Introducing the B&BT Stylists - Vol. I

Now that we have told you a little bit about our new direction, you're probably asking yourselves, "Who will be putting together the B&BT boards?" Over the next few days, we will introduce you to the Stylists behind our design boards.

Introducing...Samantha Shih

At my bridal shower

My personal style:

I would say that I'm modern and romantic. I love ruffles and any fabrics that flutter. I'm a huge fan of soft, flowing materials such as cotton-silk, silk or chiffon, especially in neutral colors. But, having lived in the city my whole life, I also like things that are streamlined and unfussy.

And, as you can tell from the above picture...I'm also not afraid to be goofy in public.

Why do I love weddings?

Weddings are an expression of one's creativity, personality and style, whether it be flowers, gown, ring, venue, etc. You are given a blank slate; you have the freedom to make major decisions.

What do you hope brides (and grooms) will get out of the blog?

My work at 9tailors allows me to collaborate with many brides and grooms. I feel honored that I get to be a part of one of the most important days of their lives. To create something for the bride and groom that is a reflection of their combined tastes and personalities is also an incredible joy.

After having worked with many brides, it became clear to me that their main priority is to create a cohesive look to the wedding. Most importantly, brides want the groom's outfit to complement the bride's gown. However, it can be stressful to shop for the guys....It can be a dizzying array of collars, cuffs, lapels, fabrics, etc. So, my hope is that this blog will help demystify men's fashion and inspire brides and grooms everywhere!

Anyway, come back tomorrow to meet our other B&BT Stylists.

Need help styling your groom? Submit your wedding here.

Groom Style #29: In Love with Gray

Dress Inspiration? A Beaded Reem Acra

Badgley Mischka Randee, $215; Women's shoes/bags: Nina Elga - Steel gray, $89; Reem Acra Wedding Dresses - Wedding Dresses from Fall 2007 |...

My wedding is coming up (as I wrote about last week). So, I thought that I would try to put together a design board for my fiance.

The wedding will be held at a Boston hotel. I chose this dress from Reem Acra over two years ago! I know. I'm not a procrastinator. The wedding will be gray, pink and yellow. Think the Miss Dior Cherie commercials directed by Sophia Coppola. LOVE. For the most part, the wedding has been planned out. But, I haven't had time to purchase my groom's outfit yet!

See what he's going to wear below.

Dolce & Gabbana black polished leather penny loafers at Bluefly, 41 EUR; Cufflinks - Ted Baker Men's Accessories, 50 GBP; Men’s - Omiru: Style for All; Alexander Olch; 9tailors

You'd think that as the co-founder of a custom menswear company I would be able to dream up an amazing outfit. However, this project was not without its challenges. My fiance has very "interesting" taste, which is completely divergent from mine. He has about 10 pairs of velor jumpsuits (and one with the Gucci logo on it) that he wears out regularly. And, despite his usually laid-back demeanor, he's strangely particular when it comes to his clothing. So, for the picky groom, I think it's really important to keep the outfit clean and unfussy especially if you've decided not to rent a tux from a chain store.

The charcoal suit is modern, clean. The two-button is always my go-to choice; it's a more streamlined-look. And, best of all? It's slimming. The tie is made by Alexander Olch. Very luxurious - made from Peruvian Alpaca wool - very pricey, but totally worth it. For the more laid-back guy, leather loafers with no laces is probably the way to go. My groom was adamant about that.

The colorful accents come through in a few places. I'm in love with the cufflinks - gray with pink floral accents! Instead of doing a boutonniere, we are actually doing this pocket square. I love the pink hounds tooth as it really punches up the color of the suit. Finally, the shirt pulls the whole look together. He's chosen (all by himself) a textured white shirting fabric with a light-pink gingham accent. The pink accent will remain hidden inside the collar band and cuffs. When he lets loose though during the reception that pink gingham will peak out just a bit!

Let me know what you think. I would love to hear your thoughts!

Need help styling your groom? E-mail us at weddings@9tailors.com.

