When The New York Times published our list of the 50 Best Clothing Stores in America, we knew that, despite our exhaustive efforts, we couldn’t include every deserving business in our big country. So we asked readers to submit their favorites and tell us why they loved them. We received more than 500 responses, many of them thoughtful, heartfelt and passionate, which a team of reporters vetted before ultimately selecting 25 stores.
These shops share the same DNA as our own favorites: extraordinary customer service, a commitment to the in-person experience and that special retail magic that inspires and transports shoppers. Our readers surfaced some real gems, from a temple to minimalist fashion in New Orleans to a chill surf wear shop on Oahu’s north shore to a Detroit boutique with a focus on occasion wear that includes sizes for all. These are your stores, but we enthusiastically endorse them. — Steven Kurutz
Ann Mashburn
Atlanta and seven other locations
“The quality of the items, the selection, Ann Mashburn’s amazing taste. The customer service is fantastic and personal.” — Kneale Culbreath
This women’s boutique sprang from the rib of Sid Mashburn, the men’s wear label in the adjoining space. Run by Sid’s wife, Ann Mashburn, the store has a similar focus on quality tailoring and classic, unfussy clothing. There’s a tomboyish element to basics like crisp cotton shirting, yet you might also find a silk shantung dress or suede safari jacket. In addition to the namesake label, Ann Mashburn carries a curated mix of other brands, including Ulla Johnson, Aurélie Bidermann jewelry and Tretorn sneakers. “Like Sid, I want something you could have your whole life,” said Ann, formerly an editor at Vogue. “It’s really my point of view.” — SK
Open since 2010. Website.
Covet + Lou
Newton, Mass.
“Tina and Morgana know my style and will pull pieces for me in order to style me, not just sell me something.” — Laura Weinstein
The owner, Tina Burgos, and the store manager, Morgana Travicelli, met while working at the iconic (and now closed) department store Louis of Boston. So they bring deep expertise and personalized service to this women’s boutique in a leafy suburb west of the city. The shop sells an edited mix of primarily indie brands, like Chimala denim, Zankov knitwear, Hender Scheme leather accessories and Berlin-based Anntian, which transposes images of nature onto dresses. “We look for sustainability and quality, and I really try to support women and people of color in our product mix,” Burgos said. — SK
Open since 2012. Website.
U.A.L.
New Orleans and five other locations
“I always find something that makes me feel glamorous or hip … No big-box department store vibes.” — Namratha Kandula
Think of United Apparel Liquidators, or U.A.L., as a T.J. Maxx for luxury fashion: This small clothing chain in the South sells Balenciaga, Chanel, Givenchy and Isabel Marant at heavily discounted prices. The store has long been a best-kept secret among fashion folk; still, bargain hunters plan vacations around buying trips here. The Nashville branch is the flagship, though its location in a strip mall is indicative of the store’s no-frills approach. A word to the wise: Shopping can be a crapshoot. You might walk out with a pair of $1,000 Manolo Blahnik leopard-print heels for $225 or leave empty-handed. — SK
Open since 1980. Website.
Totem Brand
Philadelphia
“Small, curated, always something new whenever I go … You kind of feel like you’re taking a part of the owner with you.” — Tygh Kane
Spread across two storefronts along Philly’s famous South Street, Totem carries an impressive selection of denim, work wear and outerwear from labels like Kapital, Auralee, North Face and Engineered Garments. The huge selection of socks is noteworthy. The twin shops have a chill vibe and sell men’s and women’s clothing; the larger space is where you’ll find outerwear, while a narrow storefront just down the block is a cramped heaven for hype beasts. — SK
Open since 2013. Website.
