A list of seven stylish sites for true blue fashion followers.
1. SSENSE
The United States-based site not only offers an excellent collection of well-known and alternative fashion labels, from Givenchy and Alexander McQueen to Gareth Pugh and Thamanyah by the Emirati designer Ahmed Abdelrahman, but also regularly updates the site with clever features, exclusive music playlists and videos.
[ www.ssense.com ]
2. Luisa Via Roma
With free shipping and import fees to 50 countries including the UAE, Luisa Via Roma is an online shopping heaven for seekers of luxury brands. Giorgio Armani, Dior Homme and Lanvin are just a few of the site’s many high-end labels, with an extensive collection available for each brand.
3. Matches
The London boutique’s website is ideal for the well-read shopper. With regular designer interviews, to-do lists of worldwide cultural events and constantly updated seasonal style reports, Matches preps its shoppers before letting them loose in the virtual store. A great example of a site that almost trumps the actual store.
4. Drake’s London
Originally a men’s scarf specialist, Michael Drake has now earned a reputation for being the go-to brand for ties. To this day, the ties are handmade in London on Haberdasher Street, where every piece of the collection is designed. In addition to buying the brand’s shirts, scarves, main-collection ties, knitwear and accessories, customers can also put in requests for its renowned bespoke ties.
5. Boutique 1
Dubai’s Boutique 1 remains one of the region’s best stores for contemporary menswear, stocking Rag & Bone, Y-3 by Yohji Yamamoto and Acne. The shoppers at the biggest advantage from the online shop, however, are non-Dubai residents who need great menswear in a flash.
6. Browns
As with its womenswear collections, Browns remains highly selective when it comes to men’s pieces. The carefully curated list of designers features avant-garde brands such as Chalayan, Rodarte and Ann Demeulemeester, with highly sought-after items among a usually sold-out list.
7. Très Bien
The Stockholm-based e-shop Très Bien combines designer names such as Jil Sander with up-and-comers Hood by Air and sportswear specialists Nike. The duo behind Très Bien, the brothers Simon and Hannes Hogeman, also launched their own label on the site – a mix of minimalist, boxy shirts and jackets and jersey basics with a truly Scandinavian edge. Having been featured in The New York Times and Vogue Hommes Paris, this is one online retailer worth keeping an eye on.
With input from Nadia El Dasher
neldasher@thenational.ae