Five Boston Stores with High-Performance Technical Wear
Crane & Lion’s Beacon Hill boutique. / Photograph by Lizzy Barrett
For Athleisure Clothing
Crane & Lion
40 Charles St., Boston, 857-239-8170, craneandlion.com.
Remember when you wore yoga pants only to yoga class? We don’t either. Jumping on the athleisure bandwagon is easy at Beacon Hill’s Crane & Lion, where comfort and utility take shape in durable cotton tanks, flexible cashmere hoodies, and—of course—tights and pants with clean lines and flattering side piping.
Must-Buy: High-rise nylon-spandex tights with mesh, $100.
For Weekend Wear
L.L. Bean
340 Legacy Place, Dedham, 800-650-6358; and other locations; llbean.com.
Like every good New Englander, you’re likely well acquainted with this Maine-based retailer’s classic Bean Boots and totes—now it’s time to peruse the abundant selection of casual clothing. Keep an eye out for moisture-wicking tees, button-downs that block damaging UV rays, and slim-leg jeans made with trademarked “S Gene” technology: The memory foam of the denim world, the fabric is specially designed to retain its shape.
Must-Buy: “Tropicwear” UV-protective nylon-polyester shirt, $55.
Ministry of Supply’s digitally designed and printed blazer. / Photograph by Lizzy Barrett
For Professional Attire
Ministry of Supply
299 Newbury St., Boston, 617-236-4253, ministryofsupply.com.
Leave it to the brainiacs at MIT to revolutionize the way we dress for work. Founded by a group of alumni in 2012, Ministry of Supply offers business clothes designed to stretch and breathe in ways that traditional (read: stuffy) formalwear simply does not. The tops and bottoms here—some of which are 3-D printed inside the Newbury Street showroom—boast science-backed, temperature-regulating materials that defy wrinkles and sweat stains.
Must-Buy: “3D Print-Knit” moisture-wicking viscose-PBT blazer, $285.
An Adidas sneaker from Bodega. / Courtesy Photo
For Shoes
Bodega
6 Clearway St., Boston, shop.bdgastore.com.
Sneakers continue to rule the runway, and one pass through Bodega’s trick door is all you’ll need to keep up with the trend both on and off the elliptical. Concealed in an unmarked building, the Back Bay streetwear boutique stocks a wide range of store exclusives—designed in collaboration with industry power players—and other fashionably functional kicks from Adidas, Common Projects, Vans, and more.
Must-Buy: Adidas “Ultra Boost X” sneakers with rubber outsole, $220.
For Coats
Moncler
Copley Place, Boston, 857-317-7619, moncler.com.
Research is the lifeblood of Moncler, a French-born, Italian-based brand that got its start during the 1950s as a manufacturer of heavy-duty sleeping bags. Now peddling upscale outerwear, the stylish company relies on goose down and high-density nylon to produce warm yet lightweight jackets, bombers, and parkas that are just as suited to Newbury strolls as mountain expeditions.
Must-Buy: “Tatie” water-repellent satin-nylon jacket with fox-fur collar, $1,975.