Weinstein’s
New Orleans
“Over 50 years in business, and you will find owners and buyers Roz and Bonnie on the floor styling and helping clients.” — Robin Weiss
Weinstein’s originally opened as a men’s boutique run by Roz Ditta and her husband. The store outlasted the marriage, and since 1991, Ditta and her co-owner, Bonnie Wilson, have brought cutting-edge European and Japanese fashion to the South. Ditta remembers carrying Rick Owens early on. These days, the cutting-edge brands include Avant Toi, Sofie D’Hoore and Stouls (which brings suede and leather from Paris). You won’t find much in the way of pattern and color at this paean to minimalist women’s wear: The clothing and the space are modernist chic, and the owners set a stylish example. “We wear exactly the clothes that we carry,” Ditta said. — SK
Open since 1971. Website.
Abersons
Tulsa, Okla.
“Excellent curation. Excellent customer experience and service. You can be stylish in Oklahoma!!” — Rebekah Shields
This high-end specialty store caters to Tulsa’s well-traveled, stylish set with contemporary lines like the Row, Dries Van Noten and Totem. The customer service is old-school: For longtime clients, Abersons will come to someone’s home and pack them for a trip. “We know everything about our customers,” said Steven Aberson, who runs the store with his brother, Henry, and whose parents ran it before them. “We’re selling to the grandmother, mother and daughter.” The 5,500-square-foot mini department store also includes a men’s section with Hiroshi Kato denim and suiting by Eleventy and Scabal. — SK
Open since 1974. Website.
Langston’s Western Wear
Oklahoma City
“Great customer service, decades of history, the location next to the old stockyards. You might also catch a Thunder player passing through.” — Harper Langston (no relation, I swear)
Langston’s is a destination for cowboys visiting the city for rodeos and horse shows, and it’s no wonder: At 25,000 square feet, it’s a Western wear superstore. Boots, jeans and hats have vast departments. There’s a “hat bar” where skilled workers will shape your 10-gallon and a children’s section for the li’l pardners. Shoppers will find mainstream brands like Wrangler and Ariat, as well as higher-end offerings like Kimes Ranch and R. Watson Boots. After shopping, you can walk across the street to the famous Cattlemen’s Steakhouse. — SK
Open since 1913. Website.
AB Fits
San Francisco
“I feel more creative and better dressed just walking through the door.” — Sue Simon
The magic of this shop lies with its owner, Howard Gee, the son of a seamstress who said he “learned to communicate with people through clothing.” In his small storefront, Gee offers customers his expertise on fit and fabric and carries men’s and women’s clothing from brands that take a thoughtful, handcrafted approach, like C.O.F. Studio, Hansen Garments, Sayaka Davis, Chimala and MATiAS. Denim is a specialty of the store, and Gee himself is a paragon of style. What does AB stand for? “It doesn’t mean anything to anybody,” Gee said, laughing, though one customer suggested: Any Butt Fits. — SK
Open since 1990. Website.
Number 808
Haleiwa, Hawaii
“Entering the store almost feels as though you’ve stepped into a hip surfer’s living room.” — Jennifer Suzukawa-Tseng
The north shore of Oahu is a surfer’s mecca. Cappy Tseu, a co-owner, grew up in the community and wanted to offer a cooler, more curated take on board shorts and casual beachwear. Shoppers might find salmon-colored trunks by the California brand OLA Canvas ($127), an Etat D’Ete jumpsuit festooned with palm trees ($225) or a one-size women’s swimsuit by Mollusk ($133). Tseu also mixes in vintage Hawaii-themed knickknacks and clothing, like a 1980s-era Tower Records Honolulu T-shirt ($88). She said, “I carry everything to take you from a party to do the beach, apart from the beach.” — SK
Open since 2015. Website.
Fool For Love
High Falls, N.Y.
“It’s so stylish and so lovely, but also so laid back.” — Kate Navarro-McKay
This vintage shop in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it town in the Catskills punches above its weight. The owners, Sam Ford and Amanda Ilc, strike a balance between rare one-of-one pieces, like a 1960s-era Indian motorcycle sweatshirt ($275) or hand-embroidered overalls ($298), and everyday items like good Oxford cloth button-downs (from $38 to $78). Western wear is a specialty, and the store sells a wide selection of Native American jewelry, as well. The vintage signs and pennants on display are as cool as the clothes. “I have been known to give in and sell a pennant if somebody gives me sad puppy dog eyes,” Ford said. — SK
Open since 2023. Website.
