In their heyday, these shops and department stores sat at the heart of our city centre - and provided a day out in their own right.
For decades, generations of men and boys across Liverpool and wider Merseyside will remember heading to the likes of Jack Sharp or Wade Smith to get the latest fashion, sportswear and more. Over time, we've without a doubt seen changes in shopping habits, with online shopping becoming so widely available and different independents and chains closing their doors for good.
And a number of our favourite Liverpool menswear shops, department stores and brands have since been confined to the history books. But they're still remembered fondly by so many people who went there with their friends, dads, grandads and more.
Read More:
Here, we take a look back at a number of shops and departments stores that were known for their menswear in Liverpool for years. From long-standing family businesses to more recent shops that brought about a new era of fashion in the city, these are bound to stir some memories.
This list isn't intended to be comprehensive, we've included a number of menswear department stores and clothing shops with menswear brands that are no longer around in the city from across the generations. But, if you feel there are some we should have included, let us know in the comments section below.
Horne Brothers
Located on the corner of Lord Street and Paradise Street from the 1950s, Horne Brothers sold must-have clothing and accessories for men and boys. Popular with shoppers across the city, many will remember the different window displays, collecting their school uniform, purchasing shirts for nights out and even having a haircut in the barbershop downstairs.
If you visited the store, it's also likely that you had a haircut in the barbers salon in the store, with advertisements of the time claiming it offered "the best haircuts in the city" and in the early 1960s, the barbers gained global attention when the Beatles came in for a haircut. By 1985, the brand opened a new shop on Bold Street and McDonald's opened a branch in the premises that same year.
Jack Sharp
Jack Sharp is a name still recognisable to Liverpudlians, not only because of his performances as an outside-right at Everton FC and cricketer, but through his eponymous sports shop in Whitechapel which opened in 1903. Before rival shops, commercial sports deals and online shopping a trip to town wasn't complete without going to Jack Sharp to see what the latest sport trends were or to pick up essentials for your school P.E. kit.
For many, it was the place you bought your first ever football boots or even teams for Subbuteo and you could buy gear you'd seen worn by your sporting idols from George Best's Stylo Matchmakers to Hummel white football boots worn by Everton's Alan Ball. The site later become the 08 Place as part of Liverpool’s Capital of Culture year and today is a Trailfinders travel agents.
Join our Liverpool memories and history Facebook group here.
Wade Smith
Few clothing shops left such an indelible mark on Liverpool fashion sense as Wade Smith, which in two decades of its existence shaped a distinctive Liverpool style which was then adopted nationwide. The brainchild of its founder Robert Wade Smith, who spotted a niche in the market while working as a footwear buyer for Topman, the store initially began in 1982 to bring designer wear to shoppers at a time when most of the big labels were staying away from the city.
Moving with the times, Wade Smith gravitated towards a new fashion trends with its offer of Nike Air Max and track suits and as the 1990s wore on, Wade Smith leaned further into high fashion and would become something of a celebrity attraction for its imports of high fashion brands like Prada and Gucci. By 1989, the shop was an established name and had set up at a more elaborate premises on Mathew Street, but after changing hands with the Arcadia Group, Wade Smith eventually shut its doors in 2005.
For more nostalgia stories, sign up to our Liverpool Echo newsletter here.
Watson Prickard
For more than 100 years, the Watson Prickard department store stood in Liverpool’s city centre attracting generations of customers. Founded in 1893 by A W Cockeram, it occupied a huge building on North John Street and many will remember buying their school uniforms from the store, while others will have purchased their Sunday best.
Watson Prickard was once described as offering a "wide range of classic and contemporary clothing for men who appreciate quality and are discerning about how they look," the ECHO previously reported.
Do these awaken any memories for you? Let us know in the comments section below.
C&A
Sometimes known as Coats and 'Ats, C&A was a popular fashion giant that had something for everyone. But it is also remembered for its "Man at C&A" range of menswear.
C&A was founded in 1841 by German-Dutch brothers Clemens and August Brenninkmeijer, before it became a major presence throughout the UK. After years on Merseyside, C&A announced it was closing its doors for good in the early noughties.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
