In a country dominated by chain stores three seasons behind the rest of the world, small boutique outlets that focus on doing a few things very well are a consumerist breath freshener. Here are the best places to spend your devalued rand...

Barry's

On Cape Town's Longmarket Street, a short pigeon's flight from parliament, you'll find this specialist shoe store with a history of equipping the pedicured feet from the corridors of power.

These are the guys who supply Nelson Mandela with his Florsheims, Trevor Manuel with his business brogues and the city's discerning (and wealthy) Congolese immigrants with handmade Loakes from Northamptonshire, the home of English shoe-making.

They also stock Madiba's official shirts and a range of casual shoes and sneakers. Keep an eye out for new arrivals, Le Coq Sportif's leather high-tops.

111 Longmarket Street, CT, +27 21 461 9869

Croft & Co

With cigars from Cuba and the Dominican Republic, swanky swimming shorts from Vilebrequin and a range of high-end items from driving gloves and backgammon sets to jackets, raincoats, decanters, pens, watches, colognes, fishing vests and shaving gear, Croft & Co is a one-stop luxury guy shop.

If you're feeling flush, unleash the wife on the ladies' store next door where she'll inevitably set her tractor beams on a Jack Spade bag.

66 Tyrone Avenue, Parkview, JHB, +27 11 646 3634

Safari Surf Co

Durban's Spider Murphy is arguably the world's most respected surfboard shaper, having supplied sports legends from Sunny Garcia to Kelly Slater and local boy (and 'Best Life' cover guy) Shaun Tomson.

Whether you're just getting started or a seasoned wave rider, you'll find the right board from Safari Surf Co, including Murphy's boards. We particularly like the classic wood-grain finish Noserider (R3600).

43-45 Brickhill Road, North Beach, Durban, +27 31 337 4230, safarisurfco.com

Bluecollarwhitecollar

As far as local men's fashion pedigrees go, Paul van der Spuy's track record is impressive, having started Carducci, Frank B Ernest and Wylde Oscar. Merging Kloof Street with Saville Row, bluecollarwhitecollar focuses on bespoke shirts with individual detailing.

Your first fitting and shirt will cost you R950, but with your details on file, thereafter each shirt is R800.

And let's be honest, a custom-made shirt is well worth it. Van der Spuy says, "I just feel the world has evolved and people are looking for individuality and self-expression. Guys want to belong to their tribe, but still look unique".

Van der Spuy's freshly launched bespoke board shorts service ensures a unique look is attainable, even on the beach.

Lifestyles on Kloof Centre, Tamboerskloof, CT, +27 21 426 1921

Antanna

"We're somewhere in the grey area between arts and craft," says Anthony Keyworth, one half of the duo behind design studio Antanna and one of the guys who introduced Paul Smith stores to SA.

Antanna is odd in a good way, with delightful oddities from a soapstone sculpture of a Technics SL 1200 turntable to Nguni cowhide wallets, folios and furniture.

Shop G14A, 44 Stanley Avenue, Milpark, JHB, 011 482 6908, antanna.com

Glasshouse Spa

Chances are, even though you might not see it, your feet are dodgy. Dry, cracked heels, ingrown toenails, corns… Imagine what your wife or girlfriend has to encounter under the duvet every night. A male-specific spa, Glasshouse takes care of your fetid feet, hairy back, unruly mop and more.

Try out their wet shave experience while sitting back, sipping a whisky and watching sport on big screens. See, grooming is not so bad.

Unit 110A, The Foundry, 74 Prestwich Street, Green Point, CT, +27 21 419 9599, glasshousemen.com

Holmes Brothers

The kings of relaxed surf style, the Holmes Bros' stand-alone store is your Durban destination of choice. Items to watch out for include slim-fit, washed-out, lightweight summer jeans, a new range of Hawaiian shirts and the brothers' own retro-designed surfboard with either a single or rail fin.

Shop F145, Gateway, Durban, +27 31 566 1706

Loading Bay

What's good enough for the Portuguese royal family, is, in our opinion, good enough for you, especially when it comes to blazers, suits and jackets made by Holland Esq, just one of the high-end brands stocked by Loading Bay in Cape Town's Cape Quarter.

This is a good place to go for serious quality basics, from V-neck T-shirts to jeans from premium denim brand Blue Blood, and casual gear from Scotch & Soda.

30 Hudson Street, De Waterkant, CT, +27 21 425 6320, loadingbay.co.za

The Cairn

If you fancy yourself as a mountain man, The Cairn is a good place to get kitted. Recently partnered with Mammoth Outdoor and Venture Forth Guiding, they have an incredible selection of premium outdoor and mountaineering gear.

Check out the Osprey Aether 70 backpack (R1549) and the nifty folding Black Diamond Apollo Lantern (R645) that throws a wide beam and its accompanying NRG battery kit for cellphone-like recharging.

Corner Natal and Calcutta Street, Paarden Eiland, +27 21 511 6006, cairn.co.za, mammothoutdoor.co.za

Braeside Butchery

If meat is meat and a man must eat, then this is where to get your cuts, gents. Run by lawyer turned butcher Caroline McCann, this award-winning 30-year-old butchery specialises in grass-fed beef and lamb and free-range chickens and eggs.

Wow the family this Christmas by putting in an order for a legendary dish called Turducken: deboned turkey, stuffed with deboned duck, stuffed with deboned chicken… all stuffed with a Turkish apricot and herbes de Provence stuffing (approximately R350 to R400 for six kilos).

Three hours in the Weber and you'll go down in family folklore. For Cape folk, Bread and Wine has the country's best charcuterie and a damn fine bakery too.

Braeside: Fourth Avenue Parkhurst, Joburg, +27 11 788 3613, braesidebutchery.co.za. Bread and Wine: Môreson Farm, Franschhoek, +27 21 876 3692, moreson.co.za