Studio RA
Seattle
“The vibes couldn’t possibly be better, and the customer service is at a level only achievable by someone who cares so much about everyone in her store.” — Laura Oliver
Located in an old bank building in the Ballard neighborhood, this jewel-box-like boutique reflects the vision of its owner, Ramona Abbasian, who worked in retail for decades before opening her own shop. “My entire objective is to have a store with simple pieces that are interesting,” she said. “Raw edges. Not just boring basics.” Abbasian favors indie labels like Studio B3 from Poland and San Francisco-based Porto, and still loves the discovery, as when a customer came in wearing a washable handbag made of paper by the Italian brand Uashmama. “That got me down a rabbit hole, and I had to find them,” Abassian said. — SK
Open since 2018. Website.
Peacock Room
Detroit
“It is a women’s boutique that caters to, and cares about, all kinds of women — XS to XXL, cute and femme to mature and masculine.” — Jen McKernan
The founder and owner, Rachel Lutz, emphasizes old-school department-store-style service: dedicated attention and clothes matchmaking powered by what she calls “my human algorithm.” Occupying an Art Deco skyscraper in downtown Detroit, this occasion wear wonderland features designers like Samuel Dong, Joseph Ribkoff and Suzanne Vinnik, and aims to have something for everyone — sizes 0 to 22 included. And if you’re in the market for casual pieces, there’s a second location just down the street, right next to an antiques studio Lutz plans to open later this year. Lutz credits the customer service for keeping the store alive in the age of Amazon. — Kellina Moore
Open since 2011. Website.
Farm-Way
Bradford, Vt.
“Farm-Way is my one-stop shopping where I can pick up gear and treats for my horses. I always joke with my husband, a cancer biologist at Dartmouth, that when he wins a Nobel, we will shop at Farm-Way for the ceremony.” — Nancy Welch
On a 17-acre plot of land in a rural Vermont town sits a former feed supplier turned sprawling shopping destination where you can buy almost anything, including electric fencing and Pandora charm bracelets. Billed as “complete outfitters for man and beast,” the store does have plenty of supplies but also a truly colossal array of work wear and outdoor clothing in a maze of rooms (the shoe room alone is about 6,000 square feet, and there’s another 2,500-square-foot room dedicated solely to Carhartt). You might also spot the field of solar panels in the distance. Farm-Way is over 100 percent solar-powered, meaning it makes enough electricity to power the massive store with some left over to feed back into the grid. — KM
Open since 1983. Website.
Idlewild
“The store shows you (in a very accessible way) how getting dressed can be an art, and how the items themselves can be art.” . — Patricia Hofacker
One of the owners of Idlewild, Tessa Clark, started at the store as an employee in 2017. One year later — and shortly before her stint on the 17th season of “Project Runway” — she purchased the shop alongside her mother, Julie Clark, and her cousin Jessica Murray. The three women are each roughly 20 years apart in age, bringing their own generational viewpoints to the bright, airy store in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati. Garments from designers like Issey Miyake, Henrik Vibskov and Rachel Comey contribute to a selection where wearable and neutral meets interesting, artful silhouettes. — KM
Open since 2015. Website.
Lov’d
Boulder, Colo.
“Melissa knows her inventory inside out, and she has a sixth sense about fit: the perfect slouch, the exactly right length and the subtle details that separate a good pair of jeans from a sublime pair that you’ll reach for again and again.” — Elizabeth Warner
Meet the jeans wizard Melissa Keosann. In a cozy shop with stacks upon stacks of vintage jeans — and a rolling library ladder — Keosann takes appointments where she will meet with you one on one to match you with your dream denim. Or help your denim find you. As Keosann said, “Each pair of jeans feels more special when they find the right person.” She has a talent for eyeballing you and knowing your perfect size and fit, and the jeans are all priced the same ($259), taking cost considerations out of the matchmaking equation. — KM
Open since 2023. Website.
