How to Polish Your Shoes

Today is officially the first day of Spring! The winter wardrobes (should) slowly start being put into storage and more your brighter colors and lighter weights should be coming out. Wear lighter layers in the meantime to transition from seasons and temperatures. 

As for your shoes go, take care of them before you continue to wear them. The salted sidewalks has caused a lot of damage to your loved leather goods. The warm weather gives no excuse to have your shoes looking worn out and faded. 

source: alphamalelifestyle

What You Need:

Saphir Polish, $5.50
source: GQ

Tin of Wax Polish

You don't want the polish to add color to your shoes, try to match it closely. Good basics to start off with are black, chestnut or dark brown and a neutral color for lighter shoes. 

Allen Edmonds Horesehair Brush, $10.00
source: Allen Edmonds

Horsehair Brush

Allen Edmonds Horsehair Dauber (Polish Applicator), $5.00
source: Allen Edmonds

Polish Dauber (Polish Applicator)

Saphir Cotton Polishing Cloth, $11.00
source: Pinterest
purchase: Amazon

Cotton Polishing Cloth

Welt Brush
Alternative Option: New Toothbrush (bristles need to be stiff)
source: exquisitetrimmings 

Welt Brush

Cotton Balls
source: thegomoveproject.files.wordpress

Cotton Balls

Step One: 

The first thing you will want to do is clean your shoe. Use the welt brush to get rid of any dirt or grime built up in the welt (space where the shoe meets the sole). Use a damp cloth or the horsehair brush to get any excess dirt off the upper shoe. Your shoe must be dry before you polish it. 

Step Two: 

Apply a generous amount of shoe polish with the dauber (applicator). Try to make it even all over the shoe and do not forget the seams and edges. Depending on how generous you are, you may need to wait 15 minutes for the polish to dry.

Step Three: 

Use the horsehair brush to get rid of any excess polish and create a smooth thin layer onto your shoe. Be sure to brush robustly and all over the shoe. Again, pay attention to the edges and seams. 

Step Four: 

Wet a cotton ball and squeeze out any excess water. Dab the damp cotton ball into the shoe polish and use that to focus on extra shine for the toe of your shoe and the heel. Use circular motions. Repeat as needed to obtain desired level of shine. Use a new cotton ball each turn and remove excess polish before repeating. 

Step Five:

Use cotton shine cloth to put finishing touches and gloss on shoe. 

Now that you know what to do, I will leave you with this beautiful video of a shoe being polished (best with sound). 

If you need help coordinating your shoes with your pants or want to know what shoes to wear with your suit, contact a style consultant at info@9tailors.com

Happy Black Friday

The turkey is cooked, carved and eaten. The leftovers are put away, the menorah candle is lit and the holiday shopping has commenced. Black Friday is officially here with the sales your wallet craves for. There is never enough time to get to all the stores and collect all the values your heart desires. Lucky for you, 9tailors' holiday gift package is available throughout December. The perfect men's accessories starter gift set for the gentleman's wardrobe.

More color options available in studio

10% off custom shirt gift certificates available with purchase of Male Box

Interested in our holiday gift set? Want to know more about the men's accessories we offer or a gift certificate for the man who is impossible to shop for? Contact us at info@9tailors.com

Look inside your male box

It's hanging in your closet - your beautiful custom suit. But, you're a little worried that your "go-to" suit is getting a little stale. After all, you've worn it to a the last 3 weddings - same shirt and tie combo.

Good thing 9tailors has the Male Box - a holiday gift that is chockfull of accessories to give that custom suit much-needed style CRP.

The Male Box includes: a gift card towards a shirt, two cuff links, two pocket squares and two tie holders. Shoppers will receive a 10% discount on items, including the gift card.  Or, if you want to purchase just the accessories, this is available for $84.00 (tax included). Shipping is available for $5.00 on The Male Box.

This is a limited time offer only. Offer ends at the end of December.

Contact us at info@9tailors.com or at 617.286.6135.

Rules and Restrictions:

• Packages cannot be shared. 100% payment is required upon order.
• Does not apply to past purchases.
• All accessories are final sale. Shirt may be returned for credit, remake or refund.
• Shirt may redeemed at any time.
• Shipping and handling charges apply to all promoted items.
• Void where prohibited.
• Promotion is valid until December 31, 2013 at 11:59PM EST.

Try this Accessory: Knit Ties

If you're a man about town and like to portray yourself as such: you wear the trends before everyone else is rocking it. Or perhaps you're the type of guy who prefers to keep your style all your own: you clad yourself in whatever you deem the hippest, regardless of what's already out there. Or maybe you don't have the slightest idea on how to keep your style fresh: you wear the first clean thing you grab that morning. Whatever the case, you have your girls at 9tailors to keep our fingers on the pulse of what you should be wearing.

An oldie-but-goodie retro item that keeps popping up on our radar? The knit tie. Sure, it had its heyday in the 80's but it's been sneaking back onto the scene for quite some time. And if Goldfinger can sport a silk knit tie, any gentleman with keen aesthetic sense and the right amount of swagger can replicate this style.

Courtesy of Photobucket

Courtesy of Swagwire

Courtesy of J. Crew

Knit ties are lightweight (okay for warmer temps), squared on the bottom, and can be twisted into a small tie-knot, whether you prefer a full windsor or a four-in-hand. Paired with a lightweight cardigan or sports coat, it's an accessory that will surely perk up an ordinary outfit with preppy panache. A great addition to your wardrobe if you're looking to do something subtle and different with your look. GQ heralds the striped knit tie as a must-have this spring.

Courtesy of GQ

Check out H&M as well as J. Crew to see their limited selections. And if you know a good knitter, why not see if she can take a stab at one of these bad boys with her knitting needles? After all, choosing a cool pattern for a one-of-a-kind tie will punctuate your custom style.

Have a look in mind that you can't find off-the-rack or need some pointers on how to accessorize an ensemble? Email a style consultant at info@9tailors.com and we'll help guide you through our custom designing process.

Wild and Washable

Continuing with our slew of wedding related posts, what about cummerbunds?  This waist covering can look tired, old, and yes, even you, gentleman, can look fat. But while searching for some redeeming qualities in this possibly antiquated accessory I stumbled upon High Cotton Ties.  This company has provided a shining ray of hope for the modern dandy.  Check out some of my favorites below.

Some fresh pairs for summer and spring events

Rich options that are suited for fall and winter

Not only are these fresh cummerbunds exciting and new, they're washable.  As most people have found out, your dry cleaning bill can eventually trump the cost of the clothes.  The brilliant designers behind High Cotton Ties have made sure that you can throw these in the wash and not cry when you find them in the dryer later.  Get the matching set, get them separately, or get them monogrammed.  They will be the talk of the ball.

Of course no accessory should upstage the tuxedo.  Get yourself a showstopping tux from 9tailors to compliment your new accessory.  Email a style consultant to get your look together at info@9taliors.com.  Don't forget that we cut wedding parties of 3 or more a 15% break on their purchase!

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.

Get This: Funky Accessories

Nothing gets more monotonous than donning the same three suits week after week with the same rotation of your handful of colorful ties. Here are some quirky accessories from Vintage Cufflinks that you may consider adding to your wardrobe so those tried and true pieces look fresh.

A pistol tie bar anyone? Show your subordinates (or superiors) you mean business with this vintage piece.

Just plain quirky, this pair of cufflinks will keep that crisp white shirt anything but boring.

Spend all your time reading children's books? This one with the three little pigs may just be right for you- and your children.

Need the right shirt for that special pair of cufflinks? Let a style consultant know, info@9tailors.com for and appointment!