The Steven Alan Outpost is the national clothing retailer's local "outlet" store, but instead of having to drive for hours into the suburbs, you can find it smack-dab on the near-east side of town. Shopping here presents numerous advantages over a traditional, first-run store. The Outpost feels like a boutique, for one thing, in that it's not often particularly crowded and it's staffed by young, stylish folks who really seem to know what they're talking about. Then there are the discounts — often 40 percent or more. And because they carry past seasons' duds, you don't have to buy a shirt for, say, winter, just because winter is coming up. But the best part is how dapper you'll look. Every dress shirt or tie inside is pretty much guaranteed to be spiffy, and well made. Personally, we're big fans of the shirts with the "reverse seam" — that is, a seam on the outside. 1937 Hillhurst Ave., Griffith Park. (323) 667-9500, stevenalan.com.

—Ben Westhoff