Everyone knows Georgetown has great shopping and charming historic storefronts. In fact, it's home to some of our very favorite stores like Club Monaco, J Crew, Billy Reid, Alice and Olivia, Barbour, and Anthropologie. But it can also be overcrowded and overwhelming. Today we want to share with you a couple of the coolest menswear stores in Georgetown that are off the beaten path.
Ledbury
Ledbury is a small, Richmond based menswear store that cut it's teeth on shirtmaking after the owners spent some time getting to know the sartorial world while working on Saville Row in London. They now offer an intentionally small but thoughtfully designed line of men's dress and casual wear focused on fit and quality, as well as made to measure and bespoke shirt programs. In fact, in 2015 they acquired Creery Custom Shirts, a bespoke shirt maker in Richmond that has been around since 1907. They retained the staff and even have some of the patterns of former presidents still in the shop.
Harry Truman's Shirt Pattern from the Creery Workshop
If you're anything like me, off the rack dress shirts make you look like a sack of potatoes. Made-to-measure shirts were a complete game changer for me. Yes, they are more expensive, but Ledbury made-to-measure is surprisingly well priced, made in Europe, and made with high quality Thomas Mason fabrics that hold up great to every day wear and tear.
As
you'll see in future posts, I've got a lot of brand loyalty especially when I find
a company that I think goes above and beyond it's price point (wait
until you see my skincare products). That said, Ledbury definitely has
me hooked.
Sid Mashburn
Atlanta based Sid Mashburn holds a very special place in the world of menswear. In fact, in 2015 GQ named it the best menswear store in America, and I'd be hard pressed to argue. Sid provides a wide range of items under his own label, but also offers a flawlessly curated range of some of the best brands in the world, like Incotex, Salvatore Ferragamo, Filson, and Edward Green. He also offers some of the most unique pieces I've ever seen, like shark skin belts and beaver lined Mac coats that will run you a cool $5k (the non-beaver variety is much more affordable).
Some of Sid's tailoring. In house tailors are on site and ready help with made-to-measure, or just some free nips and tucks for off the rack clothes.
Ties on ties on ties...
What really sets Sid Mashburn apart is the service. It's a no pressure environment filled will people who know every single product in the store. There are more than enough employees on staff to really give you a personalized experience. Service like that leads to going home with more stuff you really love instead of the things that end up in the back of your closet.
Our main man Nick explaining why hand made shoes are better. Sid Mashburn shoes are benchmade in England by Alfred Sargent.
Ledbury and Sid Mashburn might not be one of the huge luxury brands that so many people covet, but if you've ever seen their products you know their quality is on par. They both focus on classic style and wardrobe staples instead of trends and fast fashion. There is a time and place for trendy pieces, but if you're going to spend the extra bucks, it may as well be on something you can have forever.
Check out their stuff here...
Ledbury.com
Sidmashburn.com
