Introducing... La Belle Eschoppe

Approximately three months ago I met up with two French bloggers who at that time were living and working in London but about to realise a project that truly celebrated their homeland. With the guidance and help of FrenchTrotters, the blogging team behind redingote.fr present La Belle Échoppe. This online store is the realisation of their dreams to create and curate commerce focussed on French craft. Simple, beautiful, well made goods with a history and an interesting approach. These are values that are behind all of their posts on redingote and shared by the selection of Clarent and Carole Dehlouz for FrenchTrotters. With aspirations of my own to one day open a store, I spoke with these two excited Frenchman and left inspired and in no doubt that this coming together would provide an interesting e-commerce offering.

"We wanted to do something together. As bloggers, you get to see a lot of brands, products and build relationships but you can also see what's missing or what could be improved. Living in London we watched the growing emergence of brands that celebrated . We don't really have brands like Albam, SEH Kelly and DS Dundee in France. There's not a great deal made in France and that is a real shame because it has a real heritage. With the support of French Trotters, who brought their expertise and knowledge we could showcase these French craftsmen and bring them in to the modern world."

Laurent de Meyrignac, redingote and La Belle Échoppe

On La Belle Eschoppe you will find a considered selection of beautiful objects crafted in France, and the curious user is talked through history, production methods and origins of the brands you will find in the boutique with the help of seductive editorial content. The group have scoured the full territory of France for products that would best showcase local craft and manufacture. Of course there are typical French products from the breton tops and sailor jumpers from Le Minor in Brittany to traditionally crafted berets from in Béarn, that enable you to dress up a stereotypical Frenchman (minus the baguette under the arm) whilst playing boules (they sell a beautiful set) but these are joined by modern wares that still have a tradition in France. For example, the online boutique sells Frenchtrotter's popular own brand that is produced in Paris alongside hand crafted desert boots made in Lower Normandy and bags by Bleu de Chauffe, a young brand that produces its collection in the south of France with organic products all sourced in France. It is this combination of history and modernity and the expected alongside the unexpected that really excites.

The site itself launched last month to widespread acclaim and this led to the team being invited to bring their concept to (capsule) tradeshow as a pop up venture. During my hot and hectic weekend in Paris it was great to see just how well redingote and FrenchTrotters have combined to realise La Belle Eschoppe. As much as I enjoy the experience of shopping online, it was a real pleasure to familiarise myself with their selection. I soon fell for their gallic charms. Below are a selection of pieces that caught my eye...

La Belle Eschoppe at (capsule)

An enticing table of French produce that demonstrates the sheer variety of products on offer. From the breton top to authentic Basque espadrilles to cookware.

What could be more French than these Breton shirts? Knitted and made by Le Minor which is a company located in the South-West of the Morbihan since 1965. Breton shirts have been worn by sailors of Brittany since 1858, when they first were introduced to equip the French Navy. They had twenty one blue stripes that were said to represent the number of battles that were won by Napoléon. The version that caught my eye and later found itself in my shopping bag has a little twist, it has one red stripe....Trafalgar maybe? For La Belle Échoppe, Le Minor has reissued the label "Spéciale Marine" of its origins.


These espadrilles are made by Don Quichosse in Mauléon, the European capital of the espadrille, located in the centre of the Basque country. Each element of the shoe is made in the workshop of Don Quichosse and is then welted together with the particular white thread by craftsmen in their own home.

Entirely made in Paris for Frenchtrotter, this shirt was crafted with the leftover cloth of luxury houses. This is why each design is limited to a few dozen pieces. The high quality of the cloth gives each shirt an amazing feel. Very high attention is given to the details : the buttons are made out of mother of pearl, the inside seams are protected, the pen pocket is reinforced and the label has been signed by the maker.

Bleu de Chauffe is a young French brand that has gathered the remaining traditional manufacturers around them to produce their collection. Mainly inspired by workwear, the bags are made in France out of materials that respect the environment. Raw edges and internal pockets are some of the features that make it an authentic product that will age beautifully.

