Which place is a must see in London and NYC.....

[kolecho]

I am a trip coming up to London and NYC. I would like to visit some of the sartorial institutions there. I have 1 to 1.5 days over the weekend to do some visits and perhaps some shopping. Any suggestions?

 

[newyorker]

A diversified top three for New York: A full-price upscale retailer: Bergdorf Goodman - Men's Store (Midtown East) http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com For full-price Italian casual wear: Massimo Bizzocchi (Meatpacking District) http://www.newyorkmetro.com/nymetro....71 A discounted clothing store: Century 21 (Downtown Manhattan) http://www.c21stores.com/home_page.asp

 

[Manton]

So much one could say. What kind of places are you interested in? Big stores, small shops? What items?

The most famous institutions in London are the bespoke houses. Some are "browser friendly", some less so. But there are so many one could name that it would help to know a little more about what you are most interested in.

 

[kolecho]

So much one could say. Â What kind of places are you interested in? Â Big stores, small shops? Â What items? The most famous institutions in London are the bespoke houses. Â Some are "browser friendly", some less so. Â But there are so many one could name that it would help to know a little more about what you are most interested in.

How about some browser-friendly bespoke houses in London? I am also planning to visit some small specialist stores like EG, C&J, Swaine Adeney, Daines Hathaway, Mandarina Duck (for a briefcase). Guess I am interested in bespoke suits, shoes, leather goods, and some trendy accessories for good measure

Is there an equivalent of Century 21 in London? Some discount Pantharella socks wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

[jmswentworth]

Quote:

(Manton @ April 26 2005,06:27) So much one could say. Â What kind of places are you interested in? Â Big stores, small shops? Â What items? The most famous institutions in London are the bespoke houses. Â Some are "browser friendly", some less so. Â But there are so many one could name that it would help to know a little more about what you are most interested in.
How about some browser-friendly bespoke houses in London? I am also planning to visit some small specialist stores like EG, C&J, Swaine Adeney, Daines Hathaway, Mandarina Duck (for a briefcase). Â Guess I am interested in bespoke suits, shoes, leather goods, and some trendy accessories for good measure Â

Is there an equivalent of Century 21 in London? Â Some discount Pantharella socks wouldn't be a bad idea.

Is there an equivalent of Century 21 in London? Some discount Pantharella socks wouldn't be a bad idea.

No. The closest thing would be Bicester Village, (about 45 mins away from the westend, up the M40). And that is paltry compared to US outlets. The sales in Harrods etc. are very good though.

 

[RJman]

I would go to Harrods if only to see a 21st-century version of Bosch's depictions of Armageddon. It is huge and overwhelming, packed full of tourists and as tasteless as its owner Al-Kalra, I mean Fayed (the Al- prefix is self-titled).

Richard James on Savile Row, equally Kilgour and Spencer Hart if only to see some very splashy RTW houses pretending to be tailors -- beautiful furnishings and accessories though. Same deal with Nick Tentis on Avery Row.

Paul Smith has a sale shop on Avery Row as well.

For cool big shops, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and Liberty are all fantastic. I love the top-floor restaurant at HN.

Fortnum & Mason is soooo touristy but it's such fun to muck around -- and their informal eatery is very yummy.

If you're looking for a briefcase also try Pickett Fine Leather.

On Jermyn Street Budd in Piccadilly Arcade is fascinating if tiny. Almost all Jermyn St makers sell Pantherella socks (don't think Pink or NL do, and the standard Tyrwhitt socks are not either), so you can comparison shop there. The most fun Pantherella socks are at Richard James.

I've heard the Connolly shop on Conduit St is really interesting.

Paul Smith's flagship is pretty cool too -- he always has some whimsical and ballsy accessory from a toothbrush to whatever.

You might want to try Old Hat and Bertie Wooster, the vintage stores.

 

[Manton]

In my experience, Poole is the most "browser friendly" of the Savile Row houses. Not counting, of course, Kilgour and Gieves, with their big retail, RTW operations on the street level, which are quite browser friendly, but the bespoke rooms are like private sanctums. Andrew Ramroop at Maurice Sedwell can also be a most voluable fellow, and he knows nearly everything about tailoring.

Lobb on St. James is worth a browse. The people are not rude. More than likely you will be approached once (after about ten minutes of being in the shop) and then ignored. Foster's on Jermyn Street is much the same way.

Just walk the length of Jermyn Street from St. James to Regent Street for accessories, shirts, ties, etc. The three arcades -- Burlington, Piccadilly, and Princess -- are also musts. If you hit them all, you will hit all the best shoe shops in London.

 

[RJman]

hm, Manton, do you know if it's Prince's or Princess Arcade? I used to see it called Prince's (or Princes) and lately more and more people call it Princess. Whichever way, for everyone's info it's a slightly grimy arcade off Jermyn Street (between the two Hilditch & Key stores).

 

[RJman]

Taylor of Old Bond St, on Jermyn Street, is the best value of the trad English barbers. Excellent, excellent toiletries including the best hair gel and shaving creams, top shaving brushes, and very friendly service. Nice little trad barber shop in back for a trad shave -- which is something every man should experience once and preferably not from the itinerant barbers on the streets of Mumbai.

 

[Manton]

I'm pretty sure it's "Princess". Also, I forgot to mention the Royal Arcade -- that's where Cleverley is.

 

[Kaga]

If my memory serves me correctly, it is "Princes" and not "Princess" Arcade. www.streetmap.co.uk appears to verify this.

 

[Concordia]

Truefitt & Hill is worth a visit for an excellent haircut. George Trumper on Curzon Street also has its partisans.

One tip for cruising in & out of bespoke Savile Row firms without being hassled-- say you're shopping for ties. Most sell ties, even if they are not really good at it.

BTW, I hear that Anderson & Sheppard's new premises are really stunning. They are among the most formal of firms (their visitors on the US tour address each other as "Mr. Hitchcock" and "Mr. Matthews", for example) but they are not absolutely unfriendly.

 

[Kaga]

Favourbrook makes some of the garish waistcoats I loved to wear so much on my show. They are also sold at Turnbull & Asser in NYC.

 

[bry2000]

London:

Hilditch & Key
T&A
Harrods
Locke Hatters
Swaine Adeney
Crockett & Jones
TM Lewin

 

[jester]

I got married in a Favourbrook waistcoat.

Sadly, I can now never wear it again. But I do have a less outlandish one I pull out from time to time.