The 50 Best Clothing Stores in America

"Methodology Producing this list began with identifying criteria against which stores would be judged, including inventory, curation, proprietorship, customer service, ambience, location and payoff would going be worth it, even if nothing is bought? After scouring recent and archival shopping coverage in the Times, and seeking recommendations from Styles reporters, editors and contributors, more than 120 stores emerged as contenders."

"A team of 11 Styles reporters and editors eliminated the most obvious stores that did not meet the criteria. Then, over months of deliberation, we whittled down the rest down by visiting most of them, in person and virtually, and sometimes more than once. The 50 stores chosen were all visited by reporters and photographers. No businesses paid for promotion or inclusion."

Criteria for evaluating stores included inventory, curation, proprietorship, customer service, ambience, location and whether a visit would be worth it even if nothing was bought. Recent and archival shopping coverage and recommendations generated more than 120 contenders. An eleven-person team eliminated the most obvious stores that did not meet the criteria. The remaining candidates were pared down over months of deliberation through in-person and virtual visits, sometimes repeated. Fifty stores were selected; each was visited by reporters and photographers. No businesses paid for promotion or inclusion. For multi-location businesses, one location was chosen and justified.

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