My Top Six Gentlemen's Outfitters

As promised in my last post on the subject: 
http://thestudenttailor.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/a-cause-for-concern-demise-of_30.html here follows my shortlist of those Gentlemen's Outfitters that I've been fortunate enough to find and admire on my travels. Of all the shops I've come across, these are the ones to visit. Here's hoping that one of them is near you!

Simmonds of Tunbridge Wells, doesn't have a website unfortunately, but if you're ever in the area, you must look them up - exquisite ranges of jackets, blazers and tailored separates. The shop also stocks its very highly fabricated own line of formal wear and suiting, hosting a personal tailoring service and some interesting high-end Italian ranges.

Lugets of Exeter is perhaps my favourite shop out of all those listed here. I discovered the place years ago on holiday as I was just developing my passion for menswear and its everything that a good, modern gentleman's outfitter's should be. The store design is modern and welcoming whilst still feeling luxurious and sartorial, and the stock is modern and desirable - Paul Smith mixes with Hackett and Magee and the off the peg products also rub shoulders with a bespoke tailoring service. The flamboyance of the place is great, and I love it! 

http://www.lugets.com/

I've put these two together quite simply because as an Oxford student, they're inseparable. Shepherd and Woodward and Walters of Oxford are literally down the road from one another in the city centre, and both stock exquisite ranges of tailoring, shirting, shoes and gentlemen's accoutrements. Walters hosts a number of desirable British brands: Magee, Hackett, Daks and Bladen to name but a few. The shop also keeps a marvelous, seasonal line of hats and hosts a traditional barbershop. Shepherd and Woodward stock a wonderful selection of both winter and summer tweeds from Scottish tweed makers, and also their own range of business and lounge suiting, in modern cuts and cloths. Both also offer a full range of occasion wear and academic dress, naturally.

http://www.shepherdandwoodward.co.uk/

http://www.walters-oxford.co.uk/menswear

I discovered this next shop whilst performing in the Edinburgh Fringe festival last summer. Walker Slater is, I'll wager, the best place in the country to go for tweed. In addition to a full bespoke service, the shop hosts its own exquisite collection of modern tweed tailoring, in small, special edition runs of especially commissioned tailored pieces in unique house cloths. Last summer I took away a fully canvassed tweed blazer in a rich purple twee with lilac and turquoise two tone overchecks - you won't get country cloth like it anywhere else! They even have a London shop - need I say more?

http://www.walkerslater.com/

For those of you who live a little further afield, a few years ago I also was fortunate enough to stumble across Hawkes of Cardiff. A modern, exciting gentlemen's outfitter stock sharp brands like Remus Uomo and even Ozwald Boateng's off the peg range. The shop also prides itself on great customer service, and rightly so - the staff are respectful, knowledgeable and couldn't be more helpful.

http://www.hawkesessentials.com/

I could give you more; there are some fantastic outfitters in Cambridge, Leicester, Henley and Marlow that I've come across in my time, but those are my top six and I hope that this will encourage you to make a pilgrimage to one of them soon!