Shop of the Week: Alter

On the eve of Tom Ford's entree into menswear, all of Manhattan was buzzing with anticipation for what would no doubt be a stickler-perfect collection. When are Tom's lapels not straightened and when is his ascot not knotted just so? But if such gold standards are a little lofty for you, Greenpoint's newest boutique, Alter, offers a bit of relief. Alter's co-owners, Tommy Cole and Roy Caires (who also design This Old Thing, the house brand), are experts at de- and reconstructing everything from lumberjack flannels to neckwear. Their pleated tie ($28) is a smirky little gem, even if some of their altered pieces, like a cropped trench coat, will make you look like an overgrown, albeit fashion-forward, ogre. Luckily, the boys have crammed their tiny shop with some local and not-so-local curiosities, like sterling necklaces by Fetty of Brooklyn ($45 and up) and hand-screened T-shirts by L.A.-based Rxmance ($58). Though they may be seen as trigger-happy with the scissors, Cole and Caires usually know when to leave well enough alone, and pristine vintage pops up throughout, like a perfect YSL vest (for an unheard of $36). A one-stop shop for both ragged and rare? Even Tom couldn't object. 109 Franklin St., Brooklyn, (718) 784-8818. Matthew Schneier