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.

Steal His Look: Tom Brady

Tom Brady's ability to balance fashion with masculinity is unparalleled in the world of sports. He proves time and time again he is just as comfortable in designer suits as in his Patriots jersey. With the addition of a few key items anyone can emulate his style, but maybe not his talent on the field.

While colors can be fun, Brady sticks to a more conservative palate. He typically wears dark blues, black, and browns. Since all of these are neutrals they can be worn together, and with nearly any other color- versatility is key.






To the right is an example of Brady in a tailored navy blazer and a brown t-shirt underneath. Two accessories set him apart. First is the pocket square, which provides a formal contrast to an otherwise casual ensemble. The second is a plaid scarf which makes his tailored outfit somewhat playful.









Below is an example of his perfectly executed evening wear. Classic black tux with a hand tied bowtie. Scared of tying your own? Check out the How To here.

So if you want to emulate his style you need 4 pieces,
1. A perfectly tailored blazer that 9tailors can have made especially for you.
2. A classic tux that can be worn for all formal occasions, 9tailors can also help you with that.
3. A bowtie. Classic black is good to start with but you can always get fancier later as you branch out.
4. A patterned scarf to keep your outfits from looking too stiff. More ideas on scarfs here.

tie one on: bowtie

there are a few reasons every guy should learn to tie a bowtie:

reason #1: you don't want to look like a 5 year old with a clip on bow tie.
enough said.

reason #2: you can use the bowtie knot for professional gain.
ok, true story - loo is a seasoned bowtie wearer. he started wearing the bowtie to impress his wife's bosses because they all wore bowties and he wanted to help her get promoted. his wife is now a partner in a multi-billion firm.

reason #3: you want to balance your overly large head
a tie can actually make a wide face look even wider. balance is key. the horizontal placement of a bowtie makes your face, neck and body look more proportional.

here is how to tie one on....

materials needed: a real bowtie and mirror
# of tries before i got it right: 3
primary source: awei
difficulty: medium (surprisingly....thought it would be more difficult than that)
best practices: before trying to tie this on your leg, try tying the bowtie around your leg first.


step 1: wrap the bowtie around your neck, so that side "b" is about two inches longer than side "a".















step 2: cross "b" over "a"



















step 3: as in any knot, bring "b" under "a" so that end of b is facing upwards.


















step 4: now, this is tricky....read carefully. fold "a" in half, so that the end of the "a" faces to the right side side. "a" should now look kind of like a loop.














only three more steps!

step 5: bring "b" over "a," so that it forms some what of a "+" sign

















step 6: this is the trickiest part. pay attention.

• hold the middle of the "+" with your right hand.
  
• then, bring side "b" under the folded end of "a" using your left hand. it should feel like you went around in circle.
• fold "b" in half (similar to step 4), so that the end of "b" faces your left side and the folded part faces the right side.
• poke the folded part of "b" under the loop (center knot) you just made, so that the folded part is now on the right side of the knot.
  

step 7: now, it looks reminiscent of a bowtie. but, the bowtie needs some tidying up. first, to tighten the knot, tug bottom parts of the folded ends away from the center knot. second, to straighten everything up, adjust the center knot.













if there are other how-tos you would like us to try out, let us know at info@9tailors.com.