Meet Salim - An eye for style and an ear for sound

Meet Salim, a spirited and friendly young man who has an eye for style and an ear for sound. When this musician visited the 9tailors studio, he expressed he was looking for something funky, without being too over the top. We settled on black and a gray subtle check fabric, mixing the two to achieve a color balance, and also introduced some bright orange accessories (courtesy of the exquisite collection offered by Salmagundi) that popped against the darker palette. The three piece design coincided with the inspiration of Don Cheadle's character, Marty Kaan on House of Lies. The finishing touches clicked and Salim OWNED this debonair look.  

Age: 31

Hometown: Walpole, MA 

Current residence: Boston, MA

Occupation: Musician, DJ and Audio Engineer

How long have you been a 9tailors client? 
"Eight months."

Why choose custom?

"The experience of buying a suit from a mass retailer has always left me settling for a style or cut that isn't 100% what I wanted. Having a suit custom made allows you to choose and mix the latest styles but if you have an oddly shaped body you have the flexibility to literally tailor it to the exact measurements of your body!"

What/who inspires your style? Why? 

"Pharrell Williams, Don Cheadle and Ari Gold. They all have a bold sense of style but it's classy and clean."

What is your favorite piece from 9tailors? 

"The whole suit itself, I can't choose one piece!"

How difficult is it to find garments that targets your specific needs and style?

"As I mentioned previously, for me it's very difficult. I always end up settling for something that's not exactly what I wanted."

What would be your style advice to other men in your professional field? 

"Think outside the box and be bold, but clean!"

We hear that! The trick to accessorizing is all about balancing the look and keeping it clean and sharp.

See photos of Salim below, taken by our esteemed and amazing photographer, Channing Johnson.

Looking to up the ante on your wardrobe? Email a Style Consultant at info@9tailors.com to book an appointment.

Triangles, Squares, and The Pouf! How To Rock a Pocket Square

With pocket squares becoming more and more common we are in turn addressing more and more questions concerning the proper way to utilize the accessory.  How exactly do you craft that little square in your pocket to showcase your style?  Are you artfully disheveled?  Exacting and angular? Or, simply confused?

Lets break it down.  While some dandies have specific requirements on how a pocket square should be folded, we are proponents of doing it your way- hence the DIY (design it yourself) approach.

The Triangle- some men like the angular look and fold their pocket squares into triangles and have the points poke out at various angles.  This is a very sharp look.  Sharp in the sense it looks clean and exacting. Generally this would work out well for people who prefer razor sharp lines and no fuss.

Photo: Channing Johnson
Pocket Square: Salmagundi

The Square- oft referred to as a classic, this has somewhat fallen out of favor.  While it also has a sharp look like the triangle, this is easier to manipulate in order to only show the slightest sliver of silk. The square could be considered the beginners pocket square.

Photo: Channing Johnson
Pocket Square: Salmagundi

The Pouf- granted this is simply how I have labeled it, but the look, in reflection of the name, is playful.  This is great for patterned pocket squares so you get more exposure, as well as a more casual look in a friendly environment. It is pictured below as part of a more casual suit-with-no-tie combo.

Photo: Channing Johnson
Pocket Square: Salmagundi

These three options are the most commonly used but as always we love diversity.  Send us your way to sport a pocket square at info@9tailors.com and you might end up on the blog!

Meet Kenneth: Resident Scientist

Meet our clean cut client, Kenneth. Kenneth is a big fan of dressing to impress despite the fact that the majority of men in his profession tend to stick to khakis.  He regularly bucks the norm with daring lining options and colorful ties. Read more about our favorite scientist below.  

Name: Kenneth Lawrence
Age: do I really have to? 46
Hometown: Norfolk VA
Current Residence: Norfolk, MA
Occupation: Senior Medical Scientist

How long have you been a 9tailors client? About 3 years

Why choose custom? Simple, because the fit is amazing. Choosing a shirt off the rack can always be an adventure for anyone even a “normal size” person. You never really know your size and even when you do you never get the shirt to fix the way it should. Sometimes the sleeves peek out just right when you wear a jacket but when you take off the jacket there is too much material sticking out in back or on the sides; not a great look. Other times, the body of the shirt is just too big and it looks awful. A well design custom made shirt should be in the closet of any man that cares about the way they present themselves to others.

What would be your style advice to other men in your professional field? Just because you are a scientist you do not have to wear jeans or khakis every day. Sure, Fridays can be jean day and Wednesday wear khakis, but once in a while, wear shoes with leather soles, a pressed shirt and a pair of wool slacks. Socks should match and shine your shoes (it’s cheap) too.

What/who inspires your style? Myself and my dad. I would honestly rather help a women choose a dress or accessory (what does that say about me?) than worry about being inspired by anyone else. That said, I like a classic look which includes a pressed 9tailors shirt, wool slacks and a colorful tie to match. As for looks, I like the “Mad Men” style without the skinny ties. A tailored, well fitting, well groomed man looks intelligent, feels confident and gives you a leg up on the next guy…… sometimes.

