Since opening near the corner of Howard and Crosby in 2002, Opening Ceremony — the still-undisputed purveyors of cool in downtown NYC — have ignited a transformation of one of Soho’s relatively undeveloped thoroughfares. The 5-block stretch of Crosby Street is now the epicenter of menswear shopping. Since I am a man who enjoys buying clothes, I decided to shop the entire length of Crosby Street — affectionately referred to as “BroHo” or the “manly mile” by the locals — from Howard all the way up to Houston.
Saturdays
I begin at the most renowned of the Crosby shops, Saturdays (31 Crosby), which serves up a fine selection of surf-inspired clothes as well as a mean latte. One standout was a beautiful $300 industrial-strength tote bag (part of a capsule collection with Porter). The store started out humbly in 2009 but has become a major player in the menswear game and now boasts four locations (including two in Japan), and was named “Best New Menswear Designers” by GQ in 2012.
Fellow Barber
A couple of doors down, I duck into Fellow Barber (33 Crosby) for a $15 beard trim. This full-service barber shop and apothecary is charmingly nonfussy and inexpensive (no appointments, only walk-ins) while offering a variety of high-end grooming products from the likes of Juniper Ridge, Musgo Real and Malin + Goetz.
Miansai
While Crosby Street now offers a variety of beautifully appointed retail spaces, none are more well-considered than Miansai (33 Crosby). Known for its custom-made accessories (namely their unisex “hook” and “cuff” bracelets) and chic, minimalist leather goods, the store — designed by founder Michael Saiger — is a perfect reflection of the brand’s erudite goods. Not only can you build your own bracelet or have your new leather wallet custom-embossed on the spot, the store also has a hot tea and kombucha bar, which is sort of the perfect thing to be sipping while perusing jewelry or checking out the store’s selection of beautiful Opinel pocket knives from France.
Carson Street Clothiers
Min NY
I duck into Min NY (117 Crosby), a store I love because it is what I imagine Stevie Nicks’ bedroom must be like — a darkly romantic candlelit space filled with antique mirrors, silk scarves and a million varieties of fragrances and rare elixirs. It carries a dizzying selection of imported scents as well as Min’s own line of hair-care products and shaving accessories, which are almost too beautiful to actually use. It’s the only store in NYC in which I have almost rationalized buying a $200 candle (encased in translucent, hand-painted bone china with 22-karat gold finishing) or actually purchased a $65 bottle of Dude No. 1 Beard Oil by MCMC that makes my burly face smell like a Virginia cedar forest.
Carhartt Wip
Next door is Carhartt Wip (119 Crosby), NYC’s only flagship for the venerable workwear label’s “Work in Progress” line. This is not the workwear your super would throw on to fix your bathroom sink, but rather a line of fashion-forward streetwear. The store is as no-nonsense and utilitarian as the clothing (brick walls! plank floors!), which is why so many guys (such as myself) love it. It’s the perfect place to pick up basics, such as their signature denim or perfect button-ups. The label also has a history of excellent collaborations (with the likes of APC and Adam Kimmel). I basically want everything.
Bonobos Guideshop
Nearby, Bonobos Guideshop (35 Crosby), an unusual shopping spot, offers patrons the chance to try on clothes only available through their Web site. Once you’ve found something to your liking (Bonobos is famous for its kaleidoscopic variety of trousers), the clothes are ordered and shipped to your doorstep, which means you can technically buy all kinds of things and still walk out the door with nothing. The staffers have to exhaustingly explain it all to everyone who walks through their door.