So gentlemen. Whether you need a gift for Dad, are the Dad that needs to be gifted, or are just in the market for some spring threads for yourself we’ve got a treat for you. Right now, we’re offering 15% OFF all custom shirts and gift cards for Father’s Day on June 20th, 2010. Just use this code in the gift certificate field at checkout to receive an instant 15% off: DADDAY2010.

Father’s Day is only a few weeks away, which means if you want a truly unique gift you better move fast! Not only will you be giving a personalized gift, but your Dad can reorder off of the same pattern as many times as he likes to get the perfect fitting shirt every time. Finally, a gift that really DOES keep on giving…

We’ve designed shirts for almost any Dad, whether he’s practical, proud, majorly hip or utterly clueless. Check out our shirt designs and feel free to drop us a line to design a shirt for you and/or your Dad. Or, simply pick Dad up a gift card.

Most of all, enjoy the savings! Happy Father’s Day from indiTailored. 

Our grandfathers, great grandfathers and those who consider themselves traditionalists have long supported the baggy dress shirt aesthetic. Today however, the shirt world has evolved into different styles and categories; some even giving the old-fashioned and classic dress shirt a modern twist. At indiTailored, we have three style options to choose from. While the choice ultimately remains in your hands, we’d like to share our thoughts on each one to give you a better understanding of their similarities and differences.

Classic Fit Shirt: This is the hallmark of a traditional shirt. A classic fit has all the basic elements that makes a shirt look classic ( the standard shirt front, the standard shirt back, the yoke, the cuffs,  the collar…etc). Classic fit shirts are straight cut through the shoulders and midsection while additionally allowing ample room in the shoulders and arms. It is best suited for those who want to play a safe look. Classic fit shirts have a certain elegant and understated look to them, so if you want a fit that’s been tested through time, pick this. It never gets old.

Tailored Fit Shirt: If you think that picking a slim fit shirt might be too tight or constricting for your taste, then the tailored fit shirt is a better option for you. The lightly tapered fit will provide you with a tailored look yet not a slim one. In other words, the shirt is not as form fitted as a slim fit shirt yet not as roomy as the classic fit shirt. The tailored fit shirt fits closer to the midsection than the classic fit shirt, but still offers plenty of room for movement in the shoulders.

Slim Fit Dress Shirt: Although they are certainly trimmer than the classic and the tailored fit shirts, the slim fit dress shirt is a nice staple to contemporary wardrobe. This form-fitting look is generally trim through the midsection and a little bit tighter through the shoulders and arms. Slim fit dress shirts accentuate and broaden the shoulders by tapering through the midsection. This shirt style can exaggerate proportions and can emphasize certain areas of your upper body, so wear this shirt if you want to show your body off.

Well that’s our breakdown for ya! If you want to check out more of some styles options, visit our design vault and see what style the indiTailored community likes best.

The iPad has skyrocketed onto the technology scene. With nearly half a million sold, the iPad is clearly paving a promising road for itself, especially because of all the new applications you can download.  Unfortunately you can’t put it in the indiTailored custom dress shirt pocket but hey, that’s what the iPhone is for.

One thing for sure is that Apple is changing the face of technology and fashion through iPad apps. For example, Gilt Groupe released an app for the iPad where users can compete for sales on the site with the advantage of less page views, making it faster to swoop in on deals than on a computer. Another great feature of the Gilt App is that users can pinch and magnify specific details of the clothes, something the iPhone and website don’t do nearly as well. Gilt thinks the level of detail available to the iPad user will decrease the return rate and enhance the overall shopping experience.

Well, as sick as this app is, can this really be true? Can the iPad really promise a faster, visually stunning, digital (as in with your digits) shopping experience? Or is the iPad a “big iPhone” like many have said?

And the ultimate question: should indiTailored make an app for the iPad? Would you use it? Vote below and leave your comments below:

Well, to make sure that doesn’t happen, let me introduce you to indiTailored’s spring style cycle (say it loud and proud), helping you conquer each part of your day with sartorial might.

So here we go, welcome to indiTailored’s new fabrics!

Get Up

You have brunch with friends and you want to look bright eyed and busy tailed without looking like a schmuck. Say hello to our classy checks:

Get Out

You’re going outdoors to catch some rays and enjoy your weekend. Our larger, stripey checks will give you that trendy check look with an interesting texture unlike most checks out there. Great color combinations in bold, masculine checks.

Get Down

If you can’t during your spring/summer, you may be more in need of social life resuscitation than a new shirt. However, if you’re ready to party in a slim and stylish shirt, choose one of these dark beauties:

And this is only the beginning. There are even more new fabrics on our site, so check them out and start designing your custom shirt.

Don’t forget: subscribe to our mailing list if you want dibs on an upcoming discount on any of the fabrics you see here!

courtesy of Aquascutum

Club collars were first popular in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, which means they’re definitely do for (another) comeback. Club collars have round edges and are pretty hard to find nowadays. Thanks to shows like Mad Men, retro fashion trends like club collars have been reemerging.

