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. 

Know How to Dress For Your Black Tie Affair

This is the last week you can enter our Facebook Custom Tuxedo Giveaway. 

Like our page and like any post mentioning the giveaway. 

The more you like, the more chances you have of winning. 

Not many people know the general rules of wearing a tuxedo to a black tie affair. With the Holiday season officially here and black tie events beginning, it's good to know some guidelines to dressing appropriately to your occasion. 

Contemporary tuxedos allows more color and pizazz while keeping the overall approach conservative. Traditional tuxedos are more straight-forward and by the book, there is little to no room for bending the rules. 

Interested in ordering a tuxedo? Have an event coming up and you have nothing to wear? Contact us at info@9tailors.com 

Don't forget to like our facebook page and enter into our free custom tuxedo contest! 

The Suit Essential

Rental suits are awful. You pay money to borrow something that you will wear for a few hours without any guarantee you will find the suit you’re looking for or that it will fit your unique body shape. One of our clients has pointed out; “the worst part is having to return it the next day while nursing a hang over”. Thankfully, 9tailors is giving away a custom tuxedo for the holiday season, up to a $550 value!

To enter, Like us on Facebook and Intsagram. Leave a comment on our pages when you’re done. We will be choosing the winner on 11/30/2013.

Although not every man needs a tuxedo, every man does need to own a suit. It is a staple that says, “I am a grown adult”. If you haven’t already seen the time-lapse transformation video of Jim Wolf, a homeless veteran, on YouTube or Gawker, you must.  Not only does a suit give you confidence, it gives off smart impression. You never know when an opportunity may arise. I cannot tell you how many times someone has called 9tailors in a panic seeking out a suit for an interview the next day. Our guest bartender for our Bourbon Tasting Event, Brother Cleve, has 8 suits. He wears them for everything and explains it best,

“I own 8 suits, including a tuxedo, a seersucker, a sharkskin and a Nehru/Mandarin styled suit I had tailored in a shop in Singapore’s Little India neighborhood (a shop with a Desi owner and a Chinese tailor).

People react differently when you show up at an event, be it a musical one or a cocktail party, wearing a suit. You stand out from the casual crowd, and maybe it gives a certain presence in a room. I favor hats as well, often of the porkpie variety – I always loved that style when I was young and looking at photos of jazz artists from, say, the 1950s. In the 90s when we were out at night wearing suits and drinking cocktails in stemmed glassware – things that had fallen out of favor over the 20 years beforehand – it was a statement. We weren’t salesmen who were still out after a long day working; we were revivalists just trying to bring back the ‘good life’.

By Wayne Valdez
Brother Cleve in 1981, post-punk days

I’m happy to see the return of the classic look of the well-tailored suit, presented not as retro but as a contemporary. To me it says, “I’m an adult” to the world. We live in a society where everything has become depressingly casual, where people think nothing about going out to the store in their pajamas, or to a top restaurant in a t-shirt and shorts. Our goal in our band Combustible Edison, back in the 90s, was to bring back a return to the ‘fabulousness’… we were ex-punk rockers wearing suits (from the thrift shop, for sure) and drinking cocktails and playing lounge music. It had a certain irony to it, but we ended up influencing people in Hollywood and on Madison Ave, which helped bands these days photographed wearing them, including my current band, The Singhs.

source: carthrottle
Still from Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' "Thrift Shop" music video featuring Wanz 

My least favorite trend, for a couple of decades now, is the continued use of brand names on clothes – I really don’t care what store you bought that t-shirt at and I don’t need to see everyone as a walking advertisement for mass market stores at shopping centers. It’s a fake status symbol that means nothing. It’s all part of the dumbing down of society. We’ve been reduced to being walking billboards, and paying to be so!”

You do not need 8 suits in your wardrobe, but you can absolutely build up to it. Start off with grey suit and a navy blazer.  President Obama sticks with the basics, "You'll see I wear only gray or blue suits", he tells Vanity Fair. They are the most versatile to swing for every occasion and you automatically look like a sophisticated gentleman who knows what they're doing. The darker the grey suit is, the more formal it is.

source: penelopesoasis
A simple navy blazer completely transform an outfit

source: redcarpet-fashionawards

If you haven't started your adult wardrobe and need a suit, now is the perfect time! For the month of November, Movember, we are having a 20% off suits and separates promotion. Don't wait until the night before your big interview or your own wedding (it's happened, 1 week is the closest phone call we've gotten so far, 1 day for a guest of a wedding) to get your suit. 

Interested in starting off your suit collection? Need to add that essential navy blazer? Want to take advantage of our 20% off November promotion? Contact us at info@9tailors.com

Meet Brandon: Our Dashing Groom in Midnight Blue

Meet Brandon. Brandon recently got married earlier this year and we wanted to share his beautiful photos with you! 

