From big retail chain stores to cute local haberdasheries, find 5 of the best places to shop while in Columbia,SC.
Ahh! Welcome to Columbia, South Carolina, a city known for its rich southern history and quaint southern charm...
...Not quite the city most people think about when they think of the world’s best dressed men. Although Columbia may not make the list when it comes to high fashion in menswear, that does not negate the fact that Columbia has its own fashionable flare and options for men with a more stylish approach to life. As a menswear stylist, my ear is always to the ground when it comes to seeking out the best locations for selecting both practical and unique pieces for my clients. Client’s tastes vary from extremely conservative to wildly eclectic so I have to be prepared for whatever challenge my client may bring. I managed to put together a nice starting list for those of you that are interested in doing a little shopping before putting together your next outfit.
Men’s Wearhouse
Men’s Wearhouse is the name that everybody knows. When you’re dealing with a nationwide company that has been excelling in business for over 40 years, you know that you’re dealing with a company that knows exactly what it’s doing.
Why I Like Them:
Men’s Wearhouse won me over years ago when, as an employee of the company, I was able to learn about all of the perks and benefits the company provides for their customers. One of the best (and so far, unmatched) perks that I thought was incredible was the fact that they have amazing in-store tailors and an even better tailoring policy. According to their website, at Men’s Wearhouse, you will only be charged one time for the work that their tailors do. Once a seam has been altered, you are guaranteed free re-alteration on that seam for any reason, within the limitations of the garment. They also offer free lifetime pressing on all suits, sport coats, slacks, and tuxedos purchased at any of their 700+ stores nationwide, your slacked can be hemmed while you wait, and they offer 24-hour tailoring (available upon request.) Wow. The secret to success in fashion for men is making sure the details are taken care of. If your tailoring is precise and done well, you can make a $100 suit look like $1000, so this is a BIG deal. On top of the great tailoring perks, Men’s Wearhouse also provides great suits, shoes, tuxedo rentals, accessories and customs all at fair market prices and in a variety of styles, colors, and sizes. They also offer online shopping and a mobile app in which you can acquire points through their rewards program for purchases that can later be redeemed to receive major discounts. Although I am no longer working for this company, I still view them as premier in the world of menswear.
Columbia Locations:
Destination XL (DXL)
Destination XL (DXL) is premier in providing clothing for men that typically find that they are too large or two tall to shop in most stores. I cannot tell you how many clients I’ve worked with over the years that have a true passion for fashion but feel discouraged or limited due to their size or height. Well worry no more! DXL is the answer.
Why I Like Them:
This is another company that I have had the pleasure of working for. I was able to see, firsthand, how the company not only tries to ensure that the customer is able to find his perfect fit in clothing but also the perfect style that compliments the customer’s lifestyle. The employees are very helpful in the fact that they recognize that shopping more for fashion and less out of necessity is new for a great deal of their customers because of the fact that this demographic has constantly been a forgotten one in many regular fit stores. The atmosphere inside of the stores is manly, modern, spacious, and comfortable in their 200+ stores and their website boast sizes such as:
Waist 38-64
Big Sizes XL-7XL
Tall Sizes XLT-6XLT
Shoes 10-16 and widths to 5E
DXL also offers online shopping, a mobile app, a rewards program, name brands with some being exclusively offered at DXL in big and tall sizes, and in-store tailoring at most locations.
Fashion’s II
Fashion’s II is an upscale men’s clothing haberdashery that features classic and modern clothing and provides great customer service. Unlike the aforementioned stores, Fashion’s II is not a nationwide chain store but rather a local gem that has been in business for almost 20 years. If you’re the type that loves to support local businesses, Fashion’s II is a great store to patronize.
Why I Like Them:
Fashion’s II is uniquely stylish. Every year around prom season, I get a handful of young men looking to me for advice on how to look like this and that celebrity on the magazine covers and red carpets. The odd colored blazers with black silk lined lapels are always highly desired items as the young men try to find that perfect statement piece to both coordinate with their prom date’s dress as well as elevate their classic prom night look. The wild colors and fun lapel linings are often difficult to find in the large retail chain stores in the Columbia area, so Fashion’s II is an easy choice when it comes to seeking more eclectic varieties. Fashion’s II is also a great stop for more ostentatious accessories such as swanky lapel pins, oversized bowties, and luxuriant tie and pocket square combinations. They also offer great wedding packages for grooms that start at just $175 which is amazing because the package offered is a purchase package instead of a rental; this means that there is no getting up early Sunday morning after the wild wedding reception night to turn in rentals for the groom and all of his groomsmen. Trust me, if you have ever been through that process, you know how deflating that can be! Fashion’s II also provides great in-house tailoring and makes great effort on meeting the needs of those requiring specialty sizes as well.