9tailors Custom Clothing Event in Boston

After a week of traveling (Hong Kong - Shanghai - Hong Kong - Boston), I'm finally home with my fiance and kitty (yes, my cat has his own blog). Now, back to B&BT work!

Anyway, just wanted to share some news. 9tailors will be hosting its 3rd Custom Clothing Event in Boston on Saturday, August 29! Details here.

9tailors has been dressing wedding after wedding after wedding this season. One reason is that brides and grooms can design affordable, one-of-a-kind custom dress shirts for the guys! This event will be a fantastic opportunity for couples to see what 9tailors has to offer.

Here's what one groom had to say about his experience:

“9 Tailors made the shirts for the my groomsmen in my wedding. Not only were the shirts exactly what I asked for (cuffs, collar, color were just as I envisioned), the fit was amazing. All four of my guys raved that their shirts were the best fitted shirts they've ever had. Sam and her crew go through the whole process with you, from choosing the design, to the final fitting. We all loved the shirts as soon as we put them on. But since Sam was so diligent about following up and insisting on quality and the right fit, I know that if we had had an issue she would have fixed it to our liking. I know that I'll be going back to 9 Tailors! And I have a feeling I've won over a few groomsmen and many guests at my wedding as we got many compliments!”

Max, Somerville, MA

Max chose some unique accents that complemented his wedding colors and style for him and his groomsmen. Below are the shirting fabrics that Max chose.

Max chose a beautiful 100% white twill for the shirt.

Max also went with a white, green and blue twill - colors that complemented his wedding theme - to go inside the collar and cuff.

I'll be back tomorrow with more weddings!

Want to style your groom? E-mail us at weddings@9tailors.com.

Win amazing clothes in NYC

9tailors, Evolution of Style and Bonobos are getting together for an amazing promotion! Attend our Custom Suit, Pants and Shirt Event in New York and win an entire outfit for your father or your fiance!

Here are the details:

Thursday, June 18, Noon to 7:30pm

Friday, June 19, Noon to 7:00pm

RSVP and make an appointment at info@9tailors.com.

Groom Style tip #3: Feeling suspended

Mmmmm. I know what you're thinking. Suspenders? Really?! Yes. Really. Suspenders or braces are appearing every where. It's the new trend of mixing formal and informal wear together. I know my fiance will be rejoicing. He loves suspenders. So, give your belt a break...

Here are a few looks that won't make him look like your Uncle Hubert.

Top row (left to right): Aligator by Brooks Brothers; Black & Tan JoS. A. Bank; Geometric shapes by Top Man; Red Plaid by Top Man;
Middle row (left to right): Striped By Top Man; Green Plaid by Top Man; Multi-hue by Top Man; Solid Brace by Brooks Brothers; Stars & Stripes by Top Man;
Bottom row (left to right): Green Stripe by Brooks Brothers; Red by Top Man; Black by Burton; Navy with Burgandy by JoS. A. Bank

Need help styling your groom? E-mail us at weddngs@9tailors.com.

Groom Style Tip #1: Fit is it

Image via halls.md

For many engaged couples, the decision of what the groom and groomsmen should wear is decided jointly. Mostly, the discussion is regarding style and color. But, fit should also be a factor as well. Some guys just simply, do not fit off the rack clothing without major reconstruction. So, do you guys a favor. Get him a shirt that fits.

As many of you know, we recently partnered up with a suit-making company, Evolution of Style. So, they set up "The Fit Test" to see if our shirts actually stand up to the off-the-rack designer labels. I don't really need to say anything, as you can see for yourself the results of the test. Check out the photos below.

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

This is what Jonathan Mustich, the founder of Evolution of Style, had to say, "Today I received my custom made shirts from 9tailors.com and I'll let you decide which looks better. Not only does it look better I am much more comfortable in it which helps me be more confident throughout the day. I was once like you where I thought the normal off the shelf dress shirt would fit, but after getting my first custom shirt I will never go back. The most astonishing part is through 9tailors.com they are less expensive than most name brands while using the same great fabrics!"

