The Year in Co-Educational Boutique Shopping
Though Owen (809 Washington St., nr. Gansevoort St.; 212-524-9770) is known mostly for its bold women’s looks, the third of the store that’s menswear includes hard-to-find T-shirts from British designer Katie Eary ($350) plus more distinctive designs from Acne, Alexander Wang, and 3.1 Phillip Lim. Nearby, at Personnel (9 Greenwich Ave., nr. W. 10th St.; 212-924-0604; left), a big chunk of the store is stocked with elevated casual basics for men, like artisan-made wares from Industry of All Nations ($65 to $280), as well as Pierre Mahéo’s sporty Parisian line, Officine Generale ($110 to $320). In Williamsburg, the minimal boutique Swords-Smith (98 S. 4th St., nr. Berry St.; 347-599-2969) stocks nearly half the store with menswear, including tees and knits from the Danish brand Soulland ($65 to $200) and English tailored shirts from Common People ($175 to $200).
The Year in Flashy Labels
After Bottega Veneta (right) opened a men’s-only store (23 E. 67th St., nr. Madison Ave.; 212-879-5780) in June 2012—selling bags and other accessories, plus the ready-to-wear line—Lanvin followed suit around the corner at the beginning of 2013. The latter’s storefront for guys (807 Madison Ave., nr. 68th St.; 212-812-2866) offers a wall of designer sneakers as well as sharp black-tie options. Downtown, Hedi Slimane’s first American update of Saint Laurent opened in June (80 Greene St., nr. Spring St.; 212-431-3240). It’s strewn with spare vintage furniture and the entire men’s ready-to-wear collection, from asymmetrical moto jackets ($4,900) to a long rabbit-fur coat exclusive to the location this fall ($17,500). Most recently, Tom Ford (845 Madison Ave., nr. 70th St.; 212-359-0300) expanded by a whopping 13,000 square feet, adding a new fragrance-and-eyewear salon for guys.
The Year in Old-Timey Barbers
Sam Buffa, a founder with Taavo Somer of the F.S.C. Barber empire, has gone solo and moved his operation, now called Fellow Barber, to Soho (33 Crosby St., nr. Broome St.; 212-929-6014). There’s a new focus on “apothecary” products and, soon, classes, like Cut Throat 101, which teaches men to straight-razor at home by practicing on a balloon. At Decatur & Sons (Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Ave., nr. 16th St.; 646-470-7288), pictured left, former F.S.C. manager Thorin Decatur sells Harry’s Razors ($10) and Ursa Major face wash ($26), and offers standard services ($12 for a neck cleanup; $45 for a full haircut). Uptown, eShave (1025 Third Ave., nr. 60th St.; 212-838-1515; opening Sept. 15) sells its own shaving creams ($22) and throwback badger-brush shaving sets ($198), and provides grooming from $20 to $40.
The Year in Gussied-Up Department Stores
As part of an ongoing storewide renovation, Barneys New York (660 Madison Ave., nr. 61st St.; 212-826-8900) finished its men’s floor (on six) last month, with a private made-to-measure salon and the latest from Ermenegildo Zegna, Brioni, Giorgio Armani, and other mostly Italian brands. Over at Saks Fifth Avenue (611 Fifth Ave., nr. 50th St.; 212-753-4000), this fall’s renovation will welcome special areas for Dolce & Gabbana, ZZegna, Brunello Cucinelli, plus Salvatore Ferragamo’s first New York shop-in-a-shop. A $400 million overhaul of Macy’s (151 W. 34th St., at Broadway; 212-695-4400) is under way, including new Ralph Lauren and Lacoste sections on floor two and, on the ground floor, a men’s grooming section with an Art of Shaving outpost. This winter, Bergdorf Goodman (754 Fifth Ave., nr. 58th St.; 212-753-7300) will complete the first full renovation of its men’s store; a “leather-goods area” will debut in late September.