Popped into the Gresham Blake shop in Brighton and picked up a waistcoat, and I couldn't be happier…read morewith it. The wool fabric quality is immediately noticeable--it has a substantial, tactile weight to it that screams proper British tailoring without feeling stiff or uncomfortable. What really makes the piece special up close is the subtle hint of color woven into the fabric, adding great depth rather than just a flat, plain shade. Turn it around, and the attention to detail doesn't stop--the intricate pattern and finish on the back give it a genuine touch of personality and craftsmanship that off-the-rack vests completely miss. Great style, nicely made, and friendly service in-store. If you want sharp, character-filled tailoring in Brighton, this is the spot.

Ever wanted a suit that makes you feel like a million dollars?…read more If the answer is yes, book an apppointent at Gresham Blake. They specialise in stunning, bespoke and made to measure suits for men and women. Remember the black and white pin striped suit Heather Mills wore in the court case against a certain Beatle? That was a Gresham Blake. As well as offering individual and customised suits, their Brighton shop sells off the peg suits, shirts, silk ties, cravats and cufflinks.They also do a lovely range of silk hankies with ladies in various states of undress. I'd love a black suit with skull and cross bones in the lining but I'm not sure my budget would reach to both arms....

There's a mission statement on Reiss's website that sums up the spirit of their capsule Reiss 1971…read morerange: Youthful whilst progressive Directional but not trend driven Individual but not alone Urban not street On paper it sounds like marketing hogwash I know. When you walk around one of their stores however, you start to realise it captures their aesthetic quite well. Like their competitors, Reiss focus on every aspect of the wardrobe from simple and stylish daywear (jeans, tees, blouses and jackets) and evening wear (tiered dresses, skirts and slacks to luxury capes) to high heels and accesories. The difference is, they do it with a bit more panache. The clothes are well tailored and the garmets look and feel better made. They also have fancy names like Cassie, Bella, Albertine, Farrah, Darby and Frida. I quite like their white fitted military jacket with black ribbon detail. At £149 however, I'll be dreaming about rather than wearing it!

Reiss is another elegant dress shop in the Lanes that I can't afford to shop in…read more I'm not sure whether the minimalist set up is a conscious choice, or if the shop is just larger than necessary for the amount of stock, but each item is given a lot of...space. One shelf contained only a single handbag, for example. Fashions are for both men and women, and as only a few of each item are available, there's a good chance you won't turn up to a party with the same outfit as someone else (if that's a concern.) The price tags I saw: women's blouses ran at about £80 each, and coats are in the several hundred pound range.

I recently got to visit Jump the Gun in person for the first time and it felt like being a kid in a…read morecandy store. There is so much quality menswear and you'll probably find yourself making some hard decisions on how much money you're willing to drop. In case you're not familiar with the brand from their online presence, they specialise in smart men's fashion...ivy, mod, call it what you like. They have many sharp suits, jackets, trousers, etc. I walked away with a very fine corduroy blazer in a lovely beige colour. Ace. I would probably have bought some trousers too if my runner's legs were a bit more accommodating to the fit. Additionally, the gentleman working at the shop was very friendly and helpful, providing a lot of context about the production that went into each of the pieces. Do yourself a favour and stop by if you're in the area.

Although it's limited regarding Skinhe ads, this is a very…read moregood clothes shop. The staff are absolutely diamond and so helpful and go out of their way to talk to you about their clothes and the high standards of their production. I've bough a number of items from this shop in the past and will continue to do so. The standard is very high and authentic and you are treated with worth. Jump the Gun is diamond in our books.

Tom Wolfe has a brand sale for the post-holiday, where several (I'm assuming) top name brands are…read moreup to 50% off. The only name I recognised (other than the namesake) was Bench, but all the clothing inside seemed to be top quality menswear, so it's probably a good deal. Items included both casual and formal attire: tee shirts, golf shirts, sweaters, jumpers, button-up shirts, jeans and dress slacks. There was also a £10 rack which mostly contained brightly coloured golf shirts. Accessories included belts and a range of masculine jewellery - I don't know whether there are manlier versions of these terms, but - cuff bracelets, necklaces and earrings. There was also a wide selection of footwear, again ranging from casual sneakers to shiny dress shoes. A good mix for temporarily decent prices.

Tom Wolfe is the Man!! I have been wearing this label for about 6 years and buy at least 4 items of…read moreclothing from the label every year.. Its a fanstastc bargain ...the cloths are exceptional, well designed and you will scarely meet some other bloke wearing the same shirt I still remember the paper thin zodiac inside out shirt I took to Prague in 2004 ... it was a sellout ..£50 of designer wear got me into the VIP area of an exclusive peageant...free Champagne and two models to party with all night !! Guess what? I'm actually wearing my Tom Wolfe knit wear from 2 winters ago while writing this ... and when a 42 year old is getting ogled by women half his age in a shopping mall ... I know who made me fashionable!