Click here to continue reading about the test.

Thanks to the guys from Evolution of Style for making "The Fit Test" possible!

For amazing suits, go to Evolution of Style. Those guys really know how to do suits well. Suits start at $350.

For great fitting shirts, go to 9tailors.com. Shirts start at $60.00

Groom Style #20: New Balance

Dress Inspiration? Alvina Valenta Silk Gown

Dress: Alvina Valenta; Shoes: Badgley Mischka via Piperlime

In an ideal wedding world, your ceremony and your reception locations would have the same vibe and style. However, this doesn't always happen. This is the exact dilemma our next bride, Megan, faces. The short, non-religious ceremony will be held in a small "green" church with modern, sleek interiors. The more traditional, evening reception will be held at private club overlooking Raleigh's stunning skyline. Megan is planning to wear this gorgeous silk gown from Alvina Valenta. She wants a balanced look that will complement this dress and her two wedding locations without compromising her groom's taste and style. So, here's what I've come up with.

T-shirt: stylerocket.com; Tux: Roderick Charles; Tie: Saville Row; Ring: Top Man; Shoes: Burton; Pocket Square; Watch: Time Piece Central

Thee modern details of this outfit will help update the traditional tuxedo. First, choose a tuxedo with peaked lapels (so, he doesn't look like a waiter), single button (so, he looks lean) and a pair of flat-front tuxedo pants (so, he looks sharp). Armani and Calvin Klein are known for their modern cuts. Megan's groom, George, can do a quick neck wear change. First, he should start off with a black tie for the ceremony, then put on a bow tie for the reception. Remember to choose a full cutaway, spread collared shirt, like the ones available at 9tailors. Next, angular accessories, such as the watch, pocket square, and the ridged wedding band, will help to create a sleek effect. Next, laces prevent the shoes from looking too casual. Finally, since Megan and George met at the University of Michigan, George can kick-up his feet and relax with a retro UMich t-shirt at the post-reception bash.

Like this look? Leave a comment.

Need help styling your groom? Contact us at weddings@9tailors.com

Groom Style #19: Tux Alternatives

My friends at Evolution of Style are true masters at making amazing tux alternatives for the groom and his wedding attendants. Paired with custom dress shirts from 9tailors and ties from their new accessories collection the look can still be sophisticated, stylish and, most importantly, affordable. Plus, it's way better than renting a tuxedo that's been worn by many, many, many times. Face it ladies (and gents), it's time to take better care of our grooms! After all, they deserve to look distinct and fabulous on their special day too.

All photos below were taken by the most talented photography team, David & Jo, from Allegro Photography.

Calling Boston Brides!

To purchase a $5.00 pre-registration ticket, click on the image above.

Algonquin Club, Guilded Boston and Polished Wardrobe Advising will host the Guilded Bride! This is a very special Bridal Event, where brides (and grooms) will get to attend a mock wedding. From cocktails to cake cutting, the bride will get to fully experience all the wonderful things that Boston vendors have to offer. 9tailors will, of course, be there!

Go to Guilded Bride for more information.

Calling Boston Brides!

I've received a few questions from brides out there. Confusions abound when it comes to tuxedos and men's suits. The next few posts will be dedicated to explaining the anatomy of menswear. Seriously, it's not that difficult. So, we'll be doing that over the next few posts.

Today, I just wanted to let you know that in just a few weeks Boutonnieres & Bow Ties's sister company, 9tailors will be hosting its FIRST TRUNK SHOW in Boston! You can meet with a 9tailors Wedding Specialist, who will help you style your groom.

And, rumor has it they'll be selling men's ties, bow ties (yes!) and pocket squares (double yes!).

Here are the details of the event.

Click on the above image to enlarge.

To secure a one-on-one style consultation, please RSVP at info@9tailors.com.

*First 10 people to RSVP for a style consultation will receive a 10% discount off their entire 9tailors purchase. (exclusions may apply)

Details:
Saturday, April 25, 2009
1PM- 5PM
213 Newbury Street, Suite 2F
Boston