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!

So tell me…what was your resolution for 2010? Better question: have you broken it yet? I know I have…

Was it to spend less money? Redefine your style?

These two resolutions may sound a little contradictory, but they don’t have to be. In 2010, let it be know that you can balance your wallet and your wardrobe, and here’s how: vary up your use of shirts.

Although we refer to most collared shirts as “dress” shirts, indiTailored has shown time and again how you can use tailored shirts for any occasion, be it for a night out on the town or Sunday brunch with the rents. Not only will you define your own style (trust me, it’s there), you will also save money by getting the most wear out of your outerwear.

In 2009 we saw some great trend revivals and dressed down looks, including flannel and checkered patterns coming back into every day style. Moving forward with 2010, let’s show some tailored love and embrace these relevant trends using different looks. Take it from Zac Efron in these three different looks:

(Images courtesy of Nylon Magazine and Teen Vogue Magazine)

In the first look, Zac styles a great street look, wearing his checkered shirt open, a skull cap, a casual V-neck, and a light wash every day jean. With his sleeves rolled up and his shirt unbuttoned Zac’s look is both casual and relaxed, perfect for every day.

In his second look, Zac tucks in his checkered shirt to make the look classier, yet still dresses it down (but not too much) with a pair of slim fit, dark wash jeans. This look is the perfect balance of classic and casual: while using casual apparel, Zac still maintains a tailored, clean look.

In the third look, Zac dresses up his checkered shirt with a blazer and skinny knit tie, proving that lumberjack shirts are not just for chopping wood. He styles an interesting and sophisticated look here.

So remember, it’s important to have great versatile basics (much easier when you design a custom shirt yourself) but it’s also important to know how to use what you’ve got. 

Hello there my well-tailored (or soon to be) friends. My name is Evan and I want to introduce myself as the newest member of the indiTailored team. I am ecstatic to be here to give my perspective on men’s fashion, trends, and to share my own personal style with you.

I’m also here as a resource on the often complicated world of menswear. The ladies may say they have it tough with their bra cup sizes and challenging figures, but who is there to teach us the basics? Who pulls guys aside when they are young and says “Hey, son. It’s time to learn about French cuffs!”?

No one. Until now…

In my posts I’ll be putting up essential style content, from taking your shirt measurements and tying ties, to pairing those ties with shirts and jeans. Using myself as an example, I’ll demonstrate that men too can customize the way their clothing looks and fits, accentuating their best assets and looking great. I’ll show that with a little know-how you can be on your way to looking sharp your way, feeling enabled and inspired to design your own outfits and express your own style. 

So never fear, gents. Whether you’re an experienced fashionisto or a total newbie to menswear, you’ve come to the right place. Stay tuned!

Ok gentlemen, this is it. The supreme enchilada, the party of all parties is finally just around the corner: New Year’s Eve.  And considering how crucial it is to look your finest on this particular evening, we’ve saved the New Year’s Eve holiday fashion tidbit for last.

Now whether you’ve realized yet (or not), you’ll have quite a lot to celebrate come December 31st. After all, not only is the whole year said and done, but you’ll have successfully made it through another holiday season with weird relatives and long-distance acquaintances who you’re afraid to be alone in the same room with.

And yes, we do admit that with New Year’s does come with social pressure to “do it up right,” but don’t let the hype intimidate. The key to the success is confidence. So guys, this means it’s time to put your best cuff forward and say, “goodbye 2009, helllllllllo 2010!” 

Clueless how to deal with all this fashion anxiety you didn’t even know you had? No worries, indiTailored’s got your back—literally.

For our “New Year’s Eve Party” shirt, we’ve chosen a bold purple and pink check look that’s sure to show off your confidence and kick the year off with a bang. Made from fine, 100% cotton straight outta Italy, this shirt is sure to make a statement on an evening that calls for just that.

And with purple contrast collars and cuffs, the three button barrel and a slick executive collar to finish the deal, this shirt comes well equipped with undeniable style and flare.

So cheers to you, my friend. With this shirt, 2010 is definitely lookin’ good…

After Santa comes, the feasting is over, and the extended family start to file out, the day after Christmas is suddenly a safe haven where you can breathe a sigh of relief because you’ve officially survived the holidays.

But listen gentleman, just because the big day is done, you don’t have permission to slip into your old college sweat suit. Like we talked about yesterday, your mom and even your girlfriend (if you were lucky enough to bring her home), still have to look at you.

That being said, although we still expect style when you get dressed post Christmas, we understand how crucial comfort is to you. After all, you have spent the past few weeks stressing to finish up work at the office, shop for holiday gifts, and deal with Aunt Betty who still likes to squeeze your cheeks.

The best part about indiTailored shirts is that we have looks for every occasion, including the days when you want to look good and still feel comfortable. So for our “Day After Christmas Shirt” we’ve chosen this casual, yet stylin’ bright blue/yellow striped shirt that strikes the perfect balance between too dressy and not dressy enough. This shirt screams “holiday appropriate” and lets your family and significant other know that although Christmas is over, you still care about putting yourself together.

If you decide to transition this shirt from daytime to night, pair it with a tie and blazer. Need to get some Grandma time in before you head back to your pad? Throw a cream colored sweater over this shirt and you’re guaranteed to look handsome, yet soo precious…

The holidays really are a magical time of year.

Skeptical? Okay—Well, when else can stout men put on bright red, jingle a couple of bells and poof—people appear less stressed, less frowny, and more inclined to say “please” and hold doors. It’s really quite astonishing.

But let us guess. It takes more than a jolly old plump man to lift your spirits…

Our suggestion? Start workin’ the boss today, cross those fingers real hard (you may need some serious luck for this one), and perhaps the holiday cheer will compel the big mucky-muck in your office to utter those words you’ve been dreaming about for weeks now…

“You know, [enter your name here]? You’ve worked hard enough this year. Don’t even bother coming in between Christmas and New Years. Enjoy the break! You’ve earned it!”

Regardless of how far fetched this scenario may seem (REALLY far-fetched), we at indiTailored encourage you to take time for a little excursion this holiday season, even if it is just a short jaunt—because we all know, the holidays are the time of year to be a tourist.

And whether you’re taking on the big city or exploring your quaint hometown, it’s advisible to embrace your inner tourist and travel in style.

So to be the most fashionable tourist on the block (not actually hard to do), we recommend this London-inspired red and black check shirt—complete with a double button spread collar and black and white contrast collar/cuffs, for a shirt full of character and dimension.

Now, off to finding that partner in crime for your winter wanderlust…