Review: Stroked Ego

Ottawa's got a bit of a reputation for being a traditionalist, conservative and sleepy town. So where's a young, urban professional man to go for all his style needs? The answer used to be Montreal or Toronto, but a new player in the Ottawa fashion market hopes to change that. Stroked Ego, brain child of owners Kevin Martin and Mike Mainville have set up shop on (finally re-opened!) Bank St. with a hip new store for all your style, shaving and social entertainment needs.

Carrying a wide array of accessories for men, the store aims to bring a trendy urban flair to an otherwise male-fashion backwards city. The array of product, from beautiful ties, to cufflinks that run the gamut from classy to funky really goes straight to one's sense of confidence and, conveniently enough, ego.

I recently went there to check out this hip new spot, and I must say I was mightily impressed. I really didn't need anything, but as I started browsing, I quickly realized that I wanted lots. I ended up selecting a beautiful cream-blue Kenneth Cole tie for myself, and bought a really sexy little pair of underwear for my hubby.

With a store whose products are all about details, the owners really got it right in the shopping experience. The ambiance is just incredible. The music is apropos (and not too loud!), the refinished hardwood floors are classic, and the silver metal cieling scream trendy. Even the computer system and check-out display look like they belonged, instead of being a utilitarian lump of plastic. And it's the little touches, like the receipt that integrates the debit reciept on the same page. I know it sounds trivial, but there's nothing that interrupts the flow as much as being handed two receipts. Finally, the beautiful bag and tissue paper for my purchases really made me feel special.

And really, that's the whole point of this store. To make you feel special, to make you feel amazing, to make you feel confident. And let me tell you, this store definitely gets it right. I left there feeling like I was the most important customer in the world. And really, with a name like Stroked Ego, would you expect any less?

Stroked Ego is at 224 Bank St., Ottawa, ON. Store hours are available here.

Disclosure: Owners Kevin and Mike are social acquaintances. I am, however, writing this of my own volition, and all items were purchased by myself using my own money. No promotional consideration whatsoeever was received, to maintain the integrity of this review.