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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.
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B 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