Desert boots are a classic that will always be fashionable. Their simplicity instantly made them a classic that was copied in every way possible. For this version, Empreinte adds its know-how and uses only locally made materials in order to produce boot that is as friendly on the environment (the soles are partially made from recycled rubber) as it is on the eyes.

These pencils have been made in Lay, in the Loire by the French Pencil Company (Compagnie Française du Crayon) which is the last to still produce pencils in France.

Made in Chambéry, these luxury edition Opinel knives are as beautiful as they are dangerous. Laurent conceded that he had to reluctantly leave one of these at the security gate at Eurostar.

P. Frapin perfums has to win a przie for the most seductive tale. Born from a chance encounter between the cognac distiller of Frapin and David Frossard. The pair came together and were united by a shared passion for perfumes and cognac. Perfumes and cognac have remarkably similar making processes. Inspired by the story around the making of Cognac and the everyday life around the castle were it is produced, they decided to create P. Frapin & Cie.

In “Qualités de vie, objets des valeurs quotidienne” (which could be badly translated as “Qualities of life, objects of daily values”), Ermine Herscher lists with precision all the cult objects making a French daily life in 1991, to her “travelling through the France of objects is like getting a History book”. It mirrors the ideals of La Belle Échoppe perfectly.
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As mentioned above, La Belle Échoppe is a curation of French craft but it as interested in telling the story of these products as it is in selling them. The site, combined with the blog aims to showcase the craftsmanship, both traditional and modern, that combine to create each and every product on offer. Below are a few shots from recent factory visits..

Factory shots courtesy of La Belle Eschoppe

To concentrate on “Made in France” is a way for this group to focus their passion and knowledge on something they truly believe in. With La Belle Eschoppe, they've created a project on a human scale, in a sustainable way whilst forging privileged relationships with a variety of suppliers and craftsmen across France. All of this guarantees the best quality of products available in addition to reminding us all that there are still a lot of beautiful things which are still made in their beloved country. Vive l'artisanat de la France!

In discussion: Neglected items of clothing II

Over the last couple of weeks or so we have concentrated our blogging efforts on highlighting the key SS11 collections on the catwalk and beyond but as you all know, there is so much to discuss on and around menswear beyond the goings on in Paris, New York, London and Milan. With this in mind, we've decided to take a breather from tackling Menswear Day and instead shift the focus on stocking the conversation fires. Here we've asked a selection of our favourite store owners and bloggers to put forward their favourite neglected or long forgotten items of clothing and accessories...

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"Sweat pants. I cannot get enough in my life."
Ian Paley, Garbstore.

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"Well, I'm a big advocate of the bow tie. Not just for formal events. And every gentleman must learn to tie a bow tie!"

Matt Fox, Fine and Dandy.

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"I don’t like to say as a generalization that men should wear more of a certain garment as I am definitely of the opinion that what works for one will not work for another and in my opinion the key to having a great style is knowing exactly which pieces work for you. I’m also a massive fan of people who will wear something that is completely off key within their honed style and really ask questions of the observer, ie ‘I know that this guy has great style, so why is he wearing that really off key piece that doesn’t work with the rest of his get up?’ . This for me is a real statement of confidence in a person’s style and generally if they stick with a certain one of these pieces long enough it will eventually become a trend at some point."

John Skelton, LN-CC

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"I would like to see men loosen up and bring in more glamour into the way they dress:

• Cravats – I think they’re really handsome and are surprisingly quite warming in the winter.
• Velvet – on coats, jackets, slippers. Black, burgundy, bottle green, or even yellow.
• Dressing gowns/smoking jackets – I had quite a discussion with designer John Little on our wishes for a dressing gown. He wants a functional dressing gown executed with architectural/couture detailing, whereas I want a dressing gown/blazer hybrid that I can wear out as a jacket."

The Dandy Project, blogger.