SPACE 519
Chicago
“The vibe of this store is sophisticated, fun, warm and trendy. It is the modern version of the old department store, better curated and more fun to visit.” — Julia Yen
When you hear about SPACE 519, you might first hear about The Lunchroom, its boutique restaurant situated in the middle of this mini department store. (There’s also a takeout cafe near the front.) While the food is a great perk, the fashion selection is similarly nourishing: Organized by lifestyle, each display has a mix of designers (like Khaite, Brandon Maxwell and Jil Sander) styled together to create a specific vibe. “It’s almost like you could take this moment right here and pack it into a suitcase,” said Jim Wetzel, who owns the store with his husband, Lance Lawson. With clothing, accessories, apothecary goods, home goods and even high-end groceries — and a second location on the city’s North Shore — SPACE 519 has everything you need to curate a chic lifestyle. — KM
Open since 2010. Website.
Scarpa
Charlottesville, Va.
“Scarpa offers a shockingly great mix of fashion in a town known for preppy and friendly but frank service (like the best sister).” — Katherine Gray
For a taste of New York City in Charlottesville, step into this luxe women’s wear store that combines Southern hospitality service with city sensibilities. When Amy Gardner opened Scarpa as a shoe store in 1994, she used to have friends mail her the New York Yellow Pages so she could cold-call brands. The store has come a long way since then, expanding to sell clothing, jewelry and apothecary goods from a wide mix of designers, including luxury staples like Toteme, under-the-radar gems like Jamie Haller and many more. “We’re not everything to everybody because of our price points,” Gardner explained, “but we try to be a number of things to a number of people.” — KM
Open since 1994. Website.
Frances May
Portland, Ore.
“Frances May has a beautiful and spacious store with easy-to-navigate organization.” — Trevor Ruiz
If you want a shortcut to Portland’s surprisingly robust fashion scene, look no further than this indie department store. It recently moved into a larger, three-story space, but the selection remains accessible, mixing high-end designers like Simone Rocha with affordable brands such as Deiji and emphasizing local brands like Dehen 1920 and ARQ. “We’ve always specialized in independent, up-and-coming designers,” said Pamela Baker-Miller, who opened the store alongside her grandmother Connie Codding in 2008. There are also shops-in-shops for A.P.C., Wilma and Colibri Flowers, a nearby florist. — KM
Open since 2008. Website.
Ruby Begonia’s
Lincoln, Neb.
“Ruby’s feels like hopping in a time machine and resurrecting pieces to feel wholly new and contemporary.” — MJ
Take a peek at this vintage shop’s delightful (and delightfully active) Instagram account, and you’ll see its young, stylish employees showing off the store’s eclectic selection of dresses, hats, jewelry and more, each person bringing their unique sensibility and styling to each post. You’ll get access to their expertise at this deceptively expansive two-floor space, where the racks are packed with true vintage. A highlight: a jewelry case with several platforms that can be rotated with a knob on the side, which the owner, Jennifer Johnson, likens to “the one type of doomscrolling that’s not bad for you.” — KM
Open since 1993. Website.
Today Clothing
Ann Arbor, Mich.
“Low key and friendly, the staff bring you in on their excitement with an insider’s knowledge that makes you feel great. The access that Today Clothing provides has no equal in a 300-mile radius.” — Randy Meza
In a town better known for tailgating, you’ll find this bright men’s boutique with a high-end tilt. It’s an easy-to-peruse space — Reproduction of Found leather mules and Asics sneakers at the back, Our Legacy ties on the table, Lady White Company’s sturdy T-shirts clustered on a rack. The store’s owner, Eric Hardin, ventures to Paris each season to sniff out Japanese “dad jeans” and boxy Italian-fabric jackets. The assortment isn’t so much aimed at undergrads as their tenured professors (well, assuming they’ve invested wisely). — Jacob Gallagher
Open since 2013. Website.
