STORE: RSVP Gallery
CITY: Chicago, IL
SINCE: 2009
OWNED BY: Don C, Marc Moran and Virgil Abloh
PRICES: $$$$$ (out of 5)
WHY WE COSIGN: After seeing what a clothing line designed by Kanye would look like, didn’t you wonder how a retail space would look with Mr. West at the managerial helm? We envision something akin to a brick and mortar version of his blog: minimalist design, a mix of high fashion and street wear collections selectively placed around pieces of exclusive art. Coincidentally, that’s exactly what his partner Don C’s boutique, RSVP is. We guess great minds think alike.
Opened this past August with Marc Moran, RSVP was devised to be much more than a retail space, ’cause, really, who the hell needs another cool guy shop? Don and Marc wanted to create a space that carried the rarified air of an art gallery, but still gave off the “warm, welcoming feel of an intimate retail boutique.” Which means while you shop, you’ll be surrounded by art from people like Mark Newson, Stephen Sprouse, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami, Kaws, and NoPattern. But that doesn’t mean there’s a lack of emphasis on stocking dope threads. RSVP carries one of the most unique and eclectic mix of brands out of any shop we can think of. What other shop do you know of can supply you with Chanel and Louis Vuitton, as well as Commes Des Garçons, Nike and G-Shock? With a super exclusive stocklist and an atmosphere to match, you would be doing yourself a disservice by not stopping by next time your in the Chi, even if it is just to look.
Read on for our interview with Marc Moran, pics of the store, and the address/web site…
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STORE: Legion
CITY: Los Angeles, CA
SINCE: 2006
OWNED BY: Ilan Bitton
PRICES: $$$$ (out of 5)
WHY WE COSIGN: Take a minute and think about your favorite clothing store. Now think about why it’s your favorite place to shop. Not that we’re telepathic or anything, but we’re guessing the shop you envisioned is your favorite not only because of the product they push, but because of the shopping experience they provide. One trip to LA’s Legion and we’re sure you’ll place them on your short list of favorite places to blow your paycheck. Besides carrying some of our favorite brands like Comme Des Garcons, Engineered Garments, Rag and Bone, and A.P.C., Legion, with its expertly designed space, is just a real chill spot to swing through. “I wanted to create an environment that not only provided an exciting shopping experience, but also one that is basically a cool place to hang out,” says owner Ilan Bitton.
Established in 2006, Bitton wanted to create a space that had all the aesthetic elements he looked for when he would go shopping: nice decor, intimacy, great customer service and a selection worth leaving your house for. Despite the stately, old money look and feel of Legion, the boutique is anything but pretentious. Their friendly and knowledgeable sales staff won’t turn a shoulder or look down their nose at you if you don’t know about Woolrich Woolen Mills or Tsovet watches. They’re more than happy to go on and on about the brands they stock, fabrics and fits. Great brands, great atmosphere, great design and great service. What more do you want out of a shop?
Read on for our interview with Ilan Bitton, pics of the store, and the address/web site…
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STORE: Burn Rubber
CITY: Royal Oak, MI
SINCE: 2004
OWNED BY: Rick Williams and Roland Coit
PRICES: $$$ (out of 5)
WHY WE COSIGN: With all the talk of the diminished auto industry and its effect on Detroit’s economy, it’s hard to think of any business prospering in the Motor City in 2009. Especially a small boutique that sells a cool crop of limited edition sneakers, t-shirts and fitteds. If you believe CNN and Fox News, people in the D are too cash strapped and depressed to conspicuously drop dough on the latest wares to stay fly, right? If that’s the case, no one told Rick Williams and Roland Coit, owners of one of Detroit’s hottest shops, Burn Rubber…
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Photos by Christina McNeill
STORE: Shotwell
CITY: San Francisco, CA
SINCE: 2008
FOUNDED BY: Holly and Michael Weaver
PRICES: $$$ (out of 5)
WHY WE COSIGN: Like you didn’t already know, the quirky, vintage-heavy hipster style has been hotter than Phoenix in July and shows no sign of cooling off. Those who want to adopt the look for themselves are usually forced to rummage through small vintage boutiques with limited selections…or Urban Outfitters. But who said Urban Outfitters was the only retail spot that could hold this aesthetic down? Straight from San Francisco, Shotwell is giving the Starbucks of urban retail a run for its money. Which is good news for you as it brings a larger and more diverse selection of options to keep you looking cooler than New York in January (ICE COLD!).