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"I wish more men wore hats - not those garish fitted baseball caps or newsboy caps, but proper hats.  It just adds that extra elegance and charm to a suited look.  I suppose proper etiquette would have to be observed when wearing a hat, but I think it would make for a far more polite and enjoyable experience.  Plus whenever I see elderly people on the street it always feels a bit odd saying "Good Morning" or the like when I pass, they tend to be wary, however tipping my hat would make it far easier."

Dapper Kid, blogger.

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Is there an item of clothing or accessory that you'd like to see more men wear? Let us know below...

A Visit to Hostem

A Visit to Hostem.

Just last week I bemoaned the lack of truly exciting menswear stores in the capital. I have said countless times that I can count the number of well stocked stores on one hand but there have been a few recent additions that are forcing me to impugn my previous statement. The unveiling of Hostem on Redchurch Street over the summer justifiably caused ripples of excitement throughout the industry. Proprietor James Brown sought to marry his favorite, though often disparate, sartorial aesthetics under one roof. Formerly an arts industrial space, Hostem has been transformed by at the hands of Jamesplumb and now revels in the play between rustic and luxury, housing vintage US trouble lighting and a reclaimed leaf covered pew among the high-end designer goods. The result is three individual rooms, devoted to luxury streetwear, avant garde design and an ever evolving space for visiting designers aim to showcase a world of menswear design talent. A few months on since the launch and as a mouth watering selection of stock begins to hit the shop floor we decided to sit down with the young proprietor to talk shop.

Happy tension between brands.

SS: What were the inspirations, dreams and the driving catalyst behind Hostem?

James Brown: Hostem was born out of the frustration on one set identify being set on the consumer. So many different cultures and experiences have influenced me and I wanted Hostem to reflect that. It was important to create a "happy tension" between brands that you wouldn't necessarily expect to find under the same roof.

There is great team involved in the project and everyone has brought something to the table which has been integral to the birth of Hostem. Darren Rudland who was formally of Jones is the Store Manager and his experience has been invaluable along with Alex Wysman who was the former assistant GM of Dover Street Market was another key reason for the store happening as I felt it was vital to have someone of his calibre on board and finally Mark Quinn who has been a big driving force behind the incredible press the store has received and also my closest confidante from the start of this venture almost two years ago.

It is great to see the likes of Mastermind in store.

SS: What does Hostem mean to you?

James Brown: Hostem is ultimately somewhere I can showcase and support the brands and projects I believe in. It was something first and for most for myself and if others like and respond to it then this is great.

The rail that will leave your heart all a flutter...Adam Kimmel and Casely-Hayford

SS: What attracted you to Redchruch Street for your bricks and mortar menswear destination?

James Brown: Hostem was two years in the making. London's independent retail offer had felt stale for a long time & especially the Westend. We looked everywhere from Mayfair to Dalston but when the opportunity came up to open on Redchurch Street we didn't think twice. There is something very special about the area at the moment. The resurgence and regeneration that is currently happening is phenomenal and it’s great to see independents at the forefront of this process such as, Labour and Wait, Radio and Aesop.

Leather lace-ups from Damir Doma. The design features two waxed lacing systems, a premium leather upper in an all black colorway, finished with white leather lining.

SS: Talk us through the evolution of the store.

James Brown: The store had a very organic birth, I knew the brands I wanted to represent but had know set ideas on the interior or aesthetic until Mark said I should meet with Hannah and James of JAMESPLUMB whom he had chanced upon. The minute I met with them at their home in Stockwell I knew instinctively the interior of the store lay in their hands. I had an instant connection with the duo and we never disagreed once through out the entire 3 month project. We all agreed we wanted to create a warm and inviting feeling in the space from the original reclaimed Victorian floorboards, the hand painted hessian and 'antique' furniture was all sourced from reclamation specialists, antique markets and local stores and this was most definitely achieved. The main floor houses the more avant-garde, artisan and high fashion labels such as Ann Demeulemeester, Rick Owens, Damir Doma, MA+ and Boris Bidjan Saberi. The basement which is due to open shortly will have a completely different feel and vibe and definitely not what you would expect from a JAMESPLUMB interior. This space will carry the more streetwear/workwear labels such as Visvim, Adam Kimmel, S.N.S Herning along with several brands that have not been available outside of Japan before that will be exclusive to Hostem will arriving just before Xmas. The third room of Hostem's ground floor will be an ever evolving space where visiting designers will take up residence. The first being the infamous Dr. Romanelli and his Prescription Shoppe which will open in November, 2010.

