Brick-and-mortar retail has taken a big hit in recent years. As brick and mortar stores have been forced to close their physical doors, they’ve pivoted all of their attention to digital channels. The shift hasn’t been easy for any one store, but there are many now thriving in the digital realm. Whether you’re looking for quality basics, niche designers or luxury labels, these are the best places to shop online right now.
The Standards
If you’re looking for a wide style selection with a deep inventory, there are a handful of retailers to choose from. These have a strong online presence with brands and designers that span the fashion spectrum. Whether you’re up-to-date on the latest designers or just need to re-up on the basics, these are the ones to know.
Mr Porter
About: Mr Porter’s range of goods stretches from the street to the sartorial and everything in-between. In addition to its far-reaching selection of luxury goods, it also produces top-notch editorial content.
Brands: Lemaire, Kapital, Noah, Kiton, Off-White
End.
About: Based in the UK, End. offers a wide range of brands in an equally wide array of styles from streetwear to workwear to avant-garde and minimalist.
Brands: Acne Studios, Carhartt WIP, Nike, Thom Browne, Visvim
Huckberry
About: Huckberry has you covered from your closet to your EDC to your home. You’ll find an array of classic Americana styles next to performance athletic gear and top-notch grooming products and much more.
Brands: Flint & Tinder, Taylor Stitch, Relwen, Rhodes, Mystery Ranch, Billykirk
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Avante-Garde and Streetwear
Maybe you’re into Fashion with a capital ‘F’. These stores have a penchant for the cutting edge and the next-up. From punk labels, upcoming streetwear names and cult Japanese brands, these retailers have got you covered from head to toe.
Haven
About: A stalwart of hard-to-find Japanese labels and techwear, Canada’s Haven is a mecca for those who love the Japanese side of streetwear.
Brands: A Bathing Ape, Hobo, Junya Watanabe, Sacai, Sasquatch Fabrics, Wacko Mario, Undercover
Dover Street Market
About: Dover Street Market is a place to discover new brands and does the high-low juggle better than almost every other store out there. As the brainchild of Rei Kawakubo, you’ll find all of Comme Des Garçon’s sublabels, but you’ll also them next to skate brands and up-and-coming designers.
Brands: Supreme, Noah, Comme Des Garçons, Affix, Brain Dead, Palace, Random Identities, Doublet
Union
About: For decades Union has been servicing the streetwear world but has since expanded its offering to include next-level designers, often being among the first to introduce the world to the next hot item.
Brands: Martine Rose, Thom Browne, Bianca Chandon, Camp High, Eden Power Corp., Jacques Marie Mage, Toga Virilis
SSENSE
About: Another site worth reading and shopping, SSENSE is a go-to for those who love designer labels (and their dogs, too).
Brands: Eckhaus Latta, Gucci, Rick Owens, S.R. STUDIO, L.A. C.A., The Elder Statesman, Ziggy Chen, Marsell
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Japanese and Workwear
More into the Japanese/Americana vibe? There’s no shortage of retailers that serve up eastern takes on western classics from lauded brands like Engineered Garments, Visvim and Kapital. Some of these stores lean more heavily into the denim and workwear worlds while others occupy the more wabi-sabi. Either way you go, you’ll likely get your fix at any one of these stores.
Nepenthes
About: As the umbrella for many of today’s trendsetting brands, Nepenthes is a must for those who like to experiment with their style.
Brands: Needles, South2 West8, Engineered Garments, Suicoke, Tricker’s
About: Standard & Strange’s stock list is seriously impressive and the Oakland-based shop continues to secure labels that no other store manages to obtain. Fans of denim, workwear and repro should have this shop at the top of their list.
Brands: Kapital, The Real McCoy’s, John Lofgren, Wesco, Viberg, Indigofera, Peanuts, Ooe Yofukuten
Self Edge
About: Self Edge is credited with introducing a number of Japanese labels to the States and if you’ve heard of a hardcore denim brand, it’s likely because of them.
