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. 

Oscars Tuxedoes: The Breakdown

Busy season is hitting us full tilt. In preparation for our beloved wedding couples, we are scouring the interwebs for inspirations, trends, looks, and new ideas. As we have already begun working with so many couples who fancy the classic tuxedo, we figured we'd do a little bloggy on it. 

Basic staples of a tuxedo to note:

• Darker fabric like black or midnight navy, or even a white dinner jacket
• Satin accoutrements: lapel, pockets, stripe down the pant leg, and satin covered buttons
• White Tuxedo Shirt with bib front, wing tip collar (or a crisp white dress shirt)
• Cummer bund or vest
• Tailcoat or rear-grazing jacket 
• Single Button jacket with four sleeve buttons
• Vent and Lapels differ with designers, era, body type, etc, but the most common and most classic options are a shawl lapel and no vent. 

Those of you looking to tux it up: we've compiled some looks from the star-studded red carpet at this year's Oscars. From the conventional to the updated to the wacky to the inventive, see our photos below for more inspiration on how to individualize your tuxedo look. To see a list of the best dressed actors at the 2013 Oscars, click here

Courtesy of nydailynews.com

CLOONEY: Straight up classy with swagger for days. 

• Notched Satin Lapel, fabric collar 
• Tuxedo shirt with Hidden Fly Front

HESLOV: Continued with the classic tux.

• Tuxedo studs in the shirt
• No satin on the lapel or collar
• Midnight Blue!

AFFLECK: He may have been gypped on a Best Director nom, but still took home a well-deserved Oscar.

• Peaked Satin Lapel, fabric collar
• Vest and Cummer Bund!

NICHOLSON: the OG

• Red Bow Tie
• Full satin shawl lapel
• The shades, the shades, you gotta have 'dem shades

getty.images

DANIEL DAY-LEWIS: Best Actor, what a performance as Lincoln. We love this bright hue of a darker blue!

• Shawl Lapel
• Tuxedo shirt

EDDIE REDMAYNE

• Classic black bow ties
• Peaked Lapel
• Velvet Loafers!

BRADLEY COOPER

• Sheen in the fabric, very evening wear appropriate
• Peaked lapel
• Vest

HUGH JACKMAN

• Double breasted
• Shawl Lapel

Courtesy of blog.zap2it.com

QUENTIN TARANTINO:

• Check the leather tie! Not recommended for the wedding ceremony but maybe the after-party?

Courtesy of abc.com

MARK ANDREWS

• Flaunt that Scottish heritage! Kilts are always appropriate with a tuxedo. Mark's jacket also has some grommets on the pocket besom for added flair. 
• Highly advise socks to match your kilt!
• Patent Leather Boots

Courtesy of http://cdn.sheknows.com

JAMIE FOXX

• Nowadays, you can liven up your tuxedo with a different hue. Mr. Foxx does it well with grey.

GQ says:

No Black Tie
The biggest trend in black tie? No black at all. Designers brought their color wheels to eveningwear this season in a big way, painting tuxedo and dinner jackets in rich midnight navy, jewel tones, and even khaki, as seen at Valentino. The other big news for formal was summer-ready eveningwear that harbors all the old-world glamour guys want in a tuxedo, but is lightweight enough to not leave you in a puddle at the end of the night.

Read More here

Courtesy of justjared.com

ROBERT DOWNEY JR.

We usually applaud Iron Man for his impeccable taste, but we don't love the monochromatic look with a tuxedo. Try breaking up your colors for your wedding day.

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

Nick Fury looks DOPE in the velvet jacket and contrast lapel trim. When you typically play a badass, you must dress the part. Velvet is very Spring! Did you know we carry it in the 9tailors studio? Read here. 

Courtesy of popsugar.com.au

JOSEPH GORDON LEVITT

• We swoon for JGL, not only because he seems to be in only awesome movies, but his fashion choices are always a hit. This is a very subtle design option that we are seeing more and more. 

Courtesy of movies.yahoo.com

CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER

• Continuing with the subtle velvet additions, see how last year's Best Actor Winner sported a full velvet collar. 

So, there you have it. The tuxedo, in all its traditional glory, as well as Hollywood's embellishments, is the classiest suit you can own. Obviously, we will guide you along the most conventional sartorial rules (we love The Black Tie Guide). However, it's your wedding and you can do what you want! Inspired? Email a Style Consultant at info@9tailors.com to book your consultation.

It's a Mad, Mad, World...of Mad Men

Only a few more days until the two-hour premier of the best show on television, Mad Men. 18 months is a long time to wait! Aside from the handsome specimens (men and women alike, hubba hubba) that grace the set of this spectacular series, the intricate wardrobe has caused a welcome resurgence of style over the past few years. Especially in menswear. A style that screams distinguished, classic, timely, sharp, crisp, infinitely cool, and bad. Not bad meaning bad but bad meaning goooooood. A style every man should emulate (as many male 9tailors clients do exceptionally well). Since the beginning of Mad Men, its fashion has been much applauded and praised all over the interwebs. Rightly so! Authenticity is hard to replicate so accurately and precisely. Kudos to the costume designers led by genius Janie Bryant, who nail it every time by conveying character traits through clothing.

Let's take a gander at the top five best Mad Men trends, shall we? From Sterling Cooper to Sterling/Cooper/Draper/Pryce!

1.The Slim Fit Suit. It seems more and more of our clients are going for this streamlined, custom look. When you have a suit that fits your proportions, your physique is elongated and slimmed down. While we prefer a single breasted suit, double breasted can also be worn in a more European, sleek style. We 9tailors ladies also recommend a three-piece ensemble...when you take your jacket off, your look is still pulled together by a complementary vest/waistcoat.

2. Mixed complementary patterns, textures, and tones. There's an art to how you pair patterns and colors. The trick is to use colors and textures that play off one another.

3. Sports coat. GQ mandates all gentlemen acquire a sports jacket this spring. This element easily dresses up a casual look by adding sartorial sophistication. Don Draper wears one when he's kicking it in Cali while some of the younger creatives at Sterling/Cooper/Draper/Pryce wear it for work.

4. Accessories. As in the pictures above and below, you'll often spot signature items like a skinny tie, bowtie, a pocket square, tie pins, or a fedora in every episode. Again, you can wear these things casually or formally. Clutch accessories up the notch of coolness.

5. Tuxedo! It dominated this year's Oscars, proving you just can't go wrong with a classic tuxedo. Everything about it exudes refinement and elegance. 

What say you, gentlemen? Feeling an urge to splurge on a new spring trend? How about a crisp white shirt with french cuffs like a Mad man? Email info@9tailors.com and make an appointment to design your custom shirt, tuxedo, sports coat, suiting separates, or slim fit suit today!

*All photos courtesy of http://blogs.amctv.com/photo-galleries/