Best menswear shops in London

While others pound the busy pavements of Oxford Street, smart men know to head north to the up-and-coming menswear mecca that is Chiltern Street in well-heeled Marylebone. As well as stylish cafés and swanky cellar bars, it’s home to the award-winning Trunk Clothiers. Adding to painstakingly curated edit of hard-to-find and established brands from across the globe, Trunk recently launched its own made-to-measure suit service.

Tucked away (as most good things are) under a railway arch, Brixton’s Article is the Instagrammer’s store of choice. The contemporary menswear specialist sells everything from clothing to grooming and homeware under a canopy of minimalist fittings, light installations and a corrugated metal roof. The real gem, however, is the shoe cave, featuring the latest kicks organised by colour in front of an artfully lit wooden sculpture. No filter needed.

Men have been beating a path to this Manchester export since it found its way to the capital in 2015. The outfitter’s two-floor southern base may be smaller than the northern flagship, but there’s still a smörgåsbord of schmutter on show from the same unique mix of brands. Expect exclusive denim styles from the likes of Levi’s alongside outerwear from APC and Our Legacy.

The Content Store on Lamb’s Conduit Street is more than just a handsome space packed with tons of cool stuff. The brave and bold independent is run by retail veterans Pan Philippou and Steve Davies, who cut their teeth heading up brands such as Diesel and Ben Sherman. You know you can trust in their medley of no-nonsense, functional menswear as well as the accessories in Exmouth Market sister store Content & Co.

Sefton has been dressing Islington’s most stylish men since 1999. The owners credit a stellar showcase of pared-back menswear designers, plus staff who really know their stuff, with helping to build a cult following in the capital. We think it has something to do with the store’s rapidly growing own label and generous loyalty scheme. At least, that’s what we keep going back for.

Satisfy your appetite for niche independent brands at this award-winning retail concept in Notting Hill. Pieces by more than 600 designers from around the world are up for grabs across Wolf & Badger’s two bricks-and-mortar stores (there’s one in Mayfair too) and online, which bring together a slick selection of one-of-a-kind pieces from the worlds of clothing, footwear, grooming and gadgetry.

It’s all good in the hood at this east London indie. Since relocating to a super-sized 3,000 square-foot space in 2014, The Goodhood Store has expanded its unanimously cool curatorial to feature clothes from more than 180 brands. Over two floors, the distinctly Scandinavian space, complete with a giant log that doubles as seating, also boasts the Life Store concept, which stocks everything from stationery to skincare.

The founders of Soho-based multi-brand boutique Other/Shop already proved they have a sixth sense for cool with their last venture, bStore. Having replicated its success, Matthew Murphy and Kirk Beattie are getting ready to move to a larger outpost at 4 Berwick Street from January 2017. The new two-floor store will offer the same winning combination of staples and emerging brands alongside collaborations with the likes of Grenson and Lee denim, plus a rotating gallery-cum-customisation space.

This modest shopfront in the heart of London’s most famous market belies the spacious three-floor boutique behind it. The Garbstore (garb being the oldest English word for clothing) shares the sprawling townhouse with its womenswear counterpart, Couverture. Owner and designer Ian Paley uses his experience at Burberry, Paul Smith and Levi’s to produce an impressive own label inspired by post-WWII garments as well as ongoing sneaker tie-ups with Reebok.

If you want to avoid wearing the same outfit as someone else, you’d be well advised to pay a visit to Son of a Stag. It’s located just off Brick Lane and run by serious denimheads, who import a huge choice of rare Japanese and American workwear brands. Whether you like yours rewashed or raw, slim or wide, leave with a pair that fit like a glove thanks to the free on-the-spot alteration service.