Beautiful bags by Bedouin juxtaposed with the sights of Redchurch Street.

SS: How have the last few months been for you?

James Brown: The reaction has exceeded all expectations from customers, industry and press. JAMESPLUMB have created something very special with the interior which I will be for ever indebted for. The response to the brand mix has been fantastic as well. I couldn't be happier.

Tweed and pleated ribbon bow ties from Adam Kimmel.

SS: With an exciting array of design talent soon to hang on the rails, can you talk us through your AW10 offering?

James Brown: AW/10 is the first full season for Hostem and we are all very excited with selection of brands adorning the rails. There are many key labels for us this season ranging from Visvim, Adam Kimmel and Casley-Hayford of which the later we are really pleased to be working with. For me Casely-Hayford is probably one of the most unique, important and special offerings in menswear today and both Charlie and Joe have been great supporters of the store since we opened. Ann Demeulemeester is also a very significant brand for us and one of our biggest buys each season. She constantly offers key men's wardrobe staples that are essentially timeless.

It’s also great to be working with the more avant-garde, artisan brands such MA+ who create quite possibly the most exquisite leather pieces you are likely to come across. Geoffrey B Small is another special designer which we stock exclusively. Every single piece of his clothing is hand made and the attention to detail and cut of his clothing is second to none. Finally Curiouser + Curiouser which is the debut collection from Alice Waese, she's a young local designer who creates beautiful silver jewellery, leather accessories and chunky over sized knitted scarves.

My favourite piece is this military inspired jacket from Casely-Hayford.

SS: What are you most excited to see hit the shop floor?

James Brown: Besides the above mentioned collections I am very excited about the arrival of Santa Maria Novella products from one of the oldest pharmacies in the world dating back to 1612. Their products are a joy to use and we’ll be carrying a substantial part of their range from their exquisite perfumes and candles to their honeys and liqueurs. Santa Maria Novella will be arriving in store in November.

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As part of the London Design Festival, Hostem have opened their doors to become The One Room Hotel. Created by Jamesplumb the event will allow a select few the chance to spend one night in a truly unique and intimate installation. By day, the space acts as an exhibition for the interior designer’s striking innovation and time-worn, lovingly restored pieces, all of them new and debuted for the first time. By night, anyone can gain a chance to spend the evening in this captivating enclave.

Lane Crawford blows out 160 candles

2010 is a landmark year for Lane Crawford.

Earlier this year I waxed lyrical about my new shopping crush in Hong Kong's leading specialty store, Lane Crawford. This Autumn, after a number of longing glances from across the ocean, this blossoming long distance affair has taken a surprising turn with the age of my new love coming to light. Appearances can be deceiving. This season, Lane Crawford is one hundred and sixty years old. Founded in 1850 by Thomas Ash Lane and Ninian Crawford, it has evolved to become a leading luxury specialty store offering a wide selection of international brands. Celebrating its one hundred and sixtieth anniversary, Lane Crawford is proud to launch Heritage 160 for AW10. To honour Lane Crawford’s rich history and unique past, as well as its strong relationships with top brands, designers and talents from around the world, Heritage 160 features a series of programmes and events throughout this Autumn/Winter. The first of which sees explores a reimagined wardrobe staple, the trench coat...

A reimagined classic, i-D take on the Burberry trench, as shot by Pierre Debusscherre.