Goodwill
Goodwill is the land of hidden treasures. It was founded in 1902 in Boston by Rev. Edgar J Helms and has become a $5.59 billion nonprofit organization. Still, when you mention the name Goodwill when talking about clothing, some people tend to turn their heads at the thought of wearing consigned clothes. To those people I say, you are REALLY missing out. Goodwill is one of the most fun places to shop because it is literally a treasure hunt.
Why I Like Them:
Cause, price and exclusiveness. Shopping at Goodwill will leave you feeling extremely good about your experience for multiple reasons:
CAUSE: Goodwill has been described as an, “industrial program as well as a social service enterprise...a provider of employment, training and rehabilitation for people of limited employability, and a source of temporary assistance for individuals whose resources were depleted.”
PRICE: If you’ve ever shopped at Goodwill for any reason, you are fully aware that their prices are unheard of. It is very possible that you will find a 1991 Johnson family reunion shirt that was originally valued at $6 hanging next to a Robert Talbott button up shirt originally valued at $450 and they will both now be priced at $4.95! No matter your taste in fashion, there is always something unique for you at an incredible price. As a cautionary tale, I will say no matter what the original value of the clothing was, you should still examine the clothes thoroughly to make sure that there are no rips, tears, or stains in the clothing because although most things are perfectly fine, there is still a chance that the item may be imperfect. With that being said, I still truly believe most people buy clothes, never actually wear them, then decided to just donate it to Goodwill so that someone can finally get good use out of such awesome items. I know because I do it all the time!
Exclusiveness: Because so many stores and people from all different backgrounds and stages of life donate clothing to the Goodwill, it is an awesome place for unique finds, rare pieces, and epic throwbacks. I’m reminded of the lyrics in the song Thrift Shop by Macklemore:
“I'll wear your granddad's clothes I look incredible I'm in this big ass coat From that thrift shop down the road
I'm gonna pop some tags Only got twenty dollars in my pocket ...I'm hunting, looking for a come up This is f***ing awesome!”
If you haven’t heard the song—definitely check it out because it accurately describes the thrifting experience—It truly is awesome.
If you plan on shopping at the Goodwill, definitely set aside a good chunk of time. There are so many clothes to go through so it is not a quick shopping experience. I strongly suggest getting clothing dry cleaned before wearing and even tailored if needed. With all of the money spent in buying the clothes, getting them dry cleaned, and taking them to the tailor, you will still come out spending significantly less than you would have had you gone to a regular retail store. If you like the idea of helping out with the Goodwill cause but can’t fathom the idea of going through all of the piles of clothing in store, check out Goodwill’s Ebay style auction site, shopgoodwill.com, they offer clothing and other items at impressive prices and as always, the proceeds go to enhancing the mission driven services provided by the organization.
Imperial Custom Clothiers
If you’ve ever seen a bespoke Instagram style influencer and thought, “Wow, I’d love to look like that,” Imperial Custom Clothiers is your answer. They provide a high-quality upscale shopping experience that’s fit for a king, complete with a luxury, masculine, loft style store, style consultations, and complimentary tailoring.
What I Like About Them:
They specialize in custom. As stated before, the secret to mastering menswear is to make sure the details are taken care of. This means obtaining that truly perfect fit through customizing and tailoring. Imperial Custom Clothiers does just that. I have not yet had the opportunity to work with the gentlemen that own this store but I am a big fan of their work. Anytime I find myself having the dreamy eyes for a guy that looks DASHING in his suit, I later find that he has been Imperialized! That speaks volumes of the work that they do and the styles that they render. According to their website, they offer ready made clothing, corporate career apparel, wedding and formal tux wear, and custom suits and sports coats. If your busy schedule won't allow you the freedom to make it to their store for your style consultation, their website suggests that they will come to you! That's what I call customer service! Their motto is, “never underestimate the power in what you wear,” it’s clear that their primary goal is to empower their customers one look at a time.
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