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:
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.
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?
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…
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…
There is nothing wrong with being a momma’s boy. In fact, there’s a long list of things that are right with having a special soft spot in your heart for your mom. After all, she did carry you around for 9 months, pack your lunches before school, and buy you clothes until you (recently?) learned how to dress yourself.
That being said, with all the tender love and care your that your mother has given you over the years, it can only be expected that she’s overjoyed with excitement when you tell her you’ve booked your ticket and are heading home for the holidays. And even if going home means dealing with inevitable family stress and weird relatives, you know deep down that you, too, are looking forward to seeing the fam and being taken care of for a bit.
So we ask you please, do your mother a wee little favor, and take some time to put yourself together. Although she may not be that special lady you want to impress, odds are, she’s just as judgmental. So for her sake (and your sanity’s sake), please dress accordingly and assure the matriarch that you’re as handsome as she knows you are.
Our advice? Show your softer yet stylish side by wearing the color lavender with a complimentary brown/purple check contrast collar and cuff (fact: moms love their sons in pastels and appreciate little style details). A button-down collar and tailored fit will give your shirt a casual (but not unkempt) feel—the perfect look for your first day back—and will undoubtedly make your mom proud.
And if momma’s proud, momma’s more likely to feed you—and don’t try and fool us for a second. We know home cookin’ is one of the main reasons why you trekked home this season…
The holiday season may be a whirlwind, but you must remember to take a few moments this December to look longingly at that special someone in your life and get a little extra motivation to do something, well, special (believe us, you’ll never hear the end of it if you don’t…).
That’s why especially during the holidays, indiTailored puts our full stamp of approval on date night.
That’s right gentleman, it’s time to show your special lady friend how much you appreciate her—and if you’re going to put in a bit more effort to say, “I care,” you must do it with the proper style.
So for our “Date Night” shirt, to have you looking your best at times of crucial importance, we’ve selected a dark blue pinpoint shirt with a classy spread collar and a purple flowered pattern contrast.
With a shirt that shows sophistication, personality, and class, you’re bound to impress your gal with your sense of style. She’ll love that her man is comfortable enough to sport a floral contrast collar and cuffs and you’ll appreciate the feel of this 100% cotton, 80s 2-ply pinpoint.
Taking her out for something extra fancy (again, indiTailored fully supports such activities during the holidays)? Pair this shirt with a tie (full windsor knot, preferred) and simple silver tie bar. Add a sweater or fitted blazer to complete the look and you sir, are set for a magical evening.
Yup. You guessed it. It’s the season of the holiday party. And today we’re going to throw you our $.02 about how to dress for the most important of holiday parties: The office holiday party.
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, office holiday parties will come around every year, regardless of your sentiments.
Our advice? Take advantage. With a rockin’ outfit to boost your confidence and an open bar to lighten the mood, you’ll be able to both rub elbows with your senior boss and tactfully approach the pretty lady you’ve been eying in the department two doors down—in the same night! How’s that for killing two birds…?
Now to get you in with the boss and the lady friend, we, at indiTailoired, have a few pointers. First, since this is a work event, there are a few key adjectives we want you to keep in mind when picking out your shirt: classy, professional, and stylish.
Ultimately, your goal is to show that you have style, but not go too crazy with patterns and bright colors.
With that in mind, we’ve come up with a sophisticated twist to a professional office party shirt: A tight-fitted collared shirt with color and the right amount of personality. We’ve chosen a green/blue/white checked luxurious Italian fabric with a blue/white/brown check fabric for the contrast collar and cuffs to add a bit of dimension and spice. If you find yourself at a more formal affair, we fully endorse pairing this shirt with a solid color (think navy) tie and a fitted blazer to top off the look.
Just remember, when mingling with co-workers, you want a style that is festive enough to get you noticed, but not too festive to get you confused with the Christmas tree.
Take it from us, this classy shirt from indiTailored is sure to do the trick…
When you think herringbone you probably think—well if you’re like most people you probably think—‘Fabric.’ While you wouldn’t be wrong, herringbone, like all people and things worth knowing, has got a little history. And by that we mean, a little baggage.
Since you’re not dating herringbone, this is totally fine.
If nothing else, it gives you something to talk about at parties when people ask you about the killer shirt you’re wearing.
Instead of simply saying, “Hey yeah thanks, it’s some fabric!” You’ll be able to swirl your martini glass and say, “Herringbone, actually, very common in twill or tweed weaves.” When knees have stopped knocking together at your sartorial prowess, here’s what will happen next:
“W-hy,” a still woman party-goer will ask, “W-why is it called herringbone?”
At this point in time, feel free to live the dream and do your best Humphrey Bogart, “Well doll…” (regardless of gender calling someone doll in the manner of Humphrey Bogart is universally hilarious and awesome).
Next you’ll say, “Notice how the weave itself is a v-shaped formation? Come on, don’t be shy, take another step over here and get a real good look.” At that point, the whole room will fall silent as a throng of smitten folks will step towards your custom made herringbone shirt. You’ll whisper over your glass or perhaps after taking a drag on your cigar (if that’s what you’re into), “Back in the day, they thought these v-shaped weave patterns looked like little fish bones—herringbones, if you will.”
