Askov Finlayson

I took my boyfriend here yesterday, and now I have created a monster. A very expensive monster. Askov is basically the epitome of Minnesota chic — their shelves are stocked with men’s basics (pants, flannel button-​downs, outerwear), and they also carry blazers, dress shirts, and ties for when a gentleman wants to get fancy. One side of the store is devoted to accessories (leather wallets, watches, etc.), gifts, and things for the home (think cocktail shakers and coffee table books) with an emphasis on locally produced inventory.
As if that weren’t enough, they also have a Warby Parker showroom in the back section of the store, which is staffed by an optician — super helpful for placing orders and also for getting a second opinion on the bold frames you pick out (I have my eye on the Jennings model). Also, there’s bubble hockey!
If you’re looking for a gift for the fashion-​forward man in your life, look no further than this place. The quality of their products is impeccable, but high price tags come right along with it. Be sure to prepare your bank account accordingly!

Are you a male trust fund baby? If so, then this is right up your alley. It is situated in the heart of trust funded lofts for the 20 – 30 somethings who can’t break away from the parental financial teet. Expensive clothing for fit men made to look like you’re not trying too hard. I overheard a patron say, «I don’t ever want to be financially independent from my parents.». Yeah, not my cup of tea.

Incredible service. Very discerning, tasteful, and exclusive selection. If you want a clothing or accessory item that is unique, handmade, and extremely high quality, go here.

I loved this store. I live in Manhattan and was passing through. I picked up a few great pieces and the service was top shelf.

No, I’m not the target demographic for a high-​end menwear shop… but I like how mantiques like BlackBlue and Askov Finlayson and MartinPatrick3 are actually giving guys a place to buy stylish clothes. If my fiancé were less of a man-​beast (he’s too tall for most clothing in general), if I physically brought him here and if I hid all the price tags, I like to think he’d shop here too.
(What can I say? My fiancé is a classy man who describes his look as «artfully disheveled.» We all have our strengths.)
In addition the the mostly American-​made and Nordic clothing, they have some fun accessories for biking (leather 6-​pack holder that I got my fiancé for his birthday one year), camping (HOODED WALKING SLEEPING BAG SUIT!!!) and some great home décor items like a woolen badger face pillow that I want in my house really badly.
Also, the Faribault Woolen Mills blankets. Gimme. Dem. Blankets.

This place is amazing. My new favorite menswear shop in the Twin Cities area. If you have any interest in clothing, guy or girl, get here now.
Smaller than I expected, but the quality and selection of the goods more than make up for it. Barbour? Yes please. Penfield? Get on my body, now. Boast and Gant Rugger and more? This is menswear heaven. GQ posted on them a few months ago… Askov Finlayson definitely deserves the accolade.
Yeah, it’s pricey, but it’s a bunch of cool and unique (but classic and high quality) stuff you’ll own for a while. There’s tons of fun little gifts– think cool posters, neat books and cool things like MN state outline embroidered Smathers & Bronson dog collars. A serious thought ran in my head that I should get a dog so I can get this collar… Also, I need one of those cool painted paddles behind the register in my apartment.
Shop staff is super friendly and talkative but not uppity. They know about the brands and definitely don’t force anything on you.
Follow them on FB and Instagram for cool looks at the store and new merch. They post sales as well!

It’s a low key, upscale, yet still casual, tiny shop hidden in the Warehouse district. There’s no loud and obvious signs, so unless you have set out to look for it specifically, it can be a place that’s easy to miss.
The price range can be pricey, with jewelry staring around $ 80.00 and clothing starting at around $ 200.00. The quality and unique items you find though, may make it worth the price.
The look, feel and setup of the entire shop is uncommon to find in a small midwest city like Minneapolis. This kind of shop is certainly more prevalent in NYC and reminds me of small shops I’ve frequented in Japan.
Speaking of which, the shop carries a specific brand of Jeans from Okayama prefecture, an area right next to Osaka. I was really surprised to see Momotaro Jeans. It’s well known in Japan, but certainly not here in America. It’s quite possible, this is the only place in America so far that carries the Momotaro brand. In any case, this makes me highly suspicious that the buyers for this shop would have spent some significant time in Okayama before. Such a fun idea though to bring over some Okayama influences.

I know I’m not alone in thinking this, but the Dayton brothers have ridiculously good taste. And I am completely smitten with their new additions to the North Loop: Marvel bar, The Bachelor Farmer and Askov.
I dropped in here the other day and felt like I was transported to the West Village instead of Minneapolis… though after a quick pan of the room, the «Norse» t-​shirts and handmade sweaters gave it a distinctive Minnesotan vibe. It’s really a beautiful store and you can tell that there is a lot of thought behind product selection and layout.
The store is (obviously) geared towards men, but there are some gorgeous sweaters for the ladies if you’re willing to drop a few $$$ on a unique, handmade item. Go check it out!

This is a fabulous addition to the North Loop! Cool menswear, throw blankets & leather goods make this store worth the trip.
I picked up a Penfield flannel shirt for my husband this weekend. I could have bought more, but with prices ranging from $ 80-​$ 250, I had to unfortunately pull the plug!
Super friendly staff, beautiful clothes & awesome accessories. Check it out!

If you’ve a few extra benjamins lying about, go check out Askov Finlayson for some well-​made clothing. Along with Martin Patrick 3, the North Loop is quickly becoming your Dapper Dan shopping destination.
Hours are a little off — on weekdays they don’t open until noon — but since this is housed in the same building as Bachelor Farmer and Marvel Bar, it makes sense. The Dayton brothers recognize you can only wait for your reservation playing Angry Birds for so long, so why not go shopping?
Askov Finlayson have stocked hard-​to-​find brands like Norse Project, Penfield USA, Fjällräven, and Barbour. Lots of Scandinavian-​sourced or inspired goods. You can find them online for sure, but it’s nice to see these items up close in person. While they do stock some women’s Barbour jackets, this is primarily a men’s store with some unisex accessories. I wasn’t too put off by this though, looking was pretty fun. The staff was very nice and I like the small touches like handwritten price tags.
Everything is thought out and well-​made; I was lusting over the Hestra X Norse Projects deerskin gloves, so soft and warm! Fjällräven — «Arctic Fox» in Swedish — is a fun outdoor brands that started out with their most enduring product, the Kånken daypacks. They are also stocked here! I have two — a mini and a regular one — and I love them so much. Even though I ought to be carrying a proper-​lady bag, I find myself using these much more because they’re so damn practical.
Yes, the cheapest thing in the store is probably around twenty bucks. This is not a place for impulse buys. But if you like practical, stylish design and enduring quality, please look here. If you’ve had one too many drinks at Marvel Bar before coming here though, I am not responsible for your soon-​to-​be empty wallet.