Image via Complex Original
It can be extremely difficult to leave the safety and comfort that the menswear Mecca of New York City brings you. It literally has just about everything you need when it comes to being—and staying—stylish. But sometimes the baby has to leave the nest. That doesn’t mean you have to forego all sartorial necessities and rough it for that period of time outside the city. There are plenty of proverbial fish in the sea.
Not only are you getting a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, but you also get to experience big-city favorites in places you may not have expected. That day trip, staying within 150 miles of NYC, could prove to be much more fruitful than a day spent traveling around the five boroughs on the subway.
Hirshleifers
City: Manhasset, N.Y.
Distance from NYC: 24.4 miles
Just an hour outside of the city resides one of the best hidden gems New York’s burgeoning menswear scene can claim. Hirshleifers not only carries some of the most sought after high-end brands this side of the Mississippi, but the Manhasset shop that was founded in 1910 allows you to shop for Balenciaga, Maison Martin Margiela, Givenchy, and even OFF-WHITE for hours in a big city-like atmosphere without having to deal with pushy salespeople or curmudgeonly owners since the store is run by generations of Hirshleifers. It’s a treat that you have to experience to truly appreciate.
Old Souls
City: Cold Spring, N.Y.
Distance from NYC: 58.8 miles
It’s hard to find shops here in the U.S. that hold the integrity of trying to sell all American made gear. Old Souls does it, and they do it to perfection. Old Souls carries some of the most prominent brands, carefully curated to fit the shop’s overall aesthetic. The shop sits just 50 miles outside of Cold Spring. It’s the perfect distance when you just need to get away from the hustle and bustle and into some good ol’ fashion fun.
GANT Campus Store
City: New Haven, Conn.
Distance from NYC: 81.1 miles
If you have any intention of visiting Yale’s beautiful New Haven campus, you are already heading in the right direction—partially because of its rich history and stellar academic performance, but also because the GANT Campus Store is just ripe with menswear classics from the incredible brand. Carrying everything that GANT, GANT Rugger, and GANT by Michael Bastian have to offer, you will have zero problems blending in with all those 4.0 GPA students leaving town with these fine duds.
UBIQ
City: Philadelphia
Distance from NYC: 94.5 miles
When it comes to menswear, there may not be anything more important than your footwear. Nowadays it’s just as crucial to have the right sneakers as it is to have the right hard bottoms. UBIQ in Philadelphia has had sneaker lovers covered before the sneaker game was thriving, carrying the very best from Nike, Jordan, adidas, and New Balance, while also carrying some great streetwear brands like BWGH and ZANEROBE to match your new kicks. Not too many sneaker stores in the U.S. have the legacy that UBIQ does. So yeah, it’s well worth the 90 mile drive.
P’s & Q’s
City: Philadelphia
Distance from NYC: 94.6 miles
Philly isn’t necessarily known for its menswear scene, but when shops are handpicking their collections and providing enjoyable shopping experiences like P’s & Q’s is, it’s hard not to strongly consider making the trip. Carrying brands like Penfield, Oak Street Bootmakers, and Norse Projects, that historic trip you took to go check out the Liberty Bell just got a lot more stylish.
Joan Shepp
City: Philadelphia
Distance from NYC: 94.7 miles
One of the best things about shopping at a men’s and women’s specialty boutique is knowing that you and your girl will come out of it looking super fly. That’s definitely the case if you make the trek to Philadelphia’s best boutique, Joan Shepp. Carrying everything from Rick Owens and Acne Studios to CDG Play and 3.1 Phillip Lim, Joan Shepp puts a little bit of high-end contemporary sportswear into the nation’s first capital.
RRL
City: East Hampton, N.Y.
Distance from NYC: 106 miles
Your girl’s family finally let her invite you to their beach house in the Hamptons, so all you want to do is relax and try to stay on their good side. This should be made much easier as you invite them into the highly coveted RRL shop in East Hampton, where you can show off your sartorial expertise and penchant for fine classics. The inside should impress them alone, as the shop really focuses on creating an All-American experience. And the price tags should be right up their alley, too.
O’Connell’s Clothing
City: Buffalo, N.Y.
Distance from NYC: 391 miles
The Buffalo Bills aren’t terrible this year so this could be the season in which they actually finish better than their New York counterparts. So if catching a game at Ralph Wilson Stadium seems like a possibility, then getting the opportunity to check out the vivacious O’Connell’s Clothing shop in town should push you over the edge to make the voyage. No stranger to a packed house, mostly attributable to the Quoddy, Barbour, John Smedley, and other classic menswear brands piled high all over the store, O’Connell’s 55-year-old business focuses on quality North American and UK brands. As a result, it maintains a sense of integrity that a lot of the city shops toss out the window every time a trend comes whistling by.