Brooks Brothers Blues

 

The men’s clothing company, established in 1818, filed for bankruptcy today. I have two short anecdotes about that company that create for me the nostalgic sweet pain that comes from life as you age.

When I was a teenager my Dad had a prescription to Esquire magazine that I perused each month. I found a few articles that held my interest because they were avant- guard but mostly I looked at the ads. It was the Vanity Fair for metrosexual males long before that concept took birth. When I was about fourteen I was captivated by a Brooks Brothers ad featuring a bright blue blazer; not a navy blue blazer, but bright blue. I had to have it. I cut out the ad and begged my mother to buy me a blazer that color. Amazingly enough, she found an inexpensive sport coat the same color from a K-mart or similar store and replaced the white plastic buttons that came on the coat with brass buttons and I was as happy as I had ever been. Unfortunately, this happened in the midst of my adolescent growth spurt or I would still have it today.

A few years ago I was invited to a high society wedding on Nantucket Island. As I settled into my plane seat for the trip, I reviewed my suitcase packing and realized I had packed everything except for a necktie. My connection from Charleston to Boston went through Detroit I think. I hiked throughout the massive system of terminals and found only one store that sold ties. Brooks Brothers. It was a small store and had 4 or 5 styles of ties which were all the same color, navy blue, and gold diagonal stripes which only differed in the thickness of the stripes. They all looked way too mundane for my tastes but I had no choice. So I bought the one that looked best to me and paid $85 for the insipid tie! I have never spent that much on a tie. Wouldn’t you know it, but I got more compliments on that tie that weekend than I have ever received.

I doubt if I will ever buy an $85 tie again, but I wish Brooks Brothers the best. They served this country well.

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  1. Barry Jones Thatcher
    Barry Jones
    @BarryJones

    JoelB (View Comment):

    One Sunday I looked around the church and noticed that I was one of only two men wearing a jacket. A couple years later I looked around again and noticed that I was one of two or three that was wearing his shirt tail tucked in.

    I always wear a sports coat on weekdays (and Church) as I have found the extra pockets handy for sunglasses, reading glasses, etc.

    Also, it covers up my holster bulge so I can carry pretty much the same way every day…

    • #31
  2. Eugene Kriegsmann Member
    Eugene Kriegsmann
    @EugeneKriegsmann

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Interesting. I’ve never heard the term “Brooker.” It sounds like what we used to call “must iron” to distinguish them from the “no iron’ cotton variety that came later. The latter are nice and convenient, but the “must iron”ones were softer, especially after a few washings.

     

    I grew up in Forest Hills Gardens. It may have been a local bit of jargon. I learned it originally from my older brother, but it was in common use among the kids I grew up with in the Gardens and adjoining areas around the Westside Tennis Club.

    • #32
  3. Steve C. Member
    Steve C.
    @user_531302

    JoelB (View Comment):

    One Sunday I looked around the church and noticed that I was one of only two men wearing a jacket. A couple years later I looked around again and noticed that I was one of two or three that was wearing his shirt tail tucked in.

    Slouching towards Gomorrah. 

    I cried because I had no shoes, until I saw a man in the front pew wearing Crocs.

    • #33
  4. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Southern Pessimist: The men’s clothing company, established in 1818, filed for bankruptcy today.

    I remember watching TV when I was younger (much younger), and I always watched the credits ate the end of the shows.  It struck me that most of the male actors wore suits provided by Botany 500, another defunct company.

    • #34
  5. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    Stad (View Comment):

    Southern Pessimist: The men’s clothing company, established in 1818, filed for bankruptcy today.

    I remember watching TV when I was younger (much younger), and I always watched the credits ate the end of the shows. It struck me that most of the male actors wore suits provided by Botany 500, another defunct company.

    True–and when wardrobes were given away (Price is Right), they were from Botany 500. 

    • #35
  6. Southern Pessimist Member
    Southern Pessimist
    @SouthernPessimist

    Prescription, subscription… I learn something every day.

    • #36
  7. 9thDistrictNeighbor Member
    9thDistrictNeighbor
    @9thDistrictNeighbor

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Great thread from a BB employee on the company’s missteps and marketing fubar, here.

    This. This. This.  Perfect explanation.

    [One minor error…photos and details from 9/11 are of the One Liberty Plaza shop (since closed), not the 44th Street location (also, never a 5th avenue location).]

    • #37
  8. 9thDistrictNeighbor Member
    9thDistrictNeighbor
    @9thDistrictNeighbor

    LC (View Comment):

    All my button-down shirts are from BB. They make the best ones.

    Our son had a small sojourn at boarding school.  Sent him off with BB button downs. Of course.

    Guruforhire (View Comment):
    Brooks Brothers has been my goto for my clothes in the following categories…

    Indestructible boxer shorts for my husband.

    • #38
  9. J Ro Member
    J Ro
    @JRo

    9thDistrictNeighbor (View Comment):

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Great thread from a BB employee on the company’s missteps and marketing fubar, here.

    This. This. This. Perfect explanation.

    Good grief! I certainly didn’t notice any BB wokeness in Charleston last fall. It will be sad when my shirts, khakis, and boxers wear out. That camel hair overcoat, which does actually attract compliments from the ladies, may become a BB heirloom.

     

    • #39
  10. Matthew Singer Inactive
    Matthew Singer
    @MatthewSinger

    Southern Pessimist (View Comment):

    Prescription, subscription… I learn something every day.

    Maybe his doctor told him to read it

    • #40
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