Menswear in Palo Alto

Palo Alto's dress code is famously relaxed. Founders pitch in quarter-zips, investors meet in sneakers and a blazer counts as dressing up. Still, the city sells a wide range of menswear, from Italian tailoring to waxed outdoor jackets. Almost all of it is concentrated in Stanford Shopping Center, with a few casual brands at Town & Country Village and outdoor stores downtown.

This page lists 19 stores that sell men's clothing plus an alterations shop, grouped by area. Each has a neutral description and a link to its directory listing, where you will find hours and contacts. We do not rank stores or discuss prices. Many brands sell both men's and women's clothing; for the women's side, see our womenswear guide.

Stanford Shopping Center: tailored and luxury

These stores cover suits, sport coats, dress shirts and fine knitwear. Several offer made to measure or in-house tailoring.

• Wilkes Bashford: the Bay Area luxury clothier's 25,000 square foot flagship, opened in November 2024, with designer menswear and in-house alterations.
• ZEGNA: the Italian house's ready-to-wear, shoes and accessories, across from Macy's, with Su Misura made to measure.
• Brunello Cucinelli: cashmere and men's and women's collections on the Garden Walk, with appointments and the Sartoria Solomeo service.
• Loro Piana: cashmere, vicuña, linen and merino clothing between Brunello Cucinelli and Apple, with private appointments.
• Brooks Brothers: the 1818 brand's tailored and casual clothing for men, women and boys, next to Rivian, with made to measure.
• Vince: women's and men's clothing on the Garden Walk, with an on-site tailor, same-day alterations and private appointments.
• Macy's: a three-floor department store whose men's department covers suits, dress furnishings, sportswear, shoes and big and tall.

For the full luxury picture, including the watch boutiques, see our guide to luxury brands at Stanford Shopping Center.

Stanford Shopping Center: everyday and casual

• J.Crew: women's and men's clothing plus men's suiting and crewcuts for kids, between Aritzia and Arc'teryx on the Garden Walk.
• Banana Republic: men's and women's clothing plus BR Home, near the Center Pavilion, with personal styling.
• UNTUCKit: shirts cut to wear untucked, plus polos, knitwear and pants, near Macy's. The store is cashless.
• Rodd & Gunn: the New Zealand brand's casual clothing, from polos and knitwear to jeans, in a store it calls Stanford Lodge.
• Levi's: the San Francisco brand's jeans and clothing, with a Tailor Shop, stylists and secondhand trade-ins.
• Tommy Bahama: island-style men's and women's sportswear, swimwear and accessories.
• Outerknown: a California label's casual clothing, including men's blanket shirts and trunks, with an Outerworn resale program.
• Arc'teryx: the Canadian brand's technical shell jackets, down layers and outdoor clothing for men and women.

The casual stores cluster along the Garden Walk and near Macy's, so you can compare shirts at three or four of them in half an hour. Our Stanford Shopping Center guide has a layout and parking overview.

Town & Country Village

• Faherty: the family-run brand's beach-inspired clothing for men, women and kids, in Building 2. The store says it is pet friendly.
• Marine Layer: soft tees, shirts and knits for men and women in Building 1, with a Re-Spun program that recycles old tees.

Town & Country is smaller and calmer than the Stanford center, with surface parking among the oaks. It suits a quick weekend stop. See our Town & Country Village guide for the rest of its shops.

Downtown outdoor brands

• Patagonia: the outdoor brand's clothing and gear in an 1880 former hay barn on Alma Street, across from the Caltrain station.
• Fjällräven: the Swedish brand's store at 230 University Avenue, with outdoor clothing, backpacks, free G-1000 waxing and repairs.

Both are a short walk from the Palo Alto Caltrain station. They suit anyone who wants clothes that work on a trail and at a downtown lunch. For bikes and hiking gear, see our guide to bike shops and outdoor gear.

Made to measure and alterations

Fit is where in-store shopping still beats ordering online. These are the services the stores list themselves.

For clothes bought elsewhere, The Tailor Maid is an alterations shop upstairs at Stanford Shopping Center, above J.Jill, with a standard 48-hour turnaround. Our guide to dry cleaning and tailoring lists more options around town.

Finding the right fit

A few practical notes make a shopping trip more productive.

• Big and tall. Macy's lists big and tall in its men's department, which is the widest size range on this page.
• Shirt length. UNTUCKit cuts its shirts to be worn untucked, so the length is the point. Try them on with the pants you plan to wear.
• Jeans. Levi's Tailor Shop can hem and customize in store, which saves a trip to a tailor.
• Knitwear. Cashmere and merino sizing runs differently from brand to brand. Loro Piana, Brunello Cucinelli and Vince all take appointments if you want time to compare.
• Layers for the climate. Palo Alto has cool mornings, warm afternoons and a short rainy season. A light shell from Arc'teryx, Patagonia or Fjällräven covers most of the year.
• Stanford gear. Cardinal sweatshirts and caps are sold at the Stanford Bookstore. See our gifts and souvenirs guide.

Bring the shoes you plan to wear with a suit or trousers to any fitting. Hems are set to the shoe. A change of a half inch shows.

What men wear in Palo Alto

The local uniform is practical. Weekdays downtown you will see chinos or dark jeans, button-down or knit shirts, a quarter-zip or fleece and clean sneakers. Mornings and evenings are cool for much of the year, so a light layer is useful even in summer. Suits show up at law firms, banks, weddings and formal Stanford events rather than at startups. If you are in town for meetings, our business travel guide covers the rest of the trip.

Planning a shopping trip

Start at Stanford Shopping Center, where 15 of the stores on this page sit within one walkable loop. Park in a garage on Quarry Road to be close to the Garden Walk and Macy's. If you also want outdoor brands, drive or walk to downtown afterward for Patagonia and Fjällräven. Weekday mornings are the quietest time. Out-of-town shoppers can compare hotels near Stanford Shopping Center and walk over. For shoes, belts and bags, continue with our shoes and accessories guide.

Frequently asked questions