Name: Brandon
Age: 30 
Hometown: Stoughton, MA
Current Residence: Boston, MA
Occupation: Financial Analyst

Why choose custom?
The fit is unmatched. If you are fairly thin with broad shoulders then finding clothes at a department store that fits is nearly impossible. Even those that claim to be "slim fit" still look boxy. Going custom means the suit or shirt is made to measurement to fit your body. The icing on the cake is the customization. There are so nearly unlimited fabrics, colors and details that you can personalize to your own taste and make your item truly unique.

What would be your style advice to men in your professional field?
Proper fitting shirts and suits can change your whole appearance. People take notice when someone puts the time and thought into presenting themselves well. The whole point of formal and even business casual attire is to look professional. If you are wearing clothes that doesn't fit you properly then you really don't project the professional image that was intended whether to outside clients or colleagues.

What/who inspires your style? Why?
For my wedding, the inspiration to my custom tuxedo was certainly James Bond. Specifically, Daniel Craig in Skyfall wore a midnight blue tuxedo that I borrowed from heavily. I wanted a formal formal look without appearing too stuffy and 9tailors nailed it!

What is your favorite piece from 9tailors?
The midnight blue tuxedo is phenomenal. I had a vision in my head and it came out even better than I could have imagined. For everyday use though, I have a gray herringbone tweed sport coat that is my go to jacket in the fall. The fit is great and there is lavender accenting under the lapel.

How difficult is it to find garments that targets your specific needs and style?
Very. The reality is everyone's body is different so trying to find something fits your personal style AND fits your body is nearly impossible. Truly like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

Location: Artist for Humanity
Photograher: Abby Lorenz Photography

If you're contemplating a tuxedo (renting or buying), check out Style Girlfriend's response here and here. If you don't read Megan's blog already, we encourage you to do so. 

Need a midnight blue tuxedo or traditional black tuxedo for your next black tie event? Email us at info@9tailors.com. 

Toe the Line: Fancy Feet

Get formal, don't get stuffy.  First, visit a black tie guide and get the nuts and bolts of this tricky area down.  Then, and only then, when you are completely comfortable with the terrain, add some fun.

Some men use their cuffs to add some flavor, but that's the size of a dime.  If that is your only playground you will be infinitely limited.  Vests, these are for the experts: please don't go prom on us.  If you don't have a teen at the end of your age then these are not appropriate.

So, why don't we venture south of the pant hem.  Not only are these an accessory you can enjoy yourself they are a subtle, yet still strong, way to inject your personality into an ensemble saturated in tradition.

The trick to sport these without looking like you are borrowing your favorite house slipper is the break of your pant. You should aim for a clean break of little to none to make sure there is no puddle of fabric collecting at your ankle- this is only going to accentuate the pajama look.

Stubbs & Wootton 

Stubbs & Wootton

Stubbs & Wootton

Stubbs and Wooton have an extensive collection of velvet slippers that includes the classic to the quirky.  They can do custom monograms as well for added flair.  Another company, Del Toro, has the same idea with a signature red stripe at the heel, like the Louboutin for men.

Del Toro

Get fancy. Everyone needs a little velvet in their life.  Of course, if you have feet this fancy you're going to need a tuxedo to match.  We haven't done a leopard print, yet.  Email a style consultant at info@9tailors.com for more information- leopard optional.

Holiday Tuxedos Anyone?

Holidays are continually pushed farther and farther back until eventually we will be decorating for Christmas in August. Well, at 9tailors we don't want to extend the holiday season, just make an appearance during the height of the festivities. That is why we want to give our clients a break on their holiday tuxedos and wrap up the season with a final suiting deal.

The first person to make an appointment for a holiday tuxedo will receive 75.00 off their purchase! Since we can only have one #1 we have decided to give everyone else 25.00 off their holiday tuxedo when ordered before 11/6!

You can't beat the fit of a custom tuxedo. This is one of the most attractive qualities of designing your own clothes, although, with that comes the need to cultivate a bit of patience. The work of art you will be hanging on your body cannot be created over night. Because of this we recommend planning ahead and ordering those holiday tuxedos now so they will be ready and waiting to start the party.

Check out our client and model, Bryan, in his midnight blue tuxedo.

With expert advice from a style consultant you will be the best dressed man at your Christmas party. Make an appointment today by emailing info@9tailors.com and get started!

Rules and Restrictions

Not redeemable for cash

Discount only eligible for orders placed before November 6, 2011

Discount only applied towards tuxedos

Calling All Chicago Brides & Grooms

Our 9tailors Wedding Style Consultants will be in Chicago the first week of November to meet with brides and grooms.

During your appointment, you'll meet one-on-one with a Wedding Style Consultant, who will provide advice on how to outfit the groom and his wedding party in our custom tuxedos, suits or dress shirts. The Style Consultant will answer all of your questions and navigate all the choices so that your groom will look his most dashing and stylish on the day of the wedding.

