Best of Boston

2009 Best Men's Clothing, Upscale

Alan Bilzerian

Nearly three decades on, Alan Bilzerian’s trailblazer status remains unchallenged. It’s the go-to for avant-garde imports like Rick Owens and Yohji Yamamoto, as well as for the keen advice from veteran staffers (we’re talking about you, John Stefanelli) that’s required to make them wearable. The mood stays haute with fantastical pieces like a piqué Lanvin blazer so starkly white that passing glances leave a smudge, while the store’s eponymous line of dresswear basics ensures we’re only as V Man as we wanna be. (And really, if we wanted to play it safe, we’d shop at Brooks Brothers.)

34 Newbury St., Boston, 617-536-1001, alanbilzerian.com