by Dana Sleger | photographs by Nick Miller
If you’re looking for a cool place to shop for that special guy in your life, there’s a “brotique” in Long Beach called The Dapper Pig. This place has everything to stock up and style up a male wardrobe from head to toe!
In addition to flip-flops, casual and dressy footwear and a handsome selection of clothing, customers can peruse a wide range of accessories such as bow ties, neckties, suspenders, pocket squares, bracelets, cufflinks and loads of socks. For the bearded fellows, high-grade shaving equipment like badger-hair shaving brushes and straight razors are available, as well as beard combs, oil, wash and shaving cream that are all natural and locally made products.
John Huntoon, owner, opened the men’s apparel and gift shop last year after being inspired by a personal experience that left him in a bit of a fashion quandary.
“I had already looked at the space for rent and had been mulling the idea around a couple days when one morning I broke my leather flip-flops,” Huntoon says. “After driving around all afternoon to different places, I got really frustrated about not being able find a good pair at a decent price. So in a spiteful frustration, I decided to just do it myself.”
Consider the busted flip-flops a blessing in disguise because when doors officially opened before Father’s Day last year, Huntoon was overwhelmed by the positive reception he received for his “out-of-the-box” brotique idea.
He describes the shop’s clothing style as “brunch to beach.”
“Things bought here can be worn to brunch at Chimney’s with the family and then walk across Hwy. 90 to the beach with your family and still be comfortable and stylish,” Huntoon says. “I don’t carry any brands that can be found anywhere else around here. I carry smaller brands and start-ups as a way to lower competition and to provide men with something fresh that’s not at the mall. At my shop, I provide my customers a way to dress well, to dress affordable and to stand apart.”
Other popular items include Platini 24k cologne (free samples available) and a nice selection of “Dude. Candles.” — 100 percent soy scented candles for men with scents like leather and whiskey.
So how about that name? Well, The Dapper Pig got its start from a short-lived blog Huntoon started in 2015 and he credits his buddy, Trae Guin, for coining the rather genius “brotique” term.
Huntoon says his goal is not only to give customers a personal experience with good service in a classy, aesthetic atmosphere, but also allow for men to feel good about themselves when wearing quality and stylish attire.
“My passion in this industry comes from helping people, and I do that with my clothes,” Huntoon says.
IF YOU GO
The Dapper Pig Brotique
206 Jeff Davis Ave., Ste. 103, Long Beach
(228) 343-2265
Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.