Saw the "Brooksgate" stuff last night & they have a very nice slimmed down look to them without being at all skinny or skimpy.
A narrower shoulder than "Makers" I'd say, but I guess that's just to keep it all in proportion. Nice stuff.
I guess entry-level Press would be their version of a University Shop/Brooksgate range, or did Press ever offer a specific 'college boy' range in the dim & distant past?

I'd also love to know more about the Yale Coop as I only know the Harvard one. What was sold? What names? What shoes?
Brooks made shirts for Harvard, did anybody make for Yale?
I've seen a Harvard Coop Tweed Sack that looked incredibly Brooksy & wondered if Brooks had made jackets & maybe even suits for the Coop. Or maybe it was just one of Brook's makers (as opposed to "Brooks Makers") like Southwick/Deansgate/whoever...
The Brooks shirts sold at the Coop were proper Brooks BDs just with a 'Brooks Brothers for the Coop' label (or somesuch) inside. USA made of proper Brooks USA cotton. Did they also re-label other Brooks items for the Coop?

Interesting stuff!

I like the post on the buckle front tartan swim trou.  If it's good enough for 'arry, it's good enough for me.  Seriously, I remember those things, and never liked them, but now with nostalgia, I've decided to invest in a pair.

Cheerio chums,

H.

Last edited by jack_sparrow (2007-08-27 09:43:10)

Checked my old catalogues -  This item was a new introduction in Spring '88. It was the entry level Brooks Blazer of its day.

The Brooksgate drop is actually 7" from chest to waist. Funny, it looks less. Must be the shoulders. A nice trim cut and entirely in keeping with traditional American tailoring.

What is this curriculum then?

Funny:

Brooksgate cuff buttons were just sewn on. No 'blind' cuff buttonholes, let alone even the remote prospect of working cuff buttons.

And so I looked at the rest of my American Ivy RTW - Ditto on the whole. Press/Brooks/Haspel.

A kinda scumbag detail by Euro tailoring standards maybe, but it still doesn't put me off Ivy.

What makes me smile is that I've been obsessed by all this stuff for 28 years but only when I come on the fussy and more than a little effeminate internet clothing message boards (AAAC, SF - Not this one really) do I see all the little details that make up my taken-for-granted wardrobe.

And so my "Tradness" grows!

I love all this stuff but I don't wet myself over all the minutiea of it like a girl.

A shame I don't give a stuff for the idea of 'Tradition' in all this... I suspect I could be quite a pompous windbag if I tried...

The joy of The Andover is that it is not "Trad".

Draw close -

When I speak of 'The Real Trad' I speak of the Trad that is not "Trad".

The good Trad.

The Trad beyond the borders of the land of Andy.

The Other Trad of nuance and choice and personal style, of which few there know but a whit.

Look upon the offerings of The Andover (often styled by Everett LaRose) and see the world that does not fit into the plans of Harris.

See the world of make-your-own-mind-up -  But be not afraid - The good Trad will not harm you.

It is there to set you free.

More subdued offerings reside inside the shop of Mr. Charlie Davidson if the colours of the catalogue cause your head to spin.

Remember though that this is a pure source, little touched by the Internet's boards of message.

It is a window into what the rest of the world gets up to while the Andoid forumites are all busy hunched over forumating.

Buy wisely, wear well.


I have no further message.


j.