Sources: Paul Stuart

Paul Stuart is one of America's very best clothing store chains. For many years slightly more adventuresome than Brooks Brothers, Paul Stuart's New York store (there are also two in stores Tokyo and individual ones in Chicago, Kobe and Seoul) was described by Alan Flusser as the place where a man went for an interesting necktie after buying his sack suit at 43rd and Madison.

Unlike its neighbor, Paul Stuart has remained true to itself over the years and the web store's merchandise reflects the company's updated traditional approach. There's a selection of interesting neckties, an assortment of fairly refined pocket squares like the pictured yellow cotton Fleur De Lis iteration and some fine socks, including summer argyles in the best colorways I've seen anywhere. Most if not all of the merchandise is unique to the store.

Unique in my internet shopping experience, Paul Stuart's catalogs are online in addition to the featured collection of "Essentials." It isn't immediately obvious but customers can shop from both selections of merchandise, subject to availability of the catalog items.

The company has a very good return policy, offering credit or an exchange for any unused item that doesn not meet the buyer's expectations. When a return is due to a Paul Stuart error or merchandise quality, they pay the shipping costs.