The Most Beautiful Men's Clothing Stores In The World

Image via Complex Original

Free International Laboratory, Tokyo

For those of you who are slightly confused, Free International Laboratory (or F.I.L as it is abbreviated) is the moniker given to visvim flagships around the world. True to Hiroki Nakamura’s vision, his sales spaces are dubbed "laboratories" in reference to the cutting edge technical manufacturing that his team does when putting together each visvim collection.

The most renowned visvim store—located in the Harajuku district of Tokyo, an area of the city synonymous with many unique style demographics—F.I.L pulls a 180 degree reverse with an unassuming underground space. Perfurmed by Blaise Mautin candles, the Adrian Gaut designed store (aka the guy who designed the Barclays Center) is a healthy embodiment of the visvim's values and an ode to the best qualities associated with minimalist design.

Atelier, New York

There are goth ninja stores and then there are Goth Ninja stores. Atelier is very much the latter. Located on Hudson St. in Manhattan, Atelier is the type of shop you imagine the prototypical wealthy Tumblr famous shithead frequenting. The whole space is designed with a monochromatic sparseness that is reflected in their wares, it's a true fortress of exposed steel girders and abstract furniture.

Despite the backhanded compliments, it must be acknowledged that store interiors that strongly reflect the product in-store are becoming a rarity. Upon entry into this dark, moody and uncomfortably cooler-than-thou space, you know exactly what you’re getting into and, if you don’t, chances are you're not about that life.

Thom Browne, Tokyo

While shrunken suit designer Thom Browne is a New York fixture, you trendsetters best pay attention to the first freestanding Thom Browne flagship outside of North America. Browne’s Tokyo location (situated in Aoyama) opened earlier this year, with a 3 floor walk-up accessible only by a single door carved into the corner of the building.

With a Spartan exterior and an inside that evokes imagery of a 1950’s Japanese newsroom/ad agency, the Thom Browne Tokyo outpost is a stark contrast to many of its neighbors. While Aoyama is home to a number of gauchely decorated competitors, the TB store stands out for its rigid adherence to its own brand aesthetic and affiliation with Masamichi Katayama, the BAMF best known for designing Bape's flagships.

Frasi, Florence

Located on Florence’s Via Dei Federeghi, Frasi (formerly known as Tie Your Tie) is a store that needs no introduction. Overseen by Simone Righi—that dude who Scott Schuman and Tommy Ton cage-fight over to shoot at Pitti—Frasi is the quintessential menswear boutique for the discerning menswear traditionalist/editor-in-chief/Italian industrialist. With wall to wall Kiton swatches, off the rack Luciano and eponymous ties, the space is a riot of color and Florentine splendor.

Despite the cost of shopping at Frasi, the store itself has a rustic quality to it: small and intimate, decorated with photos of Righi and his many menswear illuminati bros. The space feels lived in, unlike the cold superstores of most major luxury labels.

Billy Reid, Florence, Alabama

Located deep in cotton country, the original Billy Reid flagship is a two-story testament to how simple, well made things can capture the heart of an entire industry (Reid won the coveted CFDA "Menswear Designer of The Year" award in 2012). Despite a huge following, Reid’s stores, much like the man himself, are downplayed, quiet affairs. The Florence, Alabama location is the largest of Reid’s southern comfort kingdom and, with his design studio/office on the 2nd floor, you’re bound to bump into the designer from time to time.

Reid’s goal was to build a retail space that “took on a very personal, warm and hospitable environment," an admirable objective which he appears to have fulfilled many times over. Reid has filled his HQ with a plethora of family heirlooms and reclaimed Southern furniture, aesthetic finishes that emphasize the designer’s affection for his home turf. Throw into the mix nearly a dozen design and manufacturing employees working from this location and what you get is customer service unlike anything you’ve ever savored.

Dunhill Homes, London

The "bigger does not equal better" cliche has been proven time and time again by international luxury brands. While they do big business, the individual customer is not necessarily given much thought in these innumerable environs—a blur of overpowering perfume, "modern" furnishings and unhelpful staff, to name just a few obstacles. Unless of course you’re Dunhill. In a move of positively Tom Fordian grandeur, the company opened their first "Dunhill Home" in 2007: a retail concept melding the brand’s best menswear with a range of services evocative of upscale day spas and supper clubs.

While 3 of the 4 Alfred Dunhill Homes are located in East Asia, the crowning achievement has to be their Georgian estate in London. Located in the regally titled Bourdon House, the London home incorporates a barbershop, café and smoking room, and those are just their lifestyle offerings. On the 2nd floor, the company have a range of leather goods pulled directly from the archives, which can be monogrammed in-house. Par for the course is the regular array of off the rack retail options, a bespoke fitting room and bar. For a brand like Dunhill, a bespoke tailoring facility is apparently a very regular occurrence.

Charvet, Paris

Holding real estate next to the iconic Ritz Hotel, Charvet—located in Paris’s Place Vendôme—remains one of the best shirtmakers in the world. With a history dating to 1828 and counting YSL and Charles De Gaulle among customer, Charvet has established itself as unfuckwitable when it comes to the process of bespoke shirt making.

