Best of Philly 2005: Style

Clothes, shoes, and everything else you need to put your best foot forward

Men’s Style

Custom shirtmaker: Gennaro Shirtmakers Jerry Gennaro will talk your ear off while measuring you every which way, but the shirts he delivers are outstanding in fit and form. And a fully custom shirt will set you back only $125 (1616 Walnut Street, suite 1905; 215-545-0440).

Non-Suffocating Salesmen : Neiman Marcus Men’s Store
Our rule for service is an inverse of the Army’s “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy: Don’t tell us about that suit until we ask about it. This store is packed with cool clothes — and you’ll be free to browse without the seven-times-a-visit “Can I help you find something special” inquiries (the Plaza at King of Prussia; 610-354-0500).

Custom Clothes: Morroni Custom Clothier
Daniel Morroni has built a sizable business selling suits to a stable of lawyers, business execs and TV personalities, based on his expert advice and superb fit. He has no workroom — he farms the sewing out to a trusted shop — so he’ll come to your office or house, take his 25 measurements, show you fabrics, and voilà, deliver a suit in four to six weeks (856-241-8428).

Glasses: Eyesite Quality over quantity. From a choice selection of frames by Christian Roth, Salt (from Japan), Ic! Berlin and others, owner Gene Kogan will use his refined taste and 22 years as an optician to find a pair that looks great on you (218 South 20th Street; 215-557-0757).

Stylish tuxedo priced proportionally to the number of times you’ll wear it:
Brooks Brothers Factory Store and Last Call for Neiman Marcus Outlet

Getting a super deal on a suit you’ll wear infrequently is so satisfying. Just $349 will get you a classic notch-collar tux at the Brooks Brothers outlet (they start at $698 at the retail store), while we’ve seen $3,895 peak-lapeled Brioni fabulousness for a mere $995 at the Last Call for Neiman Marcus Outlet (both at Franklin Mills Mall; Brooks Brothers, 1643 Franklin Mills Circle; 215-632-9004; Last Call for Neiman Marcus Outlet, 1634 Franklin Mills Circle; 215-637-5900).

Menswear deal: Target $7.99 t–shirts Last year, stores finally got smart and eliminated that irritating sewn–in tag inside t–shirts. Now, tag–free is the rage. Banana Republic touts this feature as the holy grail on its $16.50 tee, but guess what? Target has tag–free, heavy cotton tees in 15 designer colors for less than half the price, and they’re well–made to boot (target.com).