Jack Wills is definitely the best-designed shop I've ever been in. Very impressive. It sells both…read morewomen's and men's wear, along with some basic houseware (bedding, cushions, etc.) but it feels like you're a guest in someone's home, free to snoop through their stuff. Some shirts were folded neatly along bookshelves (intermixed with books, of course) whilst others were hanging in closets. The shop's first floor includes a den - complete with television and pinball machine - and a bedroom, where socks neatly peek out from one of the dresser drawers. Sales clerks were bustling around, tidying every section as though they were expecting visitors at any minute. They all seemed to be really dedicated to their jobs, though too focused to offer assistance or greetings. This shop was a treat to look through, although I wouldn't buy anything. It's quite pricey. (I must admit it was tempting to pick something up, as my initals were embroidered onto everything. Personalised sweat pants!)

There was a time a few years ago where EVERYONE in Brighton seemed to be into Jack Wills…read more Maybe that's because I was younger then... preppy college chic was in style for preppy kids that were in college? Sadly I was neither of those things, so I never owned anything from Jack Wills. They do make rather nice looking hoodies though! I'm afraid I'll never wear one, being closer to 30 than 20... Oh wait! They have a store for older people called Aubin Wills!! It's still preppy, but more mature. Sadly the Brighton store is closed. If you have a family member that is just about to start university, buy them a Jack Wills item of clothing! They'll probably love it.

Mottoo has two separate shops in the Lanes - one for women's clothing, one for men's. It took me…read moretwo tries, but I found the shop for a wealthier version of me - Yikes. I should have been able to guess the price range from the designer names on the walls - Dolce & Gabbana. Stella Mcartney, Paul ... something. The cheapest top I saw was £125, and it was just skimpy, thin fabric. I suppose you'd be paying for the genius creativity that went into the design, though. Is that the way it works? I kept looking, though, for interest's sake. Jeans - £335, a lovely sweater for£ 425. It was all nice stuff - accessories included shoes and belts and bags, and I noticed a few stylish winter coats. So, I suppose I would recommend Mottoo if these prices seem about right to you.

A fashion boutique in the heart of Brighton's center offers great ranges of the latest styles from…read moresuch designers as Paul Smith, Nicole Farhi and Betty Jackson. However if your are not planning to splurge - do not bother to go there. Prices start at around a 100 pounds and the staff is interested only in those who have the money.

Cool T-shirts alongside Calvin Klein underwear and slightly more exotic men's jewellery (cough)…read moremake for an interesting combination at Branded. The perfect place to treat yourself to a really fancy Tee at £25, or to find a bit of a bargain for £15. The range is certainly unique and vibrant, with a distinct style across the store that makes it seem very much its own, but that I struggled to imagine slipping into my wardrobe with ease... Some things were very very vibrant... Still, I did decide to give it 4* as it is rather cool and decently priced, even if it isn't quite my thing.

This shop has no shame and brings you all the gaudy prints it can possibly muster in full…read moretechnicolour. It is all about big brands with an Ed Hardy colour chart, and of course underwear. Expect to find the most colourful of Calvin Klein's pant designs here, alongside the selection of T-shirts designed to blind people. A not too cheap but fun shopping experience.

For the clothes they sell in here - it would be getting a 5 star. My perfect man would dress head…read moreto toe in Peggs and Son. Seriously fit stuff guys. It is a boutique, which can equal expensive! Obviously you can find the things they sell - such as Huf, Carhartt, Obey... Etc - on the Internet, but this is a lovely shop to 'peruse'. I need to have things in the flesh! I'm not a trusted Internet shopper. But I love coming in here even when I don't have a man to buy for! Yeah I know... Bit of loser... But that is how nice some of the things are in here! The sizing doesn't go up for people a bit bigger or taller in a few of the brands though which is a shame cos I like my tall men! They have a fab sale on at the moment, which will leave happy boys with happy pockets!

I recently purchased a Veilance bag from the online store and it arrived with scuffs/marks on…read morenearly all outer surfaces. I can only think that this bag was on display or had not been treated carefully. This is not normal and not indicative of the material as I have handled the bag in the official Veilance store in London. I am disappointed that a £200+ tote bag should arrive in such a condition, especially since the pictures on the website did not match this. Pictures of the marks were sent over and the owner checked these before the store had agreed the return. The person I spoke to had emailled me that I should send it back and that I would be reimbursed for the bag and the postage, quote from the email "Thanks for your phone call earlier, just to confirm if you send it back via RM 1st Class Signed For and send us a picture of the receipt we will get that all refunded for you." I received a refund for the bag but not the postage. I sent in a query and was told that the bag was not faulty so there would be no refund on the postage back as the bag was not faulty. I called up and was told that there wasn't much they could do as the owner had ruled on the matter, they were reluctant to put me through to the manager or owner to discuss. I received no call back, unfortunately it appears the manager and owner lacked the ability to call me back. I am very disappointed that the shop had agreed to refund the postage and then went against their word. I'm not likely to use this store again, I went out on a limb to go with an independent but with the experience I have had I no longer trust them. I am further disappointed in spending so much on an item to get it in a poorly state and then to be told that this is normal. In addition, I let them know I would be leaving feedback of my experience and I was told angrily that I shouldn't make threats. Go figure.