The Charvet flagship is the only store directly operated by its namesake company, and consists of a seven-story built to spec townhouse with a Jules Mansart crafted façade. Just to clarify: Mansart was THE Baroque architect of his age, and is renowned for crafting sculptures so opulent that Lord Yeezus would probably have to write a whole verse about their excellence. With every floor in the store dedicated to a particular specialty, one would be forgiven for losing an entire day in its confines as they stew in the history of France’s greatest shirtmaker. Of particular note, is the 6th floor of the store: the custom tailoring area where customers may have shirts made with any of the displayed 4500 bolts of fabric. FYI, that’s over 105 miles of fabric at the fingertips of the oldest shirtmaker in the Western world.

Sid Mashburn, Atlanta

Where do you even start with Sid Mashburn? The King of Atlanta and ruler supreme of Southern style has long been an integral part of #menswear culture, and while much of that has to do with the man himself (and his very flattering middle of the road approach to tailoring), an equal portion of credit must be assigned to his namesake store in Atlanta, Georgia.

Falling somewhere between a member's only club, an esteemed colleague's home and very traditional menswear haberdasher, the Mashburn formula for success is rooted in the tradition of Southern hospitality. While you can get straight into the action with alterations for the perfect—under $1000—suit, Sid is also happy for anybody to come in for relaxed chats and a game of ping pong. The store's interior is decidedly uncluttered, giving off the appearance of a well worn, but well loved space—everything resplendent in its rightful place.

Patrick Johnson, Sydney

With its Four Pins-certified status as the best menswear store in Australia firmly secured, it’s no surprise that P. Johnson would make a special appearance on this very list. While the Melbourne P. Johnson location is again getting the red headed stepchild treatment— despite a recent makeover—the Paddington store, run by Patrick himself, takes the proverbial cake.

Johnson’s atelier captures the essence of what it is to be an Australian gentleman: relaxed, unpretentious and friendly. Thomas Mason shirts, Drake’s knits and C&J shoes pepper the store, creating a smorgasbord of color. For a time, Patrick and his wife Tamsin lived in what is now the P. Johnson Sydney location and, if anything, this only adds to the charm and history of Sydney’s best MTM tailor.

Rose & Born, Stockholm

While Sweden is well known for its directional menswear and, as of late, its streetwear influenced offerings, Rose & Born remains a hallmark for the traditionalist. Serving up inspired pairings of English shoes, Italian suiting and Swedish accessories, Rose & Born is something of an oddity as it's one of the few stores on this list without a corresponding e-commerce prescense.

Despite this minor difference, the store itself is a neo-classicist’s delight: white walls and hardwood floors round out the store, while more historic details, including Persian carpets and luggage, help bring a multicultural flair to what is recognized as one of Sweden’s top physical retail locations.

Nepenthes, New York

Tucked away in New York's garment district, Nepenthes NY is a true destination shop. The Nepenthes name has become synonymous— largely through Daiki Suzuki—with the deconstructing of heritage classics, making Americana more appealing than its ever been.

An at first unremarkable looking shopfront, Nepenthes makes it onto our list precisely because its appearance belies its importance. The gateway between brands like Engineered Garments & Needles and the wider world, Nepenthes is a location in a constant state of flux—a place given beauty not by frivolous aesthetic trappings, but by the activities that take place there. Case in point: Engineered Garments' first ever runway show for Spring/Summer 2014.

Comme Des Garcons, Tokyo

Located (among a bevy of similar brands) in Aoyama, the CDG flagship consolidates almost every known diffusion under one roof. With its characteristic concave glass facades, CDG Tokyo is that most high-fashion of retail concepts, merging a gallery space with sparingly merchandized clothing. At times it’s difficult to know whether an item is even for sale or merely displayed for some lofty philosophical purpose, which is all part of the store's charm.

Although the space is quite small, it is utilized to great effect, projecting the image of a larger and grander store. While more and more designers simply throw money at architects who then build brand stores with only the most cursory of similarities, it’s refreshing to see a space that looks like it could only be the product of Rei Kawakubo’s unknowable mind.

Paul Stuart, New York

It would be impossible to neglect Paul Stuart when discussing the great menswear haberdashers of the 20th century, with a history tied inexorably to New York City and the great American menswear movement—all discussions about where to visit when in New York ultimately arrive at the recommendation of Paul Stuart.

Having occupied the same corner of Madison Avenue and 45th Street since 1938, the original Paul Stuart has grown into a sartorial juggernaut that expands far from North America to Japan. Still, the original store upon which the brand was founded remains at the heart of thing and, at 60,000 square feet, it’s an impressive site to behold.

Ralph Lauren, Chicago

For over 40 years, Ralph has reigned supreme as the designer with the best handle on the concept of "lifestyle". Where numerous other brands can only imitate the authenticity they crave so badly, the Ralph Lauren name always conjures images of beauty, privilege and insane amounts of disposable wealth.

Like Dunhill, RL have taken this concept to its logical conclusion with the various Ralph Lauren mansions. And while there are over half a dozen to choose from, the Chicago location is by far the most impressive. Coming in at 37,000 square feet, it remains the largest Ralph Lauren store to date and incorporates its own restaurant. The whole space is a loving recreation of the New York Metropolitan Club, and includes a watch salon, which tells your pretty much everything you need to know.