Time to talk men’s shopping opportunities in the Twin Cities. I bet you were thinking, it’s 2020 and time to organize and de-clutter – after all, it is January. I’m not here to stop you from cleaning out your closet (shameless plug), if that’s your January goal, just click here to book an appointment: https://lynnekehne.com/contact/
Back to shopping for men. If your significant other is like mine, he will claim he gets dizzy and loses his will to live as he enters any type of clothes shopping situation. Lucky for him I am a personal shopper! Below are my favorite men’s shops around the Twin Cities and why you should check them out.
Shopping Destinations
Plymouth
The Foursome – My first shout-out goes to The Foursome in Plymouth. The Foursome is a premier men’s clothier with all the bells and whistles. This fine store is family-owned with a professional, classy, down-to-earth style, from custom suits and shirts, to the Tasc Performance line.
Speaking of shirts, The Foursome Byron shirt program is an innovative new way to shop for custom shirts! They take 3 simple measurements and the client can pick from hundreds of fabrics and can choose their collar, buttons, and shirt style.
If special sizing is what you are shopping for, the Big & Tall selection is the best in town. Not to mention they have one of the best tailors in-store to perfect the fit on any suit, pant, or shirt. I tend to hang-out in the seasonal clearance area, hunting for bargains.
North Loop
MartinPatrick3 is a one of a kind shopping experience. This internationally recognized men’s boutique offers apparel ranging from upscale casual to custom suits. You will also find contemporary furnishings, artwork, JB Hudson Jewelers, its own barbershop, and interior design services through MartinPatrick3 Studio.
Jaxson Grey – Michael Druskin, the former CEO of Len Druskin’s, has set-up a men’s Shop in D.NOLO a fashion cooperative in the North Loop. Michael has a rich family history in retail; his parents owned a women’s boutique on 50th & France in the 1970s and his grandmother was part owner of Jackson Graves. Jaxson Grey sets itself apart by offering new and innovative “digitally native brands”, meaning that the majority of these company’s business comes from on-line sales and they get their exposure through social media.
Notable names, such as Untuckit, Warby Parker and Allbirds shoes, all started out as digitally native brands.
Bonobos
Askov Finlayson
Atmosfere
The Galleria Edina
Twill was opened in the Galleria in 2004 by Scott Dayton. Yes, a famous last name with a lot of retail history. Scott ‘s father owned Harold, a specialty women’s clothing store that once stood in downtown Minneapolis. Twill offers traditional staples along with its sportswear brands, including Vineyard Vines and Peter Millar crown shop. The innovative fabrics and styles by Peter Millar make it a great line for the man who golfs.
Allen Edmonds
Filson
Hammer made
Suitsupply
Trail Mark
Linden Hills
Circle Rock – Shop online or in-store. CircleRock’s House of Style founder Paul Grangaard is the owner and the former Allen Edmonds CEO. Their specialty is custom suiting, with wool fabrics sourced from Italy. Price points start at $995.
Downtown Minneapolis
Hubert White
St. Paul
Heimies Haberdashery This iconic store has been in business for 100 years! I guess that means that they are doing a few things right. Heimies’ suiting selection is second to none from ready-to-wear, made-to-order and made-to-measure suiting options. The pant fabric choices are endless; like gabardine wools, silk and silk wool blends, plus polyester and rayon blends for easy care, and even linen trousers. Oh My! They even have an in-store cigar shop and a fly-fishing department with a full line of clothing, bags, and accessories.
Milbern Clothing Company
Scout
Wayzata
Judd Frost Clothiers
Excelsior
J. Novachis – High fashion for men with unique brands not seen everywhere. J. Novachis was located in Edina for many years and was a staple on the 50th & France shopping scene. Now J. Novachis lives on in memory of its late founder John Novachis. This treasure of a store is now located in Excelsior, and John’s son Anthony has the reigns.
The good old department stores
Nordstrom – Customer service is real at Nordstrom.
Von Maur – Coats and traditional suits are their strong suit, no pun intended.
Macy’s – Moderately priced clothing a step above Kohl’s & JCPenney.
Consignment
Fashion Avenue on 50th & France is a treat for the thrifty shopper. It’s a wonderful place to snag a “previously owned” designer brand. It’s no joke, Fashion Avenue is known for its discriminating eye when it comes to what they will accept for consignment. Don’t be sad if they won’t accept everything you bring in for their review, believe me, their vetting process makes for a superior consignment shopping experience for all of us.
Now that you have checked out some of these fine men’s clothiers (or called me to do it for you!), here are a few tips on how to keep your suits in tip top shape.
Caring for a suit
A good quality wool suit is quite sturdy and can last for many years, if care is taken in maintaining it. Stains, wrinkles, or smells should be addressed as soon as possible in order to extend the life of the garment.
When it comes to dry cleaning, a little goes a long way. Spot cleaning is best in most circumstances. Dabbing the stain with a light-colored cloth dipped in water and a dab of spot remover, should do the trick. Investing in a natural fiber cloth brush and giving the suit a good brushing will give it new life.
When its time to have the professionals clean it, take both the jacket and the pants in to get them cleaned together to prevent the unfortunate possibility of the suit not matching after dry cleaning. The harsh chemicals can do a good job of cleaning but they are rough on fabrics.
Tackling wrinkles requires a soft touch—that means no iron. Steaming is the best method, as it prevents that dreaded shine that comes from pressing with a hot iron. The steam will open up the fabric fibers and will release any odors that might be lingering too!
A natural deodorizer like vodka or white vinegar can be sprayed 6-8 inches away from the fabric without soaking it, and as the suit dries the smells disappear.
Now go out and wear those suits confidently!