"Best" of Greater Cleveland's Menswear Shops

[Lafont]

Following the "Best of.... " series that appear in the local magazines and newspapers, here's my important list of the "best" shops in Greater Cleveland devoted to new menswear. The majority carry some women's as well, unfortunately.

Brooks Brothers, of which we have two (plus the outlet), is a category in itself. I am a Brooks Brothers afficianado; know much the history of the old, old company; have good discussions with many of its managers and salespersons; and visit them in many cities. But it is a chain after all - be it an illustrious one.

Of our independents the top would have to be Cuffs (the very top) and, after that, in alphabetical order: Adesso, Christophier, the new j3, and Kilgour Trout. Cuffs is fabulous - Victorian house in Chagrin Falls setting with all sorts of Early American and European furnishings and amenities, much British or British-style and French-designed and -made menswear, and even its own separate art gallery with French ambience. Staff treat the customer with respect, and they even have sales once in a while.

Joseph Scafidi is also high grade and has a definite London Savile Row air (Italian version), but one simply cannot find many kinds of clothing there, with its boutique dimensions and concentration on dressy attire and tailoring.

Honorable mentions of quality, but definitely not up to the first group in terms of variety or exclusivity: Ford's Clothier, Gentleman's Quarters, Peters for Men, Ticknor's.

I shall not get into vintage/pre-owned here, but I guess one can say we have our share - particularly on the West Side.

Comments, anyone?

 

[Lafont]

[ATTACHMENT=3361]cuffs_clothing_chagrin_falls_ohio_11.jpg (446k. jpg file)[/ATTACHMENT]

 

[hugeevilrobot]

Kilgour Trout? Is the shop owned by Kurt Vonnegut?

 

[lee_44106]

Cuffs is really a gem. Very hard to imagine that such a fine mens store is tucked away in the middle of Ohio.

It's kind of like how Louis Boston used to be, in its heyday.

 

[thinman]



Cuffs is really a gem. Very hard to imagine that such a fine mens store is tucked away in the middle of Ohio.
It's kind of like how Louis Boston used to be, in its heyday.

I may need to make a road trip soon. I live in Pittsburgh and it's truly a wasteland, unable to support even a Saks 5th Ave. One of the national magazines recently named Pittsburgh one of the three worst-dressed cities in the US and described the local style as "sports fan casual or meth lab formal". Ouch! Painful, but true.

Does Cuffs have sales on any kind of regular schedule?

 

[Lafont]

I think the standard "after Christmas" and likely "after Father's Day." Not sure when else. Sometimes they've surprised me, like when they had a small portion of their Charvet or Arnys ties 50% off!....

As we're getting a Tiffany's next year, and I was just in Pittsburgh and entranced with certain things, I looked to see if Pittsburgh has a Tiffany's. Apparently you're getting one in October, at a large suburban mall that includes a Sears and a Penney's. Odd - all at the same mall! Are the more upscale stores - I see there's a Crate & Barrel, for example - segregated in one section?

And we do have a Saks - since 1978.

 

[F. Corbera]

I can't wait to go to Cleveland someday.

 

[thinman]

The Pittsburgh Saks closed last Spring...and I missed their final sale.

I suspect you're talking about Ross Park Mall in the "North Hills", which includes a Nordstroms. The menswear stores in Pittsburgh are pretty limited and include a Brooks Brothers, Larrimor's (the best in Pittsburgh, IMO, but on the conservative side), Heinz Healey's (lots of sack suits, tweed, and Alden shoes), and Charles Spiegel (a little on the flashy side, think Santoni shoes, Eton shirts, etc.). All but Charles Spiegel are downtown; Charles Spiegel is in Squirrel Hill.

 

[thinman]



I can't wait to go to Cleveland someday.

LOL. And I'm sure that Cleveland just as eagerly awaits your visit.

 

[Lafont]

Almost the opposite here. We have the one BB downtown and Joseph Scafidi. The others are away. With some notable exceptions our "high-end corridor" is East Side: Legacy Village, through Beachwood Place and La Place, toward and down Chagrin Boulevard, ending at Chagrin Falls.

 

[Lafont]

I guess to complete the concept here I should say that, although a department store chain is hardly an indie featuring very high-level menswear, the mens' departments of our Saks and Nordstrom's deserve to be mentioned here along with these better shops. Saks, in particular.