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10 Professionals a Well Dressed Guy needs in his corner

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10 Pros Every Guy Should Have In His Corner by Dappered.com

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  3. I would add the seller of fine meats to this list. But then it would be more than 10. Perhaps you could find a Butcher/Florist or Butcher/Cobbler. Kind of like the Taxidermist/Cheese shop back in Wisconsin.

  5. I am STILL looking for that consistent barber. So many people can’t cut a line to save their life. And I don’t always want to have to go to Downtown LA to get a haircut but I might have to start.

  7. Where do you live, Christian? I live up in Santa Clarita and have had great success with Apollos Barber Shop up there, particularly with Mike, but I’ve heard good things about the others too. Let me know and I can give you more info if your up this way. Have you found a good tailor not in downtown?

  8. Specifically, I live in San Pedro (10 minutes from Long Beach). Horrible barbers up here bro. I need to check downtown for both a tailor and a barber. I do know of one higher end barber shop in downtown called Baxter Finley Barber shop but I have to see if they cut..well…black hair.

    It’s a general concern because not everyone knows how to.

  9. For those on long-distance-relationships, I can’ recommend “bouqs” enough – sent my girl one of these, ( waited until their “double dozen for $40) deals…and boom.

    One can never know if a company’s claims about natural sourcing or volcanic dirt are true…but when your girl tells you they look amazing 1.5 weeks later….you’re straight.

  10. Regarding tailors in Greenville, SC.

    I’m having problems finding the right tailor. The issue I keep running into is that I walk into a shop, talk about the alterations I’d like, and the alterations I end up with fit the idea of what the tailor thinks my clothes should look like. This hasn’t given me clothes that fit how I’d prefer them to.
    I have a pair of pants that were hemmed too long, a shirt that was darted when it needed to be taken in at the sides AND sleeves, the list goes on.
    I’ve reached the point where I will walk out of a shop if there is not an active dialogue between me and the tailor because I don’t see the point in paying someone unwilling to listen.

  12. Great call. Unless you’re the type who’s hell-bent on doing it all (and all right) on their own. And if you are, more power to you.

  13. Prefer this route, at least until things start getting too complicated (mine aren’t simple, but I don’t run a sole proprietorship or anything either). A man should know what’s going on with his personal/family finances. TurboTax can help you the rest of the way.

    However, I understand other people may prefer to have an ‘expert’ do them. Just make sure it’s actually an expert and not someone who is just asking whatever pops up on their screen (i.e., filling out–likely poorly–TurboTax for you and charging you for it). There are a lot of those around, so be wary.

  14. Any leads on a tailor in Los Angeles? Have been trying on the forums for years. Please don’t say Lizon.

  15. Not sure what this has to do with being a well-dressed guy…? (Says the guy who is BFFs with a Rev. Doc.)

  17. Is this a list for a well-dressed man or just men in general? Seems like if I had to construct a gaggle of friends based of professions it’d be a doctor, a lawyer, an accountant, a mechanic, and a guy with a truck

  19. Are you not getting pinned? Other than a quick hem (you should know your precise inseam) your tailor MUST pin you up wearing your clothes!

  21. I’m lucky to have #1, #2, and #4. Was surprised to find #5, but that jeweler unfortunately went out of business at the end of 2013. 🙁

  22. No, I haven’t been pinned.

    As for my precise inseam, does that change with drop of the crotch and the exact break I’m going for? Dress pants with more break and casual tapered pants with less?

  23. Haha. Brett from Art of Manliness goes to a great barber in Long Beach. Check his youtube channel for the video, which gives the location or at least the name of the barber if I remember correctly. Unfortunately, you’ll have to check if they can help you, too.

  24. Any tailor that doesn’t pin you up is not really a professional IMO. They pin and chalk the clothes as a guideline as they work. There may be some old school guys who try to talk you into the baggier fit, but you know what you want so per persistent. And you will know exactly how the finished product should fit because you’re wearing it.

    As for inseam, yes it can vary depending on your taste and type of pants. If it’s suit pants or trousers I’ll probably get it pinned up. But I’ll often buy chinos with an odd inseam on sale and just have them hemmed to 29 3/4″

  27. Definitely. If you are going to an accountant, be sure it is a CPA, or CPA office. A CPA is certified/licensed for a reason and has much more training, experience, and knowledge than the alternatives. H&R and other (shadier?) options will probably cost close to the same as a CPA, if not the same or more, and the preparer will have much less expertise/experience. The cost vs. benefit differential is not worth the risk. Doesn’t mean all CPAs are created equal, so ask people you know for a reference, look at the CPA firms track-record, etc.