By paying exclusive tribute to a classic fashion staple, the Burberry trench coat, Lane Crawford has collaborated with twenty three top fashion and style influencers of today, including (deep breath)...Jonathan Adler, Maggie Cheung, George Cortina, Anna Dello Russo, Godfrey Deeny, Simon Doonan, Garance Dorè, Miroslava Duma, Nina Garcia, Kate Lanphear, Sarah Rutson, Scott Schuman, Keegan Singh, Stefano Tonchi, Taylor Tomasi Hill, Milan Vukmirovic, Kelly Wearstler, Erickson Beamon for Patti Wilson, Lynn Yaeger, as well as the creative teams behind Topshop, i-D Magazine, V Magazine, and VMan Magazine to create a collection of customised one-of-a-kind trench coats. Each trench presents a different take on heritage, fashion and style.

Milan Vukmirovic's effort at shot by Pierre Debusscherre.

Campaign video by Pierre Debusscherre

If Lane Crawford's Tribute to the Trench wasn't reason enough to blow up the balloons and ready the living room for a game of musical chairs, the Heritage Collection undoubtedly seals the deal. Working with some of the most popular contemporary designer labels in menswear, including Acne, Band of Outsiders, Engineered Garments, Kolor, Nigel Cabourn, Rag & Bone, Reebok, Rimowa, Sacai and Visvim, a capsule of exclusive designs of unique pieces from each brand will launch in store this season, creating a limited assortment from the best of Autumn/Winter trends. Below are a few of my favourite pieces. Happy Birthday Lane Crawford!

Clockwise from left, Rimowa luggage, Nigel Cabourn jacket and Sacai coat.

A Visit to Trunk Clothiers

Britain used to be described as 'a nation of shopkeepers.' Whether it was the eighteenth century economist Adam Smith or Napoleon who described this group of islands as such matters little, what does matter is that this nation has lost its retail heart. I can honestly count the number of exciting London stores on one hand. However, the future has begun to look a little bright with the opening of a number of intriguing properties. The recently unveiled Trunk Clothiers had led me to outstretch one more finger. Located over two floors on Marylebone’s Chiltern Street, Trunk introduces a much needed new style to the menswear retailing scene in the capital which I was able to experience for myself earlier today. The seventy square metres brings together a carefully curated selection of the finest menswear and accessories from across the globe. Trunk is a store that sets the standard for gentlemen seeking modern classics of the highest quality matched with impeccable service.

The handsome and inviting exterior.

As the name suggests, Trunk is a compact, well organized and highly edited mix of carefully selected, hand crafted garments from around the world. Trunk stocks labels from Japan, Italy, Sweden, US, Canada and France, that in most cases have not been available in the UK market before. Well respected brands such as Beams+, Aspesi, Montedoro, Barena, Zanone and J Crew all, quite surprisingly, make their London debut with the store. The store offers suits, knitwear, accessories, shoes, hats, eyewear, watches, hoisery, underwear, fragrances and will soon launch a made to measure suit shirt service. Additionally, the space offers special collaborations with two of Japan's finest, in Tabio and Porter. The store reads like Tyler Brule's (and mine) dream shopping list.

The carefully curated space.

Formally a senior manager in global partnerships at American Express, Klingberg,has fused his background in fashion, retail and financial services to engage with brands that are united in their passion for quality and detail. Convincing smaller brands, such as Stealth Wealth of Kyoto, to take a risk overseas has been one of the challenges he believes will make Trunk unlike any other shop in Britain. A number of the brands had been interested in the UK market but hadn't found the right store to work, until now at least. For example, Boglioli, an Italian brand has been looking for the right environment for a number of years but there just was not an opportunity for them. Klinsberg noticed a clear gap in the market and has thankfully taken advantage. Trunk's model is simple, to stock great Italian, Japanese, Swedish and American brands that already have a strong following among London residents, but frustratingly for them could only be found abroad. Now, I could wax lyrical about the store but I'd only bore you, the best way to get a feel of the place is to explore it. The store affords discoveries at every turn and below are a few of the items that caught my eye...

Boots by Common Projects, belt by Ki:ts, bag by BAG'n'NOUN and scarves by Drakes. Ki:ts is a Japanese brand that is now based in London, all of the belts are made by hand and each is stunning.

