If you’re a man with concrete ideas about what you like to wear, may we refer you to Mortar. The new shop is owned by just such a discerning gentleman, Sacha Nelson, and his girlfriend/business partner, Iris Trent Siff. Realizing he and his chums bought most of their clothing while away on their travels, Nelson and Siff decided to fill a void in Houston with a well-edited men’s shop dedicated to beautiful basics in sedate hues that focus on construction, fabric and fit. The result is a sleek, pared-down boutique with interiors that reflect the same pulled-back aesthetic as the clothing within, each of which is categorized by group (tees, shirts, pants, tops) and elegantly draped on black wooden hangers. Adding to the masculine appeal are vintage industrial pieces — many culled from the eccentric coffers of Installations Antiques — including a pant-crease machine with dry-cleaning origins and oxydized metal garment racks. It all complements the edgy vibe of Mortar, which offers a task-based approach to shopping that men find quite appealing. Nelson and Siff comb the world for obscure labels and have brought in a bevy of exclusives, including sheer Tysa cotton voile shirting; preppy-meets-surfer-cool double-weight gauze button-downs and shorts from Riviera Club; and French terry cardigans and easy jersey jackets with curved zippers from Kzo and Kai Aakmann of Korea. Need more reason to shop? How about basic, cozy tees by Velvetmen and Martin, or handmade flip-flops by Jutta Neuman, who takes a week to create the curved arch and cobbler details found in every pair.
1844 Westheimer Road, 713.529.0009; shopmortar.com.
Image: Mortar; photo by Jack Thompson