Brands: Roy, Merz B. Schwanen, The Flat Head, Iron Heart, Nine Lives, Masahiro Murayama, Human Made, Studio d’Artisan, Good Art, Fine Creek Leathers
Mannahatta
About: Mannahatta has caught the eyes of fashion obsessives, high-profile celebs and big-time rappers thanks to its deep stock of hard-to-get brands like Kapital and Rude Gallery.
Brands: Kapital, Rude Gallery, TS(s), Left Field NYC, Groover Spectacles, Mountain Research, W’menswear
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Sartorial and Suiting
Some guys like to get dressed and like to enjoy their Sundays shining shoes when they’re not buttoning up a bespoke sport coat. Retailers in this category focus their attention on fine tailoring, mixing hand-stitched shirts with custom suiting and artisanally-crafted accessories.
Sid Mashburn
About: A champion of tailored casual, Atlanta-based Sid Mashburn is just one of the many successful Ralph Lauren alumni. The brand hits a sweet spot between sartorial and laidback, so if you like a mix of Italian tailoring and perfectly-fitting washed out five-pocket jeans, Sid Mashburn is one to bookmark.
Brands: Sid Mashburn, Levi’s, Aspesi, Allen Scura, Drake’s
The Armoury
About: First started in Hong Kong, The Armoury has garnered attention for its high-level of taste when it comes to tailored goods. It stocks some of the world’s foremost artisanal brands, many of which do bespoke work.
Brands: The Armoury, Ring Jacket, Carmina, Bresciani, Ambrosi, Nigel Cabourn, Koji Suzuki
No Man Walks Alone
About: Born online from fashion forums, No Man Walks Alone has a wider range of styles beyond its strong sartorial set, making it a one-stop shop for many a style enthusiast.
Brands: Sortoria Formosa, G. Inglese, Abasi Rosborough, Kuon, Inis Meain, James Grose, De Bonne Facture, Fujito
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Small and Curated
In person, these stores are somewhat hidden gems. The shops may not have a large physical footprint, but they make up for that with a stellar brand list, often stocking labels you’ve never heard before. It may not be the flashiest of getups, but these brands display an uber discerning eye as few others can.
Neighbour
About: Neighbour’s clean aesthetic and discerning brand list is in rarified air, often upping the appeal of its already-lauded labels.
Brands: Tender, Camiel Fortgens, Our Legacy, Auralee, Bode, Casey Casey
County Ltd.
About: County Ltd.’s mix of rare vintage furniture and scrupulous brand list make it one of the most unique stores online and in-person.
Brands: Mfpen, Evan Kinori, Lady White Co., Phigvel
C’H’C’M’
About: New York-based C’H’C’M’ is one of the most focused stores out there. The labels it stocks are meticulously chosen and make for a tight list that all go together effortlessly. You’ll also find a selection of home goods in partnership with Bay Area-based Book/Shop, just in case you weren’t fully-settle on its taste level.
Brands: Margaret Howell, Paa, Sunspel, Arpenteur, orSlow, MAN-TLE, Niuhans, Wild Bunch
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Iconic Department Stores
And of course, there is the old guard — department stores you and your parents grew up shopping. The time-tested big box stores are still kicking and they’ve probably got what you’re looking for, whether it’s a gift for a loved one or for yourself. You’ll find a bevy of designer fragrances, standby suiting, classic high-end names and much more.
Nordstrom
About: Nordstrom has been around since 1901, steadily growing from a mom and pop Seattle shop to one of the biggest retail chains on the planet thanks to its over-the-top customer service and wide selection. It’s an old standby when it comes to suiting but has, in recent years, also become a go-to for niche labels.
Brands: Paul Smith, Gucci, Noon Goons, Adidas, Clarks, Top Shop
Neiman Marcus
About: A few years younger than Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus has been counted on for its range of designer goods since its founding in Dalls, Texas in 1907.
Brands: Alexander McQueen, Ermengildo Zegna, Saint Laurent, Versace, Vince
Bergdorf Goodman
About: A New York institution, Bergdorf Goodman was got its start as a tailor shop in 1899. Shortly after, it became the first store to introduce ready-to-wear clothes. Today, you can look to it for top-shelf designers as well as hot streetwear labels.
Brands: Brunello Cucinelli, Tom Ford, Prada, Valentino, Burberry