Italy’s Glanshirt has crafted fine men's and women's wear since the 1960’s. Recently they joined the brand family over at Slowear joining the ranks of Incotex and Zanone to name two.

Headwear by Wigens, the one on the right is the product of a collaboration with Harris Tweed. Wigens is a brand that you might encounter in an old gentleman's store in Sweden but Klinsberg discovered it in Iseten in Japan.

The store is full of seemingly unpronounceable brand names, the producer of this super soft scarf being a case in point, LA+H, hailing from Japan.

In addition to offering a plethora of new discoveries, the store is also home to a few old favourites. Here are two examples, socks by Tabio and knitted ties by Drakes.

Handkerchiefs by Drakes.

An eye popping tote from Bag’n’Noun crammed full of scarves by Drakes. The Bag’n’Noun products from Takeshi Ozawa are all handmade in a small factory in Osaka and this is the first European store to stock them.

Boots by Lodger.

A closer look at those boots by Common Projects.

Friendly characters. Trunk's warm palettes of greys, light wood floors and original fireplaces create an inviting environment that faintly echoing Klingberg’s Swedish heritage.

Trunk is a shop for men who like to look sharp, in all settings. Whether its crisp bespoke shirts, tailored blazers, elegant knitwear or smart footwear. At the same time the space delivers a great experience in a warm, welcoming environment which is dedicated to making shopping both simple and enjoyable. Trunk affords discoveries at every turn, in each nook and cranny is a label that I had never seen before but soon fell in love with. The pieces stocked here are the one’s that Klinsberg has unearthed, the ones he shops for in Europe and Tokyo and the ones he wears himself. His passion for finely crafted menswear is infectious and I for one, look forward to my next visit, where I'll no doubt encounter a few more of my 'new favourite' brands.

In one of his insightful rants, Tyler Brûlé mentioned how Japan's lost decade was the catalyst for the rise of a new super talented merchant class that kept the retail scene buoyant despite the dire state of the economy. I hoped that the recent troubling economic times would bring about a new breed of shop keepers and Mats Klinsberg is undoubtedly one of them. Here's hoping that Britain could one day be crowned a nation of menswear shopkeepers.

In discussion: Time Travelling Style II

Fashion is ever changing. Existing materials, cuts and silhouettes are remade, altered, evolved to create something new. The past tends to play a fundamental role in the future. Designers are among the most remarkable cultural historians, tirelessly renewing a fading inheritance,pushing fashion on. A measured glance back in order to go forward. However, when it comes to writing about fashion there is often a tendency to look too deeply at the crystal ball.There is an unquenchable thirst for the new. An impatient demand for the yet unmade. To counter this we asked a few of our favourite menswear personalities to wear Bernard's watch. Here a few of our friends proclaim their favourite moments of style...

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If you could go back in time and experience any
moment in style, what would it be?

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I want to go back to the sixties:
- to crash glamorous Beverly Hills house parties
- to see actual Teddy Boys and skinheads on the streets of London
-to meet my young parents in Manila in custom-tailored bellbottom suits and homemade lace dresses

The Dandy Project, Blogger.

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"The moment I would most like to visit style-wise would have to be London during the Regency period. As far as tailoring and menswear history is concerned I suppose that was the time that everything was happening. Fashion was truly being explored and young aristocrats were creating a new attitude towards dress. I would love to have been able to see Beau Brummell in action around Mayfair and at parties with the Prince Regent."

Dapper Kid, Blogger.

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"If I could travel back to any style time, which I suppose is just any time full stop, I'd choose 1989. Then I would find 13 year-old Thomas and give him a sound thrashing. My god, what was I thinking? But if that would disrupt the space/time continuum too much, I'd choose the 1920's. The 60's were amazing but a little on the perfect side. In the 20's a man could wear a crazy suit and look completely normal."

The Sunday Best, Blogger.