There is no obligation to purchase anything at the appointment. Appointments are always free of charge.

9tailors wedding parties of 3 or more will receive a 15% discount towards their custom outfits.

Our real client, Bryan, in his midnight blue tuxedo above. Photo Credit: Channing Johnson.

Available Dates: November 1, 2 and 4 (November 3 is currently booked)
Available Times: 11:00AM to 8:00PM
Appointment Location: Affinia Chicago

Check out our portfolio on StyleMePretty (we're a featured vendor!).

Want to learn more? E-mail us at weddings@9tailors.com.

Prince William's North American Tour - What can we learn about his style preferences?

Much of the attention, from magazines to TV, has focused on what Kate wore during the royal's visit to North America. Of course, she looked glamorous. Of course, she looked beautiful. But, what about Prince William? How did he stand up? Let's break it down.

Formal Wear: 
There's no doubt about it. William can wear tuxedo - a double-breasted suit with a wide peaked lapel at that. His taste in men's formal wear is classic and sophisticated. His tuxedo jacket is perfectly tailored to his slim build. The pants are a nice width - too skinny and it might look too trendy. The broad lapels accentuate his square shoulders, giving him the perfect V shape. He's tuxedo studs are off-white, which shows that he is into understated accessories and details. There's nothing flashy about his outfit, yet he stands out even when his wife looks as gorgeous as she does.

Casual Wear:
The man can do plaid and jeans. While we're not fans of the cowboy hat, William does provide us with a good lesson - one should always dress appropriately for any occasion. The looser-fit, plaid shirt the medium wash jeans says that he's relaxed, but not sloppy. Not every occasion requires one to wear a super tight shirt, like this guy. Another fantastic lesson is that William knows proportions. He knows with his looser-fit shirt, he should wear jeans of equal looseness.

Smart-Casual Wear -
William looks very handsome in his white pants, dress shirt and navy blazer. The only way to describe this look is, "smart." Here, William shows us that men can wear light colored pants (yes, even white!) in the summer, while looking cool and effortless. If you're too clumsy for white, choose pants are in sand, smoke or faded salmon. If you're trying to avoid beachy, pair your look with a darker, contrasting jacket in a poplin, cotton and light weight summer wool.

Need help stealing these looks? E-mail us at info@9tailors.com for more information about our tuxedos, casual dress shirts, navy blazers and white pants. Our khaki pants are now $150.00 through the end of August.

Sneak Peak - Spring Photo Shoot

Yesterday we spent the day working with the wonderful photographers of Avanti Studios based out of the South End in Boston. They were so fantastic to work with and we also love their photos.

This spring we focused on refining our suit collection by adding some elegant and sophisticated details to our suits. Here's a sneak peak. Let us know what you think!

For the black-tie man, our modern tuxedo

For the corporate gentleman, our three piece navy pinstripe suit

We can't wait to see the rest of the photos! We're sure that you'll be pleased as well.

Looking for a custom made and designed suit? E-mail us at info@9tailors.com or request an appointment here.

Valentines Day Giveaway Reminder!

Nominate that special guy in your life (husband, boyfriend, fiance, brother, etc.) for a chance to win a free custom dress shirt and suit (valued at $600). The winner can also opt to design a tuxedo - just need to pay the difference. Why? Because we think he should look good too!

Please send us a short essay (about 200-500 words) or video (about 2-5 minutes) on why he deserves a free custom outfit. For instance, does he work at a non-profit and may not be able to afford a custom clothing? Did he recently overcome an extraordinary situation? Or, does he simply need a wardrobe upgrade? Go ahead. Tell us!

We’ll select one winner from the bunch.

Steps to Entering:

1. Fan us on the 9tailors Facebook page. Leave a brief comment on why he should win. If you already a fan, thanks in advance!
2. Then, submit a short essay (about 200-500 words) OR video (about 2-5 minutes) on why he deserves a free custom outfit to kathryn@9tailors with the subject heading: “Valentine’s Day Giveaway”. Your e-mail should contain the following:

• Full Name of nominator and nominee (you can nominate yourself)
• Photo of the nominee
• Contact e-mail of nominator and nominee
• Winner will be notified by e-mail

The Fine Print:

• Must submit before February 11, 2011 11:59 PM EST
• Winner will be notified before February 14, 2011
• Limit to one submission and nomination per person.
• Winner must consent to having their story published online. We may post entries on our blog.
• Participants must be 18 years or older to participate.
• Prize valued at $600 ($500 for the suit and $100 for the dress shirt). Winner may also opt to order a suit, but must pay the difference.
  
• Must be able to come to the 9tailors studio in downtown Boston for fitting/appointment(s).
• No other compensation will be given.
• Prize is non-refundable for cash or cash equivalent and cannot be combined with other 9tailors sales or promotions.
• Other program rules and restrictions may apply.