By Robert James

Profile

By Robert James was founded in 2008, but it has the feel of a classic brand, which is echoed in the décor of its Americana-filled Lower East Side boutique. The clothes, which include tailored jackets and suits, jeans and bowler hats, are all manufactured locally and designed in-house (literally—the design studio is just upstairs from the boutique). The brand calls to mind classic American style and the Lower East Side during its gritty 1970s heyday (there’s a slim, almost punk-ish vibe); the latter highlighted by the two shelves of classic vinyl albums from the era–featuring Television’s Marquee Moon and The Clash’s self-titled debut, just to name two. Adding to the charm is Lola, Robert James’s black lab, who frequently roams the store. — Taylor Berman