1. J.Crew
www.jcrew.com

The Story: Until 2003, J.Crew was a family brand known best for its swift catalog sales. Enter Mickey Drexler, who made the label–and its creative director, Jenna Lyons–shine. Nearly a decade later, J.Crew’s message is clear. They want to offer the best looking, best quality clothes to an audience that loves fashion, but aren’t slaves to it. What’s more, they’ve made men interested in more than t-shirts and jeans for the first time since the 1970s.

The Pros: Beautiful clothes, well-made, great fit, something for everyone.
The Cons: Sometimes we wish it wasn’t so girly. (But we guess that’s what sister store Madewell is for.)