Here are the nominees for Best Clothing Retailer

Given the opposition to the nudist beaches, it looks like we’ll be required to wear clothes more often. Still, if you absolutely have to wear clothes then you want to wear the best. This year’s nominees are diverse in style but the style they have is in large supply (and demand).

Mandatory (108 Cuba St)
We all know that they sell fantastic clothes for men who’d rather look like neither a corporate drone nor a street kid on acid (I’m looking at you, Good as Gold). But it’s their service that sets them apart, and the fact that they can tailor or tweak a garment either to suit your eccentric tastes (“Can you make the collar a little more 1960s, please?”) or just to make your arse look the best it can possibly be.

Ziggurat (144 Cuba St)
Ziggurat doesn’t make their own clothes, but, hey, neither do many other clothing stores. What sets Ziggurat apart is that it is a second-hand clothing store with some fantastic vintage clothes. In fact, the difference between first- and second-hand can be over 80 years. Need a 1940s suit for a chaps’ night? Or maybe a prom dress? You know Ziggurat will have something to suit. And if you don’t want it later, sell it back to them.

Duncan, & Prudence, (141 Ridiford St, Newtown)
Newtown may be a bit shit but these guys have been pumping out homegrown, suburb-lovin’ T-shirts for a while now and have recently expanded into jeans and shirts. You’ll come out looking like a well-tailored slacker.

Madame Fancy Pants (217 Cuba St)
Madame Fancy Pants have carved their tiny store in Cuba St into more than a niche market. Cute shoes, cute jewellery, cute clothes; it’s like they built the store out of bunny rabbits and kittens. Also their service is beyond nice, you’ll come out feeling you’ve made new friends.

Swonderful (95 Victoria St)
Swonderful is a sweet li’l boutique, showcasing emerging Wellington design, art and craft. Originally in Brooklyn, Swonderful made the move to Victoria Street in October this year.  Swonderful's house label, Papercup, is designed and handmade by owner Ginny McMullen and her mum. Papercup jewellery is cute and quirky, its clothing a bit like classy-vintage-Paris-cupcakes, and other bits and bobs are just gorgeous and beautiful and we want! We want! We want! They're so Wellington, they even make Swellington tees and totes.