Originally selling vintage clothes out of their house, Holly and Michael Weaver opened their first store (originally located at 36 Geary St.) back in November ’08. The shop’s immediate popularity drove the duo to relocate to a spacious and multi-floored spot on 320 Grant Ave., all within a year. Standing apart from other vintage shops, Shotwell makes a point of carrying the tightest blend of vintage pieces as well as new dopeness from contemporary brands like B. Son, April 77, and Surface to Air, giving you the best of both worlds. Not in or near Frisco? No problem—the Shotwell online store will be up and running within two months. Or you could keep browsing Urban Outfitters, the choice is yours.
Read on for our interview with both Holly and Michael Weaver, pics of the store, and the address/web site…
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STORE: Wealthy Ho$tage
CITY: Brooklyn, NY
SINCE: 2005
FOUNDED BY: Gene Han
PRICES: $$$ (out of 5)
WHY WE COSIGN: As far as we can remember, Manhattan’s Soho district has been the place to cop the latest sneakers, T-shirts, fitteds, and basically anything else considered to be poppin’ in the streetwear world. But while Manhattan always held us down, until recently not much could be said about the other four boroughs (except Vinnie’s Styles, we see you!) Back in 2005, Gene Han noticed the void in Brooklyn and decided to fill it by opening his own boutique: Wealthy Ho$tage. Dedicated to stocking only the dopest product it can get its hands on and giving new brands a chance to shine, this shop is helping to make BK a desired cool-guy shopping destination.
Located just south of Prospect Park on Church Ave., Wealthy Ho$tage specializes in kicks, T-shirts and hoodies, denim, and accessories—basically everything you need to get fly. By being extra picky about what they stock, even well-known labels like ALIFE, Penfield, PRPS, HUF, and Sabit NYC have to come correct just to get their product on the shelves. No matter what your style, you’re guaranteed to get the best of best. And just when you thought things couldn’t get any better, these guys even stock Tier 0 Nikes. That alone makes this shop worth the trip over the bridge.
Read on for our interview with Gene Han, pics of the store, and the address/web site…
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STORE: CRSVR
CITY: Santa Barbara, CA
SINCE: 2008
FOUNDED BY: DJ Vice, Nick Sakai, Asaf Dimant, & Mark Lawrence
PRICES: $$$ (out of 5)
WHY WE COSIGN: It baffles us that in 2009, companies still don’t understand the importance of real-world and online synergy. Take sneaker boutiques for instance: Finding a dope sneaker shop is task in of itself. And harder still is finding an online store that stays stocked with the latest and doesn’t look like a GeoCities page. So when we discovered CRSVR, we knew we struck oil. This boutique’s owners understand the demand for exclusives and the need for a pleasing shopping experience. Sick brands matched with a sick in-store experience and a dope online design make for one helluva place to shop.
Meeting in ‘08 during a flight to Santa Barbara, DJ Vice and Nick Sakai immediately recognized their passion for sneakers and wasted no time setting up plans to open their own shop. Inspired by the culture they were very much a part of, these instant homies kept every aspect in mind when crafting the direction for the store. The shop features an in-house DJ to keep customers in the buying mood and a staff that has no problem answering your questions (no too-cool cocky types here). Also the lyrics to EPMD’s “Crossover” are written across the back wall, letting folks know that CRSVR will never sell out—unless your talking inventory. Zing!
BRANDS CARRIED: Nike, Supra, Five Four Clothing, Brixton, Ever Clothing, The Hundreds, Mishka, In4Mation, Orisue, Stussy, Future Heretics, Ransom Clothing, Fyasko Clothing, Dim Mak, G-Shock, and Nooka.
