Follow us as we step through the doors of MHL’s first London store, located on Old Nichol Street and yet another addition to the Redchurch street massive. Margaret Howell has always kept the utilitarian label on a relatively low exposure level. As with the mainline, fiercely protecting the brand has created a continuous buzz and sense of exclusivity, both of which have kept her legion of loyal followers faithful to this British fashion institution. The space is very much in line with MHL and Margaret Howell stores worldwide. As you’d expect light, wood, simple fixtures and a sense of space are the preferred look.

Placing the clothing at the centre of attention, there’s very little to distract from what MHL does best – creating the kind of gear you’d happily fill your wardrobe with and wear for the rest of your days. The Spring/Summer 2012 collection had just dropped when we paid a visit, even more reason to take the tour.

Photography – Ross Trevail

Click for images

We ventured down to another edition to the ever growing area springing up around East London’s Redchurch Street. Following on from the trailer for The Ragtop Boys we take a closer look at Ragtop Vintage of 1a Turville Street. A relative newcomer in shop form, Dave  White has been running his incredibly popular stall at Spitalfields Thursday Antiques Market for years now, serving up hand picked goods to loyal collectors, designers and vintage heads. If he’s not manning his outdoor or indoor locations he’s probably in L.A searching out gems for the folks back home. In fact he’s all geared up for a visit to this month’s Inspiration Vintage gathering, headed up by the legendary Rin Tanaka. We’re not jealous at all.

“Hand picked vintage menswear from the golden age of inovation and quality manufacturing that came from North America in the early part of the 20th century. Specializing in Military, workwear, denim, sportswear and outdoor clothing and accessories.”

Photography: Ross Trevail

Take a walk around Ragtop after the click.

Rome Etoile is the first Louis Vuitton Maison in Italy, housed in the city’s oldest cinema. We love Rome.

If you’re in the vicinity of TriBeCa next month, get ready to have fun saying: “Honey, I’m off to the haberdashery.”

That is when J. Crew plans to open The Ludlow Shop, a 2,100-square-foot space boasting an assortment of their Ludlow suits along with Thomas Mason shirts, Italian leather shoes, and ties. Tailors and suit wizards will be at the ready to fit the suit to the man, and then monogram the suit with the man’s initials, should it come to that. The eminently wearable—and adaptable (survey the ad campaign after the jump)—collection tops out at $1,500 for a Ludlow made from Italian cashmere.

As for the slim-fitting two-piece at the center of all the excitement, it debuted three years ago at The Liquor Store, also in the neighborhood, but demand has grown to the point that it now needs its own mailing address. -jt

Image: wwd

Culling inspiration from Kubrick’s Paths of Glory, Le Bazar Des Poilus—a pop-up store at Hotel Jules & Jim in Paris—escaped the grim realities of WWI trench warfare with a few finer style points still strapped to the back. Vintage shoes, boots and sneakers, workwear and army issue fatigues, coats and woolens all held court at this collaboration between French online lifestyle mag Hell’s Kitchen and Leonard Vintage Shop in Lyons. Read all about it here … if you can read French.

We’d like to get our hands on the “Belt On” Levis Casuals pictured after the jump, but something tells us that the $4.98 price tag is as old as the pants. -jt

Photography: Mathieu Vilasco/Selectism.com

Another welcome addition to the Soho menswear roster, we finally found our way down to the new Oliver Spencer store located on Berwick Street. Regulars to the area will recognise this as the former site of Textile King fabrics however the interior has received a complete overhaul and the space has a very different feel to its predecessor. Following on from Lambs Conduit Street Stores, this is a wood heavy affair – old school desks, firewood, cabinets, heavy benches – parquet even finds itself lining the walls. A great space put together with attention to detail and a good eye.

Photography: Ross Trevail

Click to take the tour

One of our favourite spots in London, we finally managed to shoot The Vintage Showroom. As the name suggests, it showcases the best and brightest of vintage menswear, focusing on quality goods. It’s miles away from the kitsch tat that most shops are pushing as vintage nowadays and all the better for it.

Photography: Ross Trevail/Selectism.com

See our tour after the leap.

Some looks inside the new GQ x Park & Bond pop-up shop in New York City. These two have been working together since Park & Bond’s launch, so it should come at no surprise that their small landing in the city would come forth around the holidays. Shoppers will find goods and garments from A.PC., Common Projects, Etro, Filson, GANT, Jack Spade, Lacoste, Mackintosh, Oliver Peoples, Orlebar Brown, Paul Smith, Simon Spurr, Thom Browne and Vilebrequin, as well as highlights from GQ’s “Best Stuff of the Year.” We hope our TUMI collaborative duffle bag is in there a well.

The hours are tight on the new pop-up: OPEN from Wed-Sunday at 11am, CLOSED Monday and Tuesday. Find them at 414 W. 14th Street, between 9th Avenue and Washington Street.

More looks from inside the new GQ and Park & Bond Pop-up after the click.

When it comes to unique and strong build-outs, the folks at apothecary Aesop does it better than almost anyone. Their latest installation inside I.T. Hysan in Hong Kong was locally designed by Cheungvogl Architects. The installation features more than 800 resin boxes arranged on steel rods enclosed inside a translucent fabric. The unique veiled is more than likely not done justice through images. The installation will become permanent on their first floor display shortly. tip: designboom

More looks after the click.

The FrenchTrotters shop is home to the France’s own store within a store Monocle Shop. Various products from the Monocle catalog and collaborative works are available now in-store. Yes, the magazine is also in stock. You can visit the FrenchTrotters shop in Paris at 30 rue de Charonne.

Thought Monocle was simply a magazine? Discover more products from Monocle now.

More looks after the click.