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"How about simply living in the moment? I understand all art references the past (yes I'm calling some clothing 'art'). However, I'm bored witless of this revisionist attitude to clothing. Why not shake things up? This week I'm feeling more and more like I want to smash the system and start a revolution and my clothing will reflect this. Punk isn't a clothing style but an attitude. I spent a few days at one of worlds biggest cultural events last year and no-one confronted or assaulted my senses more than a group of kids taking French ye-ye music and turning it on it's head. Now that's punk. Lead not follow."

Daniel Jenkins, Retailer focusing solely upon British fashion talent.

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How about you? Have you got an era that you look back on fondly or perhaps you've dreamt about experiencing for yourself ever since you flipped through an old family photo album. Maybe your moment will come. Tell us all about it below.

A look around Oi Polloi's new store...

Peering through the window of Oi Polloi's new store.

Since opening its doors back in 2002, Oi Polloi has offered an antidote to the mass of bland, uninspiring men's fashion stores lining the high street. As their website puts it: "with a vision of putting together the ultimate selection of classic, functional outerwear with innovative contemporary labels and a serious arsenal of casual footwear, Oi Polloi was born". Over the subsequent years, one of our favourite independent stores has managed continued growth without sacrificing any of its identity or core values. Whenever Steve came up to Manchester we always made the trip to the Tib Street store.

The main window display

The major drawback to Oi Polloi was how teeny tiny the store was. Politely and in true Estae Agents speak we'd call it cosy. Bluntly though, it was just too small. Much of Oi Polloi's business comes from their excellent online shop, but sometimes you just can't beat a bricks and motar store. On the back of their continued and obvious success Oi Polloi moved to a new 1,600 square foot space just before Easter, providing double the size of the previous store. So, when Steve came visiting last week we just had to take a look around...

It was great to see that Action Man and his trusty sidekick had made the trip to the new store. Here they take pride of place on the Brooks' cabinet.

The large cabinet of Brooks' saddles and accessories. A Brooks saddle is a British design classic and it takes centre stage at the new store.

A glass cabinet showcasing the handpicked look of the season. The choices reflect the ideal sartorial arsenal for a weekend getaway...

We were both taken by this display of Fjallraven Kanken bags. A classic lightweight day pack in hard wearing vinylon fabric in a Spring/Summer friendly selection of colourways.

We particularly took our time over this rail. Nigel Cabourn's clothing for obsessives, with production split between England and Japan, using only the finest British materials and fabrics. The detail is phenomenal.

Another well stocked rail of delights

This workbench sat in front of the huge denim wall and features fabulous knits from Folk.

One of our favourite features of the new store is the full shoe wall. Everything from Yuketens to Clarks, moccasins to brogues is on display.

A closer look at the Sperry Top-sider and bucks by Sander. The Topsider blueprint for the American boat shoe, and the cornerstone of Classic Nautical Style.

And what a change it's made. Still stocking as many great brands as before, it is now easier and more enjoyable to browse (did we mention that the staff are really friendly, knowledgeable and happy to chat? Though we should warn you that the Manc accent seems to be infectious judging by the way so many of their customers speak once they step through the doors) and you realise just how wide ranging and varied their stock is. As you can see from out excitedly snapped images above, rails of the latest pieces from Nigel Cabourn, Our Legacy, Heritage Research, Engineered Garments, Oliver Spencer, Folk, Saint James, Barbour, Lavenham (oh the list goes on and on) are accompanied by glass cabinets showcasing cycling and outdoors accessories. Although it is so much larger than the intimate Tib street store, the new location just feels right and you get the sense that the guys are loving the extra space.

At the risk of sounding cheesy, Oi Polloi seems to be more than just a clothes store, bordering on a lifestyle. The Brooks cycling accessories are beautiful enough to make us want to enter the Tour de France just to have an excuse to buy them. Along similar lines they mentioned to us the desire to have kayaks and a couple of tents in store as well. Perhaps if Oi Polloi have their way by this time next year we'll have all have taken up (very stylish) camping? We'll just have to wait and see. In the meantime the new store gives an even bigger reason to make the trip to Manchester.