Film Noir Buff Style Forum / Brooks Brothers Original Polo Button-Down

Staxfan · 2022-05-17 05:02:55

Not sure if anyone else has seen it on ebay but there is a seller with plenty of Brooks Brothers Original Polo Button-Down (NWT's), made in USA ,£49.50, UK Seller, I've been tempted , however the collars look a little short, sort of like a RL, anyone have any experience of these shirts ?

woofboxer · 2022-05-17 06:23:34

I think I see the seller you’re referring to. The odd shirt seems to have a decent collar, but a lot of them are Milano or some other slim fit, it is not made clear where they were made. There was a time, around the early 2000s when all Brooks Brothers shirts were non iron and made in Malaysia. Then in response to customer feedback they started producing some shirts in the USA in a non treated heavy Oxford cotton cloth. Since then they’ve periodically promoted Made in the USA shirts as a premium heritage line, sometimes using the ‘Makers’ branding. They get some of the details right, like the six fold pleats at the cuffs, but don’t seem to get it all right. Shirts from the last twenty years that I’ve seen have never lived up to the Makers shirts made pre 2000, modern Brooks shirts aren’t really on my radar for that reason.

AFS · 2022-05-17 06:28:18

^ Woof's pretty much spot on here. Updated Brooks are a bit ho-hum.

Staxfan · 2022-05-17 06:48:35

Thanks Guys, I did zoom in on the labels and they are USA made, but as you say that's no guarantee of any degree of quality,

Spendthrift · 2022-05-17 07:02:57

I don't know anything about ebay. But wonder if it's connected to a shop I stumbled on in Oakham, Rutland a couple of years ago?

It was a fair sized High St store, if a bit sparse and stacked up, selling purely Brooks stuff. Primarily shirts, suits, blazers, chinos, polos.

The shirts were a mixed bag of styles and country of origin. All priced up the same, or three for................whatever it was. Can't remember, but I picked up one US OC and two Malaysian non iron.

The guy was friendly enough and told me he had a contact that had agreed to buy anything Brooks sent. Warehouses full of it apparantly. The shop didn't last long. Possibly what Stax is seeing is an attempt to sell off the remaining stock?

https://oakham.nub.news/news/local-news/tim-and-tom-the-39brooks-brothers39-are-so-well-suited-to-oakham

AFS · 2022-05-17 07:22:57

Stax, they're usually okay. In fact, they're often still a pretty good, wearable shirt - possibly still none better. Juggle the names a while: Troy Guild (I bought one recently: okay, nothing special), Gant, Gitman, Sero, John Simons, Ralph Lauren, Press - Brooks will still probably come out on top. And they're durable. I'm wearing an old white Makers as I type this. A little wear here and there - but that gives it character. Far, far better than old Lion Of Troy or Arrow. Never bought or worn poly/cotton, though.
That shop in Rutland... mm... I'd have liked to have had a browse in there... Must have been better than Regentstrasse...

Spendthrift · 2022-05-17 09:41:49

To be honest AFS, it wasn’t that special. Had a pop up shop feel about it. That trestle table is 15’’. That one is 16’’ etc. The polos and chinos were clearly the least popular colours. Chinos especially all seemed to be bright yellow/green/red.
The three shirts I took were the only ones in my size that weren’t fairly lurid ‘pyjama stripe’. And of those three, only one was US made. Labeled ‘Makers and Merchants’ of imported fabric.
As Stax indicated, the collars on the US one is a smidge shorter than the Malaysian non irons.

Staxfan · 2022-05-17 10:35:14

The sellers (Retail Network) address is in London, ( NW), the shirts are mostly plain blues, good selection of sizes, and after another look I'd agree with Spendthrift's observation that the made in Malaysia shirts have a better collar length, they also have a reasonable selection of chinos ,

AFS · 2022-05-17 10:58:54

I bought a Malaysian made shirt once and once only, a couple of days after the Regent Street store opened. It had a good roll to it, as good as any of the American made shirts I own. A couple - obtained from Dennis in Chicago around 2008 and still wearable - were made in Jamaica. Also good. The Made In The USA thing with me is something of a fetish or sign of bloodymindedness. Nothing much more. But seeing those words 'Made In China' (for instance)... I blame Brooks (or whoever), not Chinese workers trying to maintain a standard of living.

#1 2022-05-17 05:02:55

Brooks Brothers Original Polo Button-Down

#2 2022-05-17 06:23:34

Re: Brooks Brothers Original Polo Button-Down

#3 2022-05-17 06:28:18

Re: Brooks Brothers Original Polo Button-Down

#4 2022-05-17 06:48:35

Re: Brooks Brothers Original Polo Button-Down

#5 2022-05-17 07:02:57

Re: Brooks Brothers Original Polo Button-Down

#6 2022-05-17 07:22:57

Re: Brooks Brothers Original Polo Button-Down

#7 2022-05-17 09:41:49

Re: Brooks Brothers Original Polo Button-Down

#8 2022-05-17 10:35:14

Re: Brooks Brothers Original Polo Button-Down

#9 2022-05-17 10:58:54

Re: Brooks Brothers Original Polo Button-Down

Board footer