Albam (© Ed Marshall)
London's best menswear shops
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By Time Out Consume editors
Posted: Tue May 20 2008 -
Contemporary menswear in London is a long way from Grace Brothers and seedy floorwalkers with ever-ready tape measures; the capital caters to the fashion-conscious or traditionally minded gent with a range of great shops
Bookshops | Fashion boutiques | Department stores | Erotica and Lingerie Gifts | Health & beauty | High street | Interiors | Jewellery | Menswear | Shoes Specialist | Sports & Technology | Vintage fashion | Shopping Awards 2008
Albam
Late last year Alastair Rae and James Shaw’s excellent menswear line, Albam, jumped off the internet and into its first store, on Beak Street, W1. Their refined yet rather manly aesthetic soon won them a loyal fanbase, dressing well-heeled gents, fashion editors and regular guys who appreciate Albam’s no-nonsense style. Not bad for a former mail-order fashion label from Nottingham. With a focus on classic, high-quality design with a subtle retro edge (as inspiration they have cited the book ‘Steve McQueen: The Last Mile’, Barbara McQueen’s photo-document of the late actor), their store is the label’s unofficial clubhouse: airy and minimal, but unselfconsciously warm and friendly. Bestsellers like their Fisherman’s Cagoule (£160) and Classic T-Shirt (£25) periodically sell out, having popped up in style mags and Saturday supplements the week before. In short, James and Alastair offer the ‘backbone’ of a man’s wardrobe without, it seems, bothering too much about fickle trends. It’s a brave move, considering the glut of expensive chain stores just a few steps away on Carnaby Street, but for Alastair and James it has paid off.
Best buy Waffle-knit cardigan, £135.
23 Beak St, W1 (020 3157 7000/www.albamclothing.com) Oxford Circus tube.
Feature continuesAdvertisementB Store
Presenting leftfield design around the small, cult B Footwear range, the B Store attracts the capital’s waspish fashion fans to clip clop along Savile Row, shirking traditional bespoke suiting for Peter Jensen’s patchwork sneakers or Siv Støldal’s ‘Mirror’ digital-print shirt, £165. Look out for owners Matthew Murphy and Kirk Beattie’s excellent B Clothing collection in store this summer.
Best buy Opening Ceremony wedge sandal £155.
24a Savile Row, W1 (020 7734 6846/www.bstorelondon.com) Oxford Circus tube.
A Butcher of Distinction
Labels Haversack, Nom de Guerre and Brit classic Steven Alan are strewn over butcher-block tables and meat hooks. Look out for the newly acquired Margaret Howell main collection, her MHL label, London stalwart YMC.
Best buy Hi-top boat shoe by Red Wing £120.
11 Dray Walk, The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, E1 (020 7770 6111) Liverpool St tube/rail.
Library (© Andrew Brackenbury) Library
Rare books are the clever afterthought of this unique west London men’s boutique, stocking fashion heavyweights Dries Van Noten and Alexander McQueen alongside younger leftfield labels like Carol Christian Poell, Kolor, PRPS and Kohzo jeans and Claire Tough knitwear.
Best buy Kolor cotton jersey jacket £600.
268 Brompton Rd, SW3 (020 7589 6569) South Kensington tube.
Sefton
Sefton’s unique take on men’s fashion in suffused with humour. Check out the Comme des Garçons KAWS wallets and polka-dot undies – and Alexander McQueen, Marni and Edwin and Acne Jeans also all swing from Sefton’s rails.
Best buy Alexander McQueen silver rainbow tie £65.
196 Upper Street, N1 (020 7226 7076/www.seftonfashion.com) Highbury & Islington tube/rail.
Norton & Sons
Norton & Sons was established in 1821 by English tailor Walter Grant Norton to make clothes for young City gents. The company cuts simple, classically proportioned clothes in the finest British cloths. Recent collaborations with Kim Jones, Giles, House of Holland and Richard Nicoll have catapulted the tailors into the twenty-first century.
Best buy Henry Holland cashmere T-shirt for Norton & Son £300.
16 Savile Row, W1 (020 7437 0829/www.nortonandsons.co.uk) Green Park tube.
Matches Menswear
With brands including Marc Jacobs, Martin Margiela, Miu Miu, Paul Smith and Prada, Matches menswear is leading the pack in the modern menswear boutique category.
Best buy Lanvin boat shoes £465.
64 Ledbury Rd, W11 (020 7 221 0255/www.matchesfashion.com) Notting Hill Gate tube.
Designworks
Established in London in 1965, the Designworks concept celebrates ‘New Brit Style’ by fusing traditional clothing with a contemporary British sensibility. Selling Designworks’ own label, the Soho store also stocks exclusive collaborations with new and established designers.
Best buy Designworks shirt £95
42-44 Broadwick St, W1 (020 7434 1968/www.designworkslondon.co.uk) Oxford Circus tube.
Topman
Under the watchful eye of design director Gordon Richardson, Topman manages to provide casual basics for the nation’s youths, as well as keeping London fashionistas happy. Sponsoring the MAN menswear catwalk event at London Fashion Week provides much needed support for new designers.