And why are we fans of club collars, you ask? One word: versatility.

Club collars look good with a skinny tie or sans tie. When worn without the tie they remind me of someone straight out of a Charles Dickens novel (in the best way, of course). Club collars are also particularly sharp when worn with a bow tie.  In addition, club collars can even be pinned or unpinned with a collar clip, which of course is different from the tie clip (thank you Mad Men for also bringing tie clips back). The collar clip, most popular in the 1950s and 1960s, goes underneath the tie and pins the ends of the collar together, lifting the knot in a most elegant way.

Do you think indiTailored should carry club collars? Do you even like club collars? Vote in the poll below:

Although white collar shirts still maintain a certain level of respectability and class, the blue shirt today is amazingly versatile and can be worn to adorn some of the most sophisticated looks. Thankfully, even though the term “blue collar” is still used, most people can wear a blue shirt without the same classist connotations.

Why, then, do not more men wear them? Aren’t we bored of always wearing white shirts? If you’re an adult male, chances are high that you have a white dress shirt.

Earth to You: the blue shirt is just as versatile (if not more so) than the white shirt, giving a subtle and masculine hint of color to your outfit. Here are some examples of blue shirts I designed (click on any shirt to see more) with suggested looks:

The Spring Blue Shirt:
Pair your blue shirt with khakis, dark wash jeans, or khaki shorts. Roll up your sleeves and leave your top two buttons undone. Feel free to either tuck the shirt in with a belt or leave it untucked.

The Executive Blue Shirt:
Perfectly paired with a black or gray flannel suit, I really encourage more guys to do this. It’s a great way to spice up your typical dark suit and white shirt combo while still maintaining a high level of professionalism and style. Made out of blue herringbone fabric, this shirt offers a unique texture.

By the way, you could easily substitute the “Spring blue shirt” in this snazzier ensemble. Ah, the versatility of the blue shirt. And finally what we’ve all been waiting for…

The Hot Date Blue Shirt:
Pair this with a chocolate corduroy blazer (or another blazer with a medium tone), dark wash blue jeans, and brown loafers. Tuck your blue shirt into your jeans for this look, and leave the top two buttons of the shirt (and all the blazer buttons) undone. 

I designed this shirt with a slim fit, fashionable wide spread collar, and some stylish contrast fabric that will attract the eye underneath your clothes…not bad, eh?

I hope this inspires you to start reinterpreting this underutilized basic. Got to, gents.

So let’s face it: who even considers wearing French cuffs? Aren’t those for fancy weddings and crap? Wait, what even is a French cuff? In case you are wondering, here’s what a French cuff looks like:

For most of us the only time we ever saw French cuffs growing up was while shopping for a tux for, let’s say, a winter formal (we all remember how fun those were). French cuffs quickly became synonymous with the feeling we had in a formal shirt: constricted, tight, and limited.

What you may or may not realize now is that French cuffs actually give you more freedom than barrel cuffs, not less. How, you ask?

1. French cuffs are roomier. While barrel cuffs fit closely to your wrist, French cuffs are free and never pinch.
2. French cuffs are more versatile. You can accessorize your French cuffs with knots or cufflinks instead of always being stuck with the same old button.
3. French cuffs are the epitome of class. Sure, you can wear them out to a less formal occasion and look fly. Go nuts. However, if you ever feel that your shirt isn’t formal enough, a French cuff shirt will always do the trick. French cuffs are the most sophisticated cuffs around, so they are great to have on hand when you need to look formal fast.

Whether they are hanging in your closet or in the back of your mind, take those French cuffs out (or design a French cuff shirt yourself) and show them off more frequently. Not only is it stylish to wear them in the US, but French cuff shirts are a quotidian style in other parts of the world. For example, in the UK, French cuffs are called Double cuffs because they are such a familiar, everyday style.

Or, if you need a more domestic example, take it from Joe Biden. Just look at how excited he is about them…

Courtesy of dreamdogsart.typepad.com

Ah, at last. A liberating cuff. In the words of a brave Scottish warrior, “FREEEEDOM!”

As a mixture of punk rock and modern ingenuity, modernized punk looks reign supreme this year. Appropriately, a handful of British designers reflected this genre with artistic flare and fine tailoring all around.

My Advice: Rock out. Don’t be afraid to whip out that old graphic tee or sport a more alternative look.

2. Classic Apparel

In rough times it’s exciting to see that designers still celebrate the luxury and sophistication of classic apparel. Simultaneously looking back to our classic heritage and progressing forward with newer, technologically enhanced features, classic apparel is in.

My Advice: Invest in looking your best. Even if it’s one versatile garment like a gray blazer (which is great for many outfits) or dress shirt, invest in something classic and dress it up and down at will.