(kinda like fish bones—right…?)
At the mention of bones you will immediately earn all manner of street cred. Not only will those with a passion or sartorial history bow before your superior knowledge, but even the Goth gang’s hearts will go pitter-pat when you whip out the word ‘bones.’
And the notoriously hard please fashionistas won’t care one way or the other—they’ll just be thrilled you’re wearing a unique product tailor-made to suit you. Well played, Mr. Bogart well played.
Not all cotton dress shirts are created equal and you’re likely to discover this the hard way if you don’t know what to look for. OK, seeking out higher quality cotton dress shirts may be a bit more expensive, but considering how many hours we spend in dress shirts, it’s more like an investment in the future. Y’know—like college or good scotch (see Johnnie Walker Red/Black label below).
So here’s what you should be investing in:
* Strong yet soft: Higher quality shirts will be two-ply, not single-ply. This makes the fabrics stronger, but also softer, less rough and scratchy. You can save that for your 5:00 shadow.
* Count your threads: No, not literally. Quality cotton dress shirts boast their thread counts themselves. Thread counts of 80s and higher make finer, softer, and ultimately better looking shirts.
* A stitch in time and all that: Take stock of the seams on the shirt. Cotton dress shirts that are high quality will have straight stitching and evenly spaced stitches. Irregularity in stitching is a big no-no.
* Details make the man: Men’s fashion is all about the hidden details. Check your shirt for little added bonuses, like contrast fabrics, embroideries, cool labels, nice buttons, or $20 bills in the front pocket.
* Fit, fit, fit. All the tips in the world can’t substitute the feeling of a shirt that actually FITS. Avoid the baggy shirt or the pregnant man look. Too many off-the-rack dress shirts are made for the largest common denominator, meaning you’ll end up with a shirt that’s much too billowy and large to adhere to today’s “skinny-is-better” trend.
So next time you are in the market for a quality cotton dress shirt (why not today), do yourself a favor and go for a custom dress shirt.
Well, if you’re the type that dumps all your clothes in the washing machine, throws in some detergent, drinks a beer (or two or three), and comes back hours later hoping everything turned out alright, it may be time to study up!
Being a grown up means knowing how to wash a dress shirt…properly.
And once you’ve invested in something as awesome as your own indiTailored dress shirt, you’ll surely want to keep it looking sharp.
So here are the indiTailored idiot-proof (not that you’re an idiot—surely YOU are a charming, intelligent, and thoughtful man) tips for washing your shirt, correctly. Believe us, it will save you many a headache.
Idiot-proof tip #1: Check your labels. If a shirt says dry-clean only—that means dry clean only. If they give you specific directions, your best bet is to actually follow them. You don’t want your swank look turned stanky with ruined fabric all over the place.
Idiot-proof tip #2: If you can wash it at home, do a quick scan for stains—curry, pen ink, blood (we won’t ask), other things you see on ads for stain removers on TV. If you spot any marks, you can pre-treat using the detergent (or stain removers) you’ve got at home. For heavier fabrics, pre-treat with detergent directly; for more delicate fabrics, use a washcloth. If you are concerned about the detergent damaging the fabric, try applying a little bit of the detergent to a part of the fabric that won’t be visible, if damaged (think inside yolk of the shirt).
Idiot-proof tip #3: When putting your glorious garb in the washer, be sure to put it on the most delicate setting there is. Once it’s done, put it in the dryer—and this part is important—on tumble WITH NO HEAT. Heat is a glorious thing. It keeps us warm in winter, it makes cookies, but it wreaks havoc on our clothes. After drying, flat iron on the lowest setting, and if you prefer a little more structure, a little spray starch could be just the ticket.
Idiot-proof tip #4: Don’t beat your dress shirt. Although this treatment is embraced by the Chinese at the banks of Yangtze River, it turns out this is not the best solution for clothing longevity.
image from cnsphoto
Does your mouth go dry at the idea of ironing a IndiTailored shirt? Never fear noble sirs, we’ve already tackled How to Iron a Shirt in a prior blog entry.
With monograms, as in other arenas, size absolutely matters—get those three letters stamped a little bit too large and you run the risk of being recruited by someone named Jocky to play on his Polo Team. However, go too far in the other direction and you’ll be treating an awesome tradition with the same sense of shame and chagrin applied to those lunch-box notes mom used to tuck in with your hot-pockets.
Our philosophy is bigger isn’t always better, (that’s what she said). A quarter inch is really all you need. But where is the proper place for a monogram, you ask?
Correct answer: Pocket or cuff.
Which means, monograms are the perfect contribution to your brand spanking new indiTailored custom dress shirt. It’s all about the details. Your initials and a flash of color will give your shirt a subtle pop, which will label you “Man of Mystery” faster than we can begin to hum the Bond theme (and that is pretty damn fast).
So, it’s time to take back the monogram! No longer the currency of the wealthy, the monogram is now the emblem of the proud, the confident, and the achingly well-dressed man. Your monogram literally speaks to who you are, and son, if that ain’t unique, we don’t know what is.
