Williamsburg - the new Men's Clothes Mecca

Williamsburg fashion has definitely evolved beyond skinny jeans and ironic tees. The whole urban woodsman thing is still happening, and so is high-end denim, quality tailoring, and American-made everything. They're all small and specialized, and most can dress you head to toe. Here's a roundup of what I think are the best independent men's fashion stores in Williamsburg.

Bird (203 Grand Street @ Bedford) - love these guys...wonderfully curated, high quality design. Brands like Rag & Bone, Steven Alan, Acne, and Robert Geller.
www.shopbird.com

Hickoree's Hard Goods (109 South 6th Street @ Bedford) - definitely urban woodsman/general store vibe. Highly curated, durable, utilitarian vibe. Brands like Folk, Le Laboureur, Tender, and Hillside.
www.hickorees.com

Hollander & Lexer (103 Metropolitan Ave @ Wythe) - old-school Soho meets Brooklyn vibe, Japanese and Italian fabrics, more loose free-spirited design. Mostly their own designs, mixed with other brands like Barbour, Rogan and Raleigh. No website.

Mishka (350 Broadway @ Keap) - streetwear, flannels, tees, mostly their own brand mixed with brands like Flying Coffin, Actual Pain and Raised by Wolves.
www.mishkanyc.com

Brooklyn Denim Co. (85 North 3rd @ Wythe) - THE place for denim. You will learn something here. Their other clothes are great too. Forget the celebrity brands - here you'll find Surface to Air, Tellason, Closed, Billy Reid, Levi's Vintage, as well as their own house brand.
www.brooklyndenimco.com

Oak (208 North 8th Street @ Driggs) - a sort of Manhattan/Brooklyn hybrid with a stark white backdrop - I'd say leans more Manhattan. The have their house brand, as well as brands like Shades of Grey, Band of Outsiders, and Kai Aakmann.
www.oaknyc.com

Brooklyn Tailors (358 Grand Street @ Marcy) - bespoke tailoring with a definitely younger edge to it than you usually find with custom shirts and suits. His off-the-rack stuff could easily be something you found in Bird.
www.brooklyn-tailors.com

In God We Trust (129 Bedford Ave @ North 9th) - they're working the urban woodsman vibe - tightly curated clothes and accessories with a gentelmanly integrity. They sell their house brand, along with Lifetime, Pendelton, Hillside and Stacy Adams shoes.
www.ingodwetrustnyc.com

Alter (407 Graham Ave @ Jackson) - they call themselves "funky, wearable and affordable." Brands like Cheap Monday, Shades of Grey, Life after Denim, Kill City and J Shoes.
www.alterbrooklyn.com

Bencraft Hatters (236 Broadway @ Havemeyer) - old-school hat store for all sorts of mostly classic designs. Brands like Stetson, Stasi, Borsalino, Tesi and Kangol. No website.

Fred Perry Surplus Shop (306 Grand Street @ Roebling) - all Fred all the time at a discount, for that clean, urban preppy look.
www.fredperry.com

Paul Smith Sale Shop (280 Grand Street @ Roebling) - all Paul, all the time. For that tailored, tasteful, more European cut. Great for thin guys.
www.paulsmithusa.com

ID (232 Bedford Ave @ North 4th) - subtle, stylish, contemporary - like a really basic navy v-neck T that for some reason gets tons of compliments because it hangs just right. Brands like Penguin, Naked and Famous, Superdry, Rayban.
http://www.idnewyork.com/

Loren (80 Nassau @ Lorimer) - high-end hand-made custom jeans under his house brand, with Soldier and Brave, BLKSMTH,  and Lips Jeans. Follow the link to see Loren's process.
www.lorencronk.com/


Other than that, there are plenty of other options, including American Apparel, Brooklyn Industries, Life Curated, Genuine Motorworks, Heads & Hoods, Shirts and Destroy, About Glamour, Love Brigade, and numerous vintage clothing stores.

Happy hunting!