teal, mustard yellow and dazzling blue. We will also be featuring run-resistant technology for black thigh highs! 

Purchase your pair of VienneMilano thigh highs and receive a 10% discount with promo code "9TAILORS" anytime of the year! 

Interested in getting a custom shirt for your lady love? Want to know more about what a woman likes to see on a man? Learn how to dress to impress and contact a style consultant at info@9tailors.com. 

February is Here! You Know What That Means..

Ah Valentines Day. The day where you are either in a panic in what to get for your significant other or you just use as an excuse to eat chocolates. But what about yourself? Why not treat yourself to a little extra love? Our expert style consultants aide you in achieving the look your going for with the desired colors and details. We ensure your look doesn't go overboard and keeping a balanced overall look. 

Start with the basics - White Shirts

A well fitting basic white shirt is something every man should have in his closet. It goes with everything and instantly cleans up your look. Keep it from being too plain by adding touches of color or pattern. 

9tailors Custom White Shirts, center shirt with contrast inner color and monogram. 9tailors knotted cuff links framing the shirts with a Jegman tie. 

Dress Your Blazer or Suit with a Pocket Square

Don't leave your suit looking bare and naked, bring it to life with a touch of color or pattern. Pocket squares break up full suits, keeping it from looking too plain or overwhelmingly-ordinary. If you are wearing a traditional gray or navy suit, a pocket square is the perfect way to subtly bring your suit to life without wearing a loud tie or shirt. Its the right amount of effort and sophistication that says "I know what I'm doing, while looking good doing it". 

9tailors silk pocket squares

Mix It Up with Colored and Patterned Shirts

If this is new territory for you, start off with a check or plaid shirt. They are different from the ordinary stripped shirts that you see everywhere and add a little bit more life to it with more color and design. They pair really well with casual blazers or making a suit a bit more fashion forward.

If you're not one for patterns, there's always the solid colored shirts that isn't your traditional blue. Try something bolder or with tiny patterns that aren't noticeable until standing closely by...which is what you want anyways. And don't forget, no one ever looks bad with a bow tie, especially ones with bicycles on it. 

Loving 9tailors custom shirts paired with OoOtie bowties

Need help dressing for your date? Not sure what to wear when meeting the significant other's friends and family? Want to experiment with patterns and different colors but not sure how to? Contact a style consultant at info@9tailors.com. We would love to work with you ;-)

Actual Client, Dan Foley, knows how to dress to get his date. He's wearing a 9tailors custom light purple gingham shirt under a 9tailors suit, using colorful matching socks and a 9tailors silk pocket square to top everything off. 

What to Wear on Date Night: Part 1

Whether you've already married your betrothed or you're trying to impress a new fling, you should always look good on date night. Always. You know this by now.

But when it comes down to it, dressing for the occasion is an art you may have yet to master. Convention dictates that it's better to be overdone than underdone, like steak (unless you like a bloody, rare hunk of meat, which is fine, but mutes the point of my analogy). That said, you don't want to show up somewhere and be the only guy in black tie garb as that could err on the side of pretentious. So how do you know what to wear on date night? 

In an attempt to take the guesswork out of dressing yourself for a night out with a fair damsel, I aim to give you a series of guidelines for proper attire in certain dating scenarios. When you make an effort to dress well for your lady, it's a sign of respect she'll undoubtedly appreciate. Part 1!

The obvious, token, standard date: Dinner and a Movie

Courtesy of http://unmiserablecleveland.com

Dinner:

First, eliminate speculation. When you make your reservation, ask about the restaurant dresscode or check the website photos to get a feel for the atmosphere and how other patrons dress. There's no shame in preparation. And you'll feel more confident when you approach your closet with an idea in mind. 

If you're going to a nice place like Abe & Louie's or Sonsi, wear nice slacks, a presentable button down, a fitted navy blazer, and nice shoes (see last blogpost). Feeling fancy? Accessorize a smidgeon with a tie or a pocket square (one or the other, not both). You could probably get away with dark jeans here but why not step up your game and sport some trousers? Men don't dress up anymore, time to bring classic cool back.

If you're going to a more casual but trendy place like Cafeteria, you could opt for a nice pair of dark denim pants, a checked button down and a sports coat or vest. I only ask that you look put-together.

If you're just taking your girl to Anna's Taqueria, I have no words for you. Delicious, but not date-worthy.

Movie:

Okay, it's dark in there--you're really dressing for dinner and whatever happens after the movie. Only going to the cinema? Casual dress is absolutely fine here, just make sure you're wearing clean clothes. Be creative and look nice for your pretty lass. 

Sidebar: Chivalry and romance are seemingly lost nowadays, keep them alive! Open doors, pull out chairs, be attentive, and behave like a true gentleman. She'll be impressed by your manners and your sense of style.

Looking to spiff up your wardrobe for some presentable dating attire? Email info@9tailors.com and a style consultant will help you put together a suit or outfit that highlights just how great you are.