We at indiTailored were convinced that somewhere between puberty and prom men learned how to tie a tie. Until…yesterday.
On the afternoon of July 7, 2009, at approximately 3:23 pm, we got the news. The keyword phrases “tie a tie” and “how to tie a tie” were Googled 550,000 and 450,000 times per month, respectively.
Astonished, troubled, and confused, we came up with an action plan. No one who comes to our website shall have this question unanswered. Accordingly, we searched long and hard for good “how to tie a tie” step-by-step videos to instruct the tie-less masses. But, much to our dismay, the findings were uninspiring.
We did, however, find two videos worth sharing. The first of which explains how to tie the half-windsor knot. While some say the Half Windsor is standard, we see it as pedestrian. That is not to say there isn’t a time and a place for the Half Windsor, but just make sure you know when and where that is (clueless? You’ll just have to wait for my forthcoming blog entry). The second video will show you how to tie the indiTailored knot of choice, the Full Windsor. If you want to look sharp whatever the occasion, just stick to the FW 4life. My motto: big (tie) knots mean big business.
Go ahead an interpret that one as you please.
And now to the videos. Here is what we suggest:
1. Watch the first video to laugh at two random kids from Youtube.
2. Watch the second video, and make sure this is how you are tying your tie. If not, make the necessary adjustments. Also, be sure to appreciate the English accent, which, of course, somehow makes this video more legit.
3. Start buying ties, tying ties, wearing ties… And since subtlety isn’t our thing, we’re just going to come out and say it. We like ties.
How to iron a dress shirt, you ask? Awww (sad face), you must miss the days when mom used to iron your dress shirts just because she loved you…
Well, stop kvetching, and count your blessings (at least you had a mom). Some of us weren’t so lucky. And by that, I mean, I had a mom, but she never ironed. I was def sporting wrinkles even before they were fashionable. So I understand your plight. Ironing dress shirts is hard. Especially, if your only iron tutorial was on the back of the iron box.
But boy do we have good news! We’ve found some great videos to show you the ironing ropes. Now all that’s left is deciding whether you prefer to learn from our sarcastic friends at Esquire, or our favorite housewives at Real Simple (aka do you want to be entertained or to actually learn how to iron a dress shirt?). Kinda like those “Choose Your Own Adventure Books,” now that we think about it.
Not up to the challenge? Lucky for you, there is always a lazy alternative (don’t worry—no judging here). The dry cleaner. Might not be quite as good as good mom, but who is, really?
Okay, so where to start. I could go high school report outline here on you and start with roman number I point a, subpoint ii, etc. But I might lose some (all?) of you. I could just go off an a crazy person rant with no regard for clarity, elucidation or persuasiveness. But no, let’s just lay it out.
First, we feel stupid shopping. Yes, stupid. What do most men do for a living? Do they specialize in clothing, style, fashion, color schemes, fabric weight, accessorizing, flattering styles for body shapes? No and no and no. Going shopping means you are expected to know something about all of these things. We know very little about any of them, except perhaps the following, not necessarily in this order: (1)Brett Favre wears Wranglers; (2)MMA fighters wear crazy-looking, pattern-covered Afflication T-shirts; (3)Baggy is a safer choice if all else fails.
Okay, fish out of water, right? So there we are surrounded by thousands of clothing options and clothing experts. Ah, the experts. The sales people. They too, contribute to making men feel like idiots when clothes shopping. It’s not necessarily their fault, though it can be. You have three types here, at least in my narrow-blog view: (1)Attractive, (maybe really, really,really hot attractive), maybe too-much makeup sales girl; (2)Flamingly gay and intimidating because he dresses so well and makes you look like a sloppy schlub, sales guy; (2) Straight, metrosexual guy who’s probably making it with the attractive sales girl, who makes you uncomfortable because you don’t like talking about clothes with straight dudes, sales guy. (Oh that reminds me, men generally never, ever talk about clothes with other men. There are exceptions, in this order: (1)Uniforms (military, sports); (2)Shoes (boots, sports [basketball, football, running, golf]);(3)Hats (baseball, beanie, profane); (4)T-shirts (see hats)); Ever go into an arena where you know nothing, surrounded by people who know more than you and then you’re asked “What can I help you with?” (Don’t answer college, or wedding planning, or your back-packing trip to Hungary) Not fun. You feel stupid. Here’s how it goes:
Man: “Uh, I was looking for dress shirt.”
Sales Person: “Okay, what style”
Man: Staring blankly at the racks and racks of clothes, feeling the sweat glands open up, preparing to unload, speech complicated by a large cotton-gum ball in mouth area, looking like a bull-moose carefully navigating its way out of a cat show, “Maybe something like this” pointing to the nearest thing that looks reasonable, just to give an answer and the end gut-wrenching awkwardness of the moment.
Sales Person: “Great. Do you know your dress shirt size”
Man: “Uh, I think a medium?”
Sales Person: (thinking that you are probably mentally disabled or under the influence, but hoping maybe you have lots of money, will explain dress shirt sizing [neck and sleeve] and if you’re lucky, gently guide you into a reasonable purchase that won’t embarrass you later in life (like the next day).
Subscribe
