So I cheated.

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. 

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…

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 advisable 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…

Holidays sneak up on you again? Us too…

But no need to worry, we’re not going to leave you hangin’. This year, we’re doing something special for all you gentlemen out there who need some wardrobe inspiration to get you through the holiday season.

Introducing: 7 days of style with indiTailored. 

For the next 7 days, we’ll be dropping a daily shirt design that we think is especially fitting for each of the many occasions and venues you’ll find yourself at over the next few weeks. If that’s not enough to keep you coming back on a daily basis, we’ll be celebrating these 7 glorious days by offering you a festive discount. Just enter “7DAYS” in the coupon box at the check-out and you’ll get 15% (or more, depending on how nice we’re feeling that day!) knocked off your order. Awesome styles + surprise discount—what’s not to like?

And now, without further adieu, we have today’s style. We call it, “Shopping on-the-go (An effortless look when you’re rushing to get those last minute gifts).”

Since we know it’s highly unlikely you’ve completed your shopping duties for this Christmas, Channukah, or Kwanzaa, you’ll definitely need a shirt to help you power through the stores (online or off).

So, for our “Shopping” dress shirt, we’ve chosen a lighthearted check fabric in a tailored fit. With this delightful pink and blue combo, you’ll be sure to catch the eyes (and maybe even phone numbers) of all the female saleswomen—which will surely keep your spirits high. The tailored fit and center back pleats will give you the little extra room necessary to dodge your way through the holiday crowds.

And when the stresses of shopping finally get to you, all you’ll need to do is unbutton the collar and roll up the sleeves and show off your rockin’ contrast collars and cuffs. Not only will you feel cooler, you’ll find that a long gaze into the floral patterns on the interior of your cuff will calm you down enough to get your mind back in the game and give you the stamina to hit the remaining stores on your list.

Don’t believe us? Buy the shirt (style below), and see for yourself.

Well, you knew this was coming. No more sleeveless tees in the office. Same for the old reliable college sweatshirt with the weird bleach spots near the neck. Fleece pullover? Nope. (Fleece pullover, really?) Vest?  Well, no one wears vests at work, forget that one. Anyway, in the well-entrenched tradition of media overreacting to a single story to draw wildly unjustified conclusions, we say here right now, that there is a vast flood of dress code enforcement under way in this great country of ours. You will soon be forced to have a closet stocked up with a least two weeks’ worth of clean, crisp, well-fitted dress shirts, or risk the wrath of the ever-vigilant Eye in the Sky. No, it’s true. In a school district in Texas (the Lone-Star State of all places):

“A letter was sent out enforcing the dress code, which became effective immediately a few weeks ago. All Ysleta district teachers and staff are required to dress professionally.”
Dress Shirts Dress Code

So, unless you choose a suicidal frontal assault against the unyielding power of Big Brother, we would recommend that you turn this oncoming crackdown into something positive. In other words, make it look goodI Check out indi Tailored’s new gallery for some ideas. Go casual, luxury, black, white, pastel, whatever. It’s all there. Buttondown collars and barrel cuffs. French cuffs and spread collars. White French cuffs and white spread collars. Executive collars and mitered cuffs. One, two, three button collars. Buttondown collars, not buttondown collars. Solids, checks (large and small), stripes. My brain is starting to hurt! It’s endless I tell you, endless!  You can run circles around The Man with your creativity and inventiveness. You will foil Big Brother’s attempts to control you by flexing your dress shirt muscles, until perhaps, one day, he gives up, and you can pull out that old sweatshirt again. (Wow, that was liberating.) Now go out and do what you have to do! Word.