MartinPatrick 3
Minneapolis
“I love that MartinPatrick 3 has such aspirational clothing as well as a sales section. I always find something I can dream of wearing and something I can afford.” — Geoffrey Calver
Think of MartinPatrick 3 as a department store tipped on its side. Inside the low-lying shop you’ll find a barbershop, a wallet-emptying jewelry boutique, a home section with chairs in all shades of bouclé and a pocket devoted to Aesop’s princely hand soaps. The men’s selection leans quiet luxe and Italian, with sandy Brunello Cucinelli blazers, Isaia suits with an allergy to shoulder pads and dress sneakers in chocolate suede. The women’s offering has more pep: La Double J’s fresco-printed dresses and leopard down jackets. — JG
Open since 2008. Website.
Drinkwater’s
Cambridge, Mass.
“Gary has a great eye for fabric and cut, years of experience and knowledge in the trade and a manner that’s charming and smart, engaging but not fawning.” — David Rivard
Faithful shoppers of Drinkwater’s could swoop through the store with their eyes closed. The crowded-but-not-cluttered store has been laid out in pretty much the same way for the past 22 years. On any given day, you’ll find Gary Drinkwater, who cut his teeth as a sales consultant at Louis of Boston, alongside Teresa Borges, his wife and the co-owner of Drinkwater’s, on standby. Wearing a bow tie, Drinkwater is ready to direct you toward the Canadian-made suits in the back, punchy prep-tinged work jackets from Engineered Garments at front and an extensive tie and pocket square collection at center. — JG
Open since 2004. Website.
Drats
Philadelphia
“The stuff I find at Drats is stuff I would never be able to find myself online — and that’s why it feels like such a service walking in. Dude is a real treasure hunter.” — Calvin Leon
Jason Carroll will tell you that his vintage shop isn’t the only shop in town, but it is the only one on his block. The destination shop, in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood, is an open, easy-to-flip destination for ’90s throwbacks. The assortment isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s reliable: hooded tan work jackets, denim truckers, crewnecks from Abercrombie and some Eagles gear for some local flair. The prices are the best part (especially for anyone visiting from New York): Most things land below three figures. — JG
Open since 2024. Website.
Kick Pleat
Austin, Texas, and other locations in Houston and Dallas
“Wendi does a better job than anyone of curating what her clients want. Unbelievable store that I go back to time and again. Amazing customer service. Layout. Knowledge. Everything.” — Amy Scheel
Kick Pleat’s success over 23 years lies with its owner, Wendi Koletar Martin, who selects the store’s high-end women’s apparel and accessories with comfort and style in mind. The bright, 5,000-square-foot space stocks practical yet elevated pieces from brands like Dušan, Tibi, Sofie D’Hoore, Toteme and Issey Miyake. The store also offers its own in-house label of versatile staples that Koletar Martin bills as “true workhorses.” “When customers wear Kick Pleat, they always get compliments,” she said. “And they don’t get rid of their Kick Pleat purchases.” — Miya Lee
Open since 2003. Website.
ByGeorge
Austin, Texas (ByGeorge also curates a multibrand marketplace in Austin and has a small shop in a hotel in New Orleans)
“It feels super comfortable to walk in like your favorite local store, yet it carries the best merchandise from all over the world … Great curation, service and a point of view.” — Jeffrey Kalinsky
Opened in 1979 and now owned by the prominent Austin restaurateur Larry McGuire, ByGeorge has catered to the city’s well-heeled and style-conscious set for decades. Its sleek flagship store offers an impressive selection of luxury men’s and women’s apparel, shoes and accessories, including a section dedicated to vintage Cartier, Rolex and Patek Philippe watches. According to its president, John Targon, ByGeorge is one of the few stores in Austin to carry Celine, Bottega Veneta, the Row and Phoebe Philo. “It has always been our mission to curate things you can’t find everywhere and have that element of discovery,” he said. — ML
Open since 1979. Website.
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