    Most CPA firms (if not all?) will definitely have a much more advanced tax prep software that is input/user-knowledge driven and doesn’t have prompts; their software assumes the preparer knows what they are doing and acts accordingly, unlike TurboTax, which assumes you don’t know what you’re doing and guides you through the process.

    If you are going to an accountant/CPA, please know what’s going on with your finances; it’ll help the bill in the end anyways and will bring all the value to the relationship. Just like Joe’s 10 items above, this relationship works best when you’re a team and both parties bring something to the table. As for TurboTax, you also need to know what’s going on with your finances and what results to expect. I’ve seen it have trouble with simple stock sales reporting.

    One last thought: the other benefit of a CPA is piece-of-mind. If the IRS comes knocking on your door, you have someone in your corner to represent you and your tax return and work with them so you don’t have to (as much). That alone can be a huge benefit over self-prepared tax information when it comes to that.

  29. Thanks Scott. I just can’t believe that Los Angeles doesn’t have a plethora of tailors. I think we do, but I just can’t find them!

  33. Finally found my guy when I bought my house. He’s been cutting hair since the 60s and he’s an italian ex-boxer named Rocky. Too legit too quit.

  34. If doctor is on there, dentist sure should be. They deal not only with your pain but with your outward appearance. Having a bad dentist can ruin your mouth and your smile. A good one will be able to work wonders

  35. Los Angeles is big- what part of town are you in? I had a good tailor in Westwood and another in north Orange County when I lived there

  36. Been to a bunch, not been happy with any of them. Was going to a lady on Columbia Pike in Arlington, but she closed or moved. So unfortunately my answer is “no”. But I’m also interested in someone who can answer yes and tell us where.

  37. Aaron, try Just Sew behind Haywood Mall. I get shirts, vests, jeans, etc. tailored there and they’re great. They do pin you, by the way. Give it a shot.

  41. Anyone is Chicago that knows a good tailor (hemming, shortening sleeves, tightening shirts etc.)?

  42. If you can make it there try Gustavo’s Tailoring on Westwood Blvd. His crafsmanship is solid and he never did me wrong. God, I miss LA tailors. There are literally zero tailors of quality here in Austin.

  45. Another guy from Greenville here, I’ve been looking for a decent tailor. Gonna have to check out Just Sew. Awesome!

  46. If you’re not remembered at your regular haunts, you may not be tipping enough. If you are tipping enough, remembering the barman’s/woman’s name is a start. If extra effort on your part isn’t paying off, perhaps a new haunt is in order. Some people in the service industry can’t be arsed to go the extra mile. Having been both tarbender and customer, being remembered as a regular in either role makes for a better experience all around. In my black book, I had a list of birthdays and anniversaries, as well as a list of preferred wines, drinks and menu items. Paid my way through school that way.

  48. Man, I am just getting into wearing a sport coat with jeans and a nice pair of shoes. I would love to be able to find a $50 sport coat that I knew a tailor could fix. How do you even do that?

  49. My old barbershop, Razorbacks in LB (Belmont heights) is great. Spent 4 years going there. I prefer Scotty or Pedro – the same guys that put out Imperial product. For a tailor, Nina at Susan European Dressmaker can tailor any of your tops to perfection and is just down the street from Razorbacks.

  50. I’d never heard of them, but it looks like a great service. I’ll be trying them out for V-day. Thanks for the tip!

  51. You know, I had just remembered Razorbacks and that barber Pedro. At Northern Grade’s pop up shop in downtown he gave me a hightop in the middle of the whole event. He did a decent job too. Will have to check them again!

    Thanks for tailor tip too!

  53. Absolutely right about the florist. I have a florist I can email from a trip and have her send flowers to my wife. Or I go in and see her before I leave and arrange what’s to be delivered on what dates. She saves the bills and I go in to pay for it when I return.

  54. Definitely thanks for the tip on bouqs. Used ’em for Mother’s Day which while much less romantic, there’s a far greater chance of death of mom doesn’t get her flowers.

  55. Bam. Saved yet another life. (You’re my first today…Hopefully ill round out around 15)

    Stay on top of Bouqs man, they do a lot of “double bouquets for single price ” deals – and to be honest – had far higher quality buds than any of of the other online-order services I’ve tried. (Seriously, those things were concerningly large)

  56. I love my barber; he’s done a kick-ass job on my hair since I was 5 years old. Unfortunately, he’s about 30 minutes away right now, and so I can’t get over there as often as I wish.

    Speaking of “not in my area,” my favorite barista and bartender are both at a small place in my former city of Waco…. two hours away. It’s unfortunate, but it does name a trip to Waco to visit friends even more of a treat. (Coincidentally, the barista is more important to me than the bartender…. I’m more of a coffee person than a liquor person.)

  57. Really in need of a good tailor in Atlanta. Mine just closed down after I had been going to her for 2 years…