Best buy Red checked shirt £28.
214 Oxford St, W1 (020 7636 7700/www.topman.com) Oxford Circus tube
Slam City Skates
With boardwear the default outfit of floppy-haired teens and over-30-year-old skaters who should, by rights, have hung up their decks long ago, Slam City Skates has been at the centre of the capital’s skate culture for more than 20 years. The small store houses Slam’s own T-shirt and board line, and choice brands including Vans, Penfield and cute London label Suburban Bliss. Your ollie kickflip never looked so good.
Best buy Shut deck £49.95.
16 Neal’s Yard, WC2 (020 7240 0928/www.slamcity.com) Covent Garden tube.
Bookshops | Fashion boutiques | Department stores | Erotica and Lingerie Gifts | Health & beauty | High street | Interiors | Jewellery | Menswear | Shoes Specialist | Sports & Technology | Vintage fashion | Shopping Awards 2008- Add your comment to this feature
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10 comments
this article is totally out of date as designworks & a butcher of distinction have both closed down. Son of a stag in 91 brick lane should be listed as top shop in london or the best menswear in england. I am a difficult customer at the best of times but they managed to sort me out very easily & their knowledge on denim jeans is extremly impressive. I have become a regular already. They have the biggest collections in england of edwin jeans and other japanese brands including studio dartisan , allevol , japanesse lee jeans , pointer shoes , viberg boots , sunspel & numerous other brands. They do free alterations on the spot , home delivery service , denim jeans repair service , denim jeans laundry by hand , denim jeans customisation by hand , free alterations on the spot - best mens wear in selection offered , product knowledge on jeans, really friendly service , honesty , pricing , attention to detail & relaxed environment (non-pretentious ). Open 7 days a week 020 7247 3333
i want job in london rpl fast
The best secondhand designer clothes shop FOR MEN is L'Homme Designer Exchange, 50 Blandford Street, London W1U 7HX - 02072243266 it has all the top labels, Gucci, Prada, Dolce Gabbana, Brioni, Dior, Alexandre Mcqueen, Dsquared etc - the clothes are used by stylists, magazine, film, tv, catwalk peices, movie stars etc most are only a few seasons old in fantastic condition and great prices - for men of all ages and styles from the outragoeus to conservative. You can also sell your old peices on a consignment basis - but they are very selective - be prepared to see loads of clothes in a small shop but they are easily sized etc - the best consignment store for guys I have ever been too ascessories and lugage by Louis Viutton and Gucci too - Hermes - it is jsut amazing -open mon-sat 11.30-4.30. about 10 mins wak form Baker St tube and 10 mins walk from Sefridges 0ff Marylebone High Street
been to son of stag in brick lane e1 & it is probably the best store if you want the best jeans ever. Got some great studio dartisan jeans & good advise about looking after them. They even offer specialist denim laundering, denim customisation, & also a repair service. Have left 2 old pairs behind for repair and laundering. Went on sunday & got great service even though they were rammed / only change to make is get more fitting rooms but well worth the 5 mins wait for fitting room or avoid sunday afternoon. Son of a stag 02072473333
sorry,
try dover street market, they hae a great selection of everything,
fragrances
accessories
and clothing,
the store is owned by comme des garcons, and is stocked with a selection of more underground/avante garde brands. they have some great collaborations: fred perry/levis/lewis leather and others, all reworked professionally by international designers.
always well worth visiting. a few of the brands if popular will end up being filtered into other stores like Liberties and selvridges,
hello
T.Burrows 36 James Street, St Christophers Place, near
selfridges has the best collection of plain colour shirts and
by far the largest plain T shirt colours in london,has been established for 25 years and is well worth a visit
Can anyone tell me which are the best,most stylish menswear brands in his opinion?Or at least redirect me to an article..Don't care about how much they cost..Thanks.
Yeah, you are right. Cool store but go there during the week or Saturday - get much better service as it gets packed on Sunday after mid day. I live near by and I have seen some very cool people in there getting loaded on decent denim. Some one else told me that it is the biggest Edwin supplier in the UK - and surely one of the biggest in Europe. Bought the Takumi jeans from them and also the new sen skinny without the cinch last week. The guy told me that they would relax after about 6 wears and made me go a size down to normal and I think he is right. He had a pair of Selvage jeans from Sweden but was a sample for next season so couldn't buy them but looked blinding.
He also talked me out of dry cleaning my jeans and also stopped me buying another pair of jeans which he didn't like on me - fair play - i trust the guy - he is not only after money - he obviosly wants me to stay loyal - i am hooked.
check out son of a stag in Dray Walk. The guys there seem to be in a different league when it comes to denim. They stock ana mazing amount of cool Japanese brands including some exclusive brands for Europe including Takumi, Wahoojin and also have an amazing selection of Edwin Jeans. Denim Haven come to London at this store. Their number 0207 247 3333.
Spoke to a denim nut - ask for Andy