We New York shoppers are a spoiled sort. It seems that at least once a month a brand new store opens its doors, adding their name to the ever-growing list of boutiques that run from Wall Street to Washington Heights. And yet, it’s never enough. As New Yorkers we constantly clamor for more. More stores. More brands. More, more, more.
The Armoury New York is a store good enough to silence all of these cries.
Positioned on a fittingly tranquil street in TriBeCa, a neighborhood that is more often associated with Scorcese than shopping, TANY is the brand’s first outpost outside of Hong Kong. Although, to simply describe the shop as a New York location for a Chinese-based label would be too elementary. The Armoury is not distinguished by where they’re from, they’re distinguished by where their products are from.
The Armoury’s array of items is nothing short of phenomenal, featuring more exclusive items and brands than any other shop in this city, a feat that is truly extraordinary considering how overstuffed New York’s retail market is. Their selection of tailoring ranges from Neapolitan tailor Orazio Luciano, to the beloved Japanese brand Ring Jacket. Mixed in are dress shirts from Ascot Chang, hats from Lock & Co, Ettinger bags, and Fox umbrellas, which look like they were ripped from Beau Brummell’s closet.
Aside from their assortment of ready to wear, The Armoury also offers up an impressive amount of custom options. From made to measure by Orazio, to full bespoke suits by the legendary Italian atelier Liverano & Liverano, to custom footwear from Phillip Car of Saint Crispin’s, to bespoke trousers from the illustrious Salvatore Ambrosi of Naples, The Armoury can match the needs of any and all customers.
The space itself provides a perfect backdrop to vibrant Drake’s ties and opulent cashmere knits. It’s neither too rugged, nor too refined, displaying exposed brick and polished fixtures in equal measure. The store has somewhat of an art deco flair to it, blending organic materials with modernist details. Overall the space feels inviting yet elegant, just like the clothes that hang on the rack.
It’s a store that seems indefinable in so many ways. It is neither preoccupied with the past, nor projecting towards the future. Its address reads New York, yet in many ways it feels closer to the sort of stores one might find in London or Milan. The products are familiar at first glance, but on closer inspection are unlike anything else available in this city in many ways. As I left The Armoury New York during the first week of their soft launch, I couldn’t think of one thing that I would want to add, change, or modify, and that is what’s most remarkable of all.
It’s an exciting venue – to put it mildly.
But, I can’t help but remark — what a glut of high end of possibilities we have for men’s clothing today.
Haven’t the wealthiest 1% (or top 5% anyway) maxed out their closets by now?
In NYC – there’s Attolini, Brioni, and Lapo Elkann MTM for Gucci.
I’d love to make some purchases, but how can one justify spending – on a regular basis – 5K for a suit, or 3.5K for a blazer?
While the world of men’s elite fashion is on the rise world-wide…who are the buyers?
Many of us buy our suits and blazers in the secondary markets (ebay, Yoox, etc.), but so few could ever dream of outfitting themselves at The Armoury.
I agree, I live in HK and the Armouy is one of my favourite stores…….but one that I’ve barely made any purchases with. The prices are just too high for 99.5% of the people. Given the climate of HK, I’m quite surprised that they do so well given that fact that maybe 2 months out of 12 are legitimately comfy months for walking around town in a full suit without sweating your ass off. The biggest purchase I’ve made with them is the Ring Jacket MTM, Italian styling but at a reduced cost, it still cost me an arm and a leg, but using that one suit I copied many from local tailors. As for Drakes ties though there’s many options online where you can get it for much much cheaper.
Reminds me of Urban Outfitters but with tailored clothing, looks cool!
wp, that’s how I feel…
Wow–as a store design, the perfect blend classic and traditional with modern.
As one who lives in NYC, I am often surprised at all the higher-end stores that seem to want to be here. Competition must be fierce. While I do not work in the financial/investment community (where some actually dress-up), I do travel within many neighborhoods and companies throughout Manhattan. I wonder where these expensively dressed men are hiding. I travel on the subway, commuter train, and the occasional airline. I know men’s suits are supposed to be rising in sales, but I can’t imagine where and by whom. Seems we are all very casual. I will check out this new addition, if only to discover where the customers are.
I’ve been following The Armoury blog and Ethan’s Rugged Old Salt for a few years now and the photo’s and products offered are all amazing. While I agree that not many people can afford to outfit themselves at The Armoury I do think it’s possible for a good amount of folks to shop here. The idea is to focus more on quality than quantity. Perhaps you save up for one item you truly want and/or need and invest in that because of the fact that it’s excellent quality and will hopefully last a very very long time. I for one have purchased a few things from them online such as a few Drakes ties, a pair of Carmina loafers, and cufflinks. All of these items were things I know will be with me for quite some time and I’ll use them over and over, therefore to me they are a very good value. The rest of what I take from The Armoury is inspiration and simple appreciation for the employees who have such a passion for what they do and the way they present themselves. Again, it’s not going to be for everyone, but for those who are searching for a specific item or others who perhaps want to reward themselves every once in a while and want to make sure they are investing in a high quality item that will stand the test of time than The Armoury is an incredible place to have access to. I wish them luck and will definitely be stopping by to check out the new shop.