Read on for our interview with DJ Vice, pics of the store, and the address/web site…
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STORE: Context Clothing
CITY: Madison, WI
SINCE: 2005
FOUNDED BY: Sam Parker and Ryan Huber
PRICES: $$$ (out of 5)
WHY WE COSIGN: What DQM and UNFTD are to sneaker stores, Context Clothing is to denim shops. Not satisfied with just selling denim, these guys opted to head down the “boutique” path and make the in-store experience just as cool as the product. Much like sneakerheads, denim connoisseurs are often interested in the story behind the final product as much as the item itself. From the quality of the denim to the cut, Context knows everything there is to know and are more than happy to share the wealth (unlike their sometimes overly pretentious cousins in the sneaker industry).
Stocking brands like Atelier LaDurance, A.P.C., Dunderdon, Engineered Garments, Nom de Guerre, Nudie Jeans and Woolrich Woolen Mills, these guys have an eye for quality and that’s for damn sure. So get your denim game as proper as your sneaker collection and make sure to stop buy…if you’re ever in Wisconsin. You would be a fool not to, what else is in Wisconsin?
BRANDS CARRIED: Atelier LaDurance, Nom De Guerre, Nudie, A.P.C., Kicking Mule Workshop, Woolrich Woolen Mills, Wings + Horns, Somet, Shades of Greige, Quoddy, Momotaro, Krane, Kenton Sorenson Leather, Jean Shop, Band of Outsiders, Dunderdon, Canada Goose and Engineered Garments.
For pics of the store, an interview with the owner and contact info, see below…
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STORE: UNIS
CITY: NYC
SINCE: 2000
FOUNDED BY: Eunice Lee
PRICES: $$$ (out of 5)
WHY WE COSIGN: Most up-and-coming brands like to advertise logos on their apparel, but UNIS designs its collection with a minimalistic concept in mind. “I wanted to make handsome clothes for guys that didn’t scream logos and graphics. Keeping it simple so it doesn’t overwhelm the person wearing them. Understated cool,” says founder and designer Eunice Lee.
Before Unis became its own shop, it started out as a collection sold at Barneys New York, Fred Segal Man, and Apartment Number 9. In addition to its own line, this Nolita shop carries the American casual and classic staple items you need for fall. Lee knows the cut and style for the modern dude. Her CV includes stints at DKNY, DKNY Jeans, and Emanuel Ungaro. Be sure to catch tomorrow’s launch of Unis’ online store.
BRANDS CARRIED: UNIS, Billy Kirk, Aprix, Bing Bang Jewelry, Coto,Common Projects, Helmet of the Will, BBlessing and Alex B
For our interview with the designer and founder Eunice Lee, pics of the store, its address, and web site, see below…
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STORE: TRUE SF
CITY: San Francisco, California
SINCE: 1996
FOUNDED BY: Michael Brown
PRICES: $$$ (out of 5)
WHY WE COSIGN:
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STORE: Made to Order
CITY: Philadelphia, PA
SINCE: 2007
FOUNDED BY: Philip Dupree, Justin Waller and store manager, One aka N.o.a.h.
PRICES: $$$ (out of 5)
WHY WE COSIGN: A city as great as Philadelphia should have stores and shops to match. Residents shouldn’t have to trek all the way to NYC to cop the latest and greatest. Thankfully, over the past couple years we’ve witnessed the birth of a new fashion scene in Philly, with new boutiques and shops opening up to bring some of the hottest wares to the city of brotherly love. One of those shops is Made to Order.
Opened in ‘07 when co-founders Philip Dupree and Justin Weller found themselves making bi-weekly shopping trips to stores in the big apple that didn’t even treat them with the respect and kindness they thought every customer deserved. Especially ones that traveled two hours just to be there. Frustrated, they decided to open up a shop with a selection as diverse as the the city it’s located in with top notch customer service. Meaning, you can walk into Made to Order and walk out with gear from brands like 10 Deep, Maharishi, and even our ‘09 favorite Public School. They also listen (really listen) to their customers (who they prefer to call “friends”). If enough people request a certain brand or type of clothing, there’s a great chance it’ll wind up on the shelves.
BRANDS CARRIED: Public School, 10 Deep, Wood Wood, Black Scale, Fred Perry, A.P.C., Super, Fresh Melt Water, G-Shock, Mighty Healthy, King Stampede, J.Lindeberg, 3sixteen, Clae.
Read on for our interview with founder Phil Dupree, pics of the store and the address/web site…
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