3. The Plaid Shirt

As if you hadn’t seen enough of it, we just can’t stop being mad about plaid. Seen in many neutral, autumnal tones in the shows the plaid shirt trend is here to stay.

My Advice: Hop on this trend if you like, but don’t get ripped off. There are great plaid looks out there but many are poorly made and/or not worth the investment. Pay attention to the quality of the fabric and don’t confuse overpriced flannel with plaid.

4. Luxurious Outerwear

From fur-lined coats to high-quality ski jackets (see previous article for more), distinctive outerwear dominated the runway. Designers made unique, heavy, and expensive pieces, many with military accents from WWI.

My Advice: I might skip out on the fur, but if you need a new coat make sure it reflects your style. If you’re more neutral, choose a gray, black, or camel coat. More eccentric, a brighter color like the red Duckie Brown jacket above would be more suitable for you. Point being: outerwear is not just for staying warm this season.

5. Murses(Man Purses)

That’s right, gents. She’s not the only one with a purse. For travel, the gym, or wherever you need to tote your stuff, it’s even more in style than last season.

My Advice: Don’t worry, you don’t have to throw it over your shoulder if you don’t want to. Grip yours firmly like these models for less strain than a shoulder bag and discover the beauty of having all the room of a larger tote.

(Images courtesy of GQ.com and WWD.com)

The beginning of the year marks a pinnacle moment in menswear: Men’s Fashion Weeks. Milan debuted, followed by Paris, and now New York fashion week has just begun.

Hundreds of designers and models, thousands of attendees and millions of dollars constitute each of these extravagant spectacles of immaculately made oeuvres of struttable art.

So, what fraction can we take away from such a complex occasion as fashion week?

I-n-s-p-i-r-a-t-i-o-n.

Now you may not now how to react to a piece like this other than “Here kitty, kitty…”

(Courtesy of WWD.com)

BUT, you can interpret what pieces like this mean. This outfit, for example, is a nice mélange of feminine and masculine (at least from an American perspective), exudes wealth, fits in with the animal-inspired theme of this particular collection, and of course keeps you warm.

Now that I’ve cleared that up, let’s move on to some things I found interesting and relevant to you.

Fashion Meltdown

In the Dolce & Gabbana Collection shown in Milan, the designers weren’t afraid to be humorous and display stark contrasts, catching the attention of the audience and emphasizing the elegance of their apparel:

(Courtesy of WWD.com)

(Courtesy of WWD.com)

(Courtesy of WWD.com)

This sort of reminded me of James Bond after parachuting down to an arctic destination, only to ultimately emerge in style. Ahh, the evolution of menswear.

And that begs the question of what Dolce & Gabbana attempts to communicate here: Perhaps that the future of men’s fashion holds a more sophisticated, fashion-forward man? Better, more successful times ahead for all of us?

Perhaps. Or maybe D&G is trying to show that however awkward, sometimes fashion must compromise with practicality, and we can playfully mix and match elegance with, well, ski onesies.

Moschino,Very

(Courtesy of WWD.com)

(Courtesy of WWD.com)

In its Ready To Wear line, Moschino articulates a time of war and refined practicality while maintaining impeccable style. While showing off impeccably tailored menswear pieces, these models wear camouflage gear, comfortable rolled-up jeans, and a windbreaker. It also demonstrates that an active man can, in fact, be a well-groomed and dressed one too.

So mix and match (within reason, now), because business casual, refined casual, casual chic, it’s all the rage. Active men can be fashionable, and businessmen can be casual.  And guess what: it’s fashion-forward and practical. The 2010 man understands how to make good style choices, yet remains true to his lifestyle.

But only a little bit…

In efforts to get some of our indiDenim customers to design custom shirts as a Valentine’s Day gift for their special somebody’s, I told them about this great discount first. Ok, sue me.

So in case you haven’t heard, until February 14th indiTailored is giving you 10% off of all of our custom shirts. In fact, I’ve even included some style advice right here (which can also be found in our design vault) for great evening looks with your Valentine that I designed. Take a look:

                                               
              Let’s Hear It For the Boy 

Here’s a great casual yet trendy look. Made from one of our finest Italian cottons, this shirt will give you subtle style.
                                                                                                         
   
              Oh My Man I Love Him So

If you’re going out for a romantic dinner out, this shirt is for you. With a white executive collar that compliments the colored vertical stripes that elongate your body, you’ll appear distinguished, slim, and stylish.
                                                       
   
                      My Lovely Valentine 

And if you’re more eccentric (or want to be), I would recommend this lavender color. There’s nothing more fashion-forward and masculine than rocking a color like lavender, and with the matching contrast collar and cuffs you’ll definitely get noticed.

So try out one of the shirts I designed or design your own. Either way, you get 10% off by using this code at checkout: indiLove.

Yes, the name is corny. But if I’m afforded one corny moment a year, Valentine’s Day is the perfect time. Keep that in mind for the special day, eh?

Enjoy the savings!