What is your favorite piece from 9tailors? All of them. But probably my suit with the custom zebra lining; no one can top that. Sam, Alex, and Kathryn, make the fitting and all aspect of getting custom made clothes a great experience.

Shoot Details:

Location: Beacon Hill

Trench Coat: 9tailors

Shirt: 9tailors 

Hat: Salmagundi

We're currently offering 3 jacket styles for spring 2012. All are priced at $400. However, for a limited time (until March 16, 2012) we will be offering each style for $50 off. Get them now! It's going to be perfect trench coat weather in no time!

All photos were taken by Channing Johnson.  You can check out more of his work, here. Want to design a custom trench coat for spring?  Send us an email today at info@9tailors.com to set up an appointment.  

Meet Etienne: Never overlook the small details...

Here is Etienne, yet another stylish 9tailors client. He has a penchant for bowties- that he ties himself, prints with prints, and lots of color. Despite staying up late studying the law at one of the most prestigious law schools in the world, Etienne is never too busy to keep his shirts crisp and shoes shined. It's in the details, gentlemen.

Etienne has accomplished what few men do; he artfully balances class with color. And, when done right, as Etienne masterfully demonstrates in his photos, a dash of color can elevate your look. Check out the way he pairs a subtle red check suit with brightly colored ties and pocket squares.

Name: Etienne Toussaint
Age: 26
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Current Residence: Cambridge, MA
Occupation: Law Student

How long have you been a 9tailors client?
1 year.
Why choose custom?
The fit is better, the style is unique, and the quality is lasting.
How would you describe your style?
My style is sophisticated and classy with a dash of modern swag and dynamic color combinations.
What/who inspires your style?
Don Draper from "Mad Men"; Sean Connery as James Bond; George Clooney
What is your favorite piece from 9tailors?
A slate gray 2 button suit with purple lining.
What would be your style advice to other men?
Wear clothing that fits and keep the colors simple. Also, never overlook the small details that matter - shine your shoes and iron your button-up shirts.

Here are some more photos of Etienne showing off his modern swag through the lens of fantastic photographer Channing Johnson...

Photo Shoot Details: 

Location: Liberty Hotel

Suit: 9tailors

Shirt: 9tailors

Pocket Square: Salmagundi

Want a plaid suit for fall? Email us at info@9tailors.com to set up an appointment with a style consultant who can help you achieve the look you're after.

Meet Micah: Dress like you give a damn...

Micah in his 9tailors tweed suit. Photo by Channing Johnson.

Meet one of our stylish clients, Micah Whitson. He's the proprietor and designer of a fantastic print shop, Old Try that specializes in southern themes and motifs here in Massachusetts. One of our favorite prints? One that exclaims, "Hotty Toddy Gosh Almighty!" He's also the one who designed our profile picture above.

Micah never ceases to amaze his us with his taste, classic with a modern and quirky twist.  Micah is also trendsetter among his fellow colleagues. He started "Formal Fridays," where he'll wear a suit to work on Fridays (he hasn't missed a Friday since he started it several years ago). In a world where casual Fridays rule, we love that he is setting himself apart from the rest.

Read more about Micah and how he styles his own 9tailors tweed suit below.

Name: Micah Whitson
Age: 30 
Hometown: Athens, AL 
Current Residence: Arlington, MA
Occupation: Proprietor, designer of Old Try
How long have you been a 9tailors client?
2 years and a half
Why choose custom?
Small, married male seeks suits with impeccable fit, fabric and finish. 
How would you describe your style? 
I like clothes that hug. Ankles that pop. Cuffs that show. And anything in a plaid. 
What/who inspires your style? 
Brits. Southerners. JFK. Andre 3000 and assorted other dapper fellows. 
What is your favorite piece from 9tailors?

Grey vest with blue polka dots. 

What would be your style advice to other men?
Morning gents. You're grown men. Dress like you give a damn. 


Sounds like good advice...


Here are some other amazing shots of Micah. All photos taken by super talented photographer, Channing Johnson.

Shoot Details:
Location: Beacon Hill
Suit: 9tailors
Shirt: 9tailors 
Pocket Square: Salmagundi
Tie: Knit tie
Tie Clip: Tsai Clip

Want a tweed suit or blazer for fall? Make an appointment by e-mailing us at info@9tailors.com.

Sneak Peak: Fall Photo Shoot

The madness has calmed down at 9tailors, for the moment, since we finished the fall photo shoot last Thursday. Here is a sneak peak at what we used for our fun take on fall fashion.

The accessories below were kindly lent to us by our friends over at Salmagundi. They have some unique hats and accessories for men and women. We also got a couple of tie clips from Tsaiclip.

The best part of the shoot was seeing our clients, who were kind enough to become models for a day, dressed to the nines in clothing specifically designed to their taste.

Check out Matt striking a pose for our lovely photographer Channing Johnson who braved the wind and the rain to capture falls new look.

Bring out your inner model! Send us an email to set up an appointment with a style consultant at info@9tailors.com.