I can’t speak for ‘old’ Brooks shirts. But I am on the fence about the quality of new ones vs equivalent RL, Gant etc. there’s not enough to make a difference for me. Quality and fit they’re all ok. Looks? Yes. The others can’t get that same roll. And just the name, heritage and extra detail like cuff pleats puts them on a slightly higher level doesn’t it?

To be fair I’m up to near a hundred shirts now. So really don’t have to worry about constant wash and wear issues. And I don’t know what something like a shirt would have to do to blow me away? I’d be genuinely interested to hear what puts one at the top of the Ivy tree?

I don’t think it’d be fair to compare a Brooks, Gant and RL from TKMaxx. When Gant are in they’re most likely overstock as they’re the same as in Gant stores. BB made a brief appearance immediately after it was widely reported Brooks had bitten the dust but hasn’t been seen since. RL are in there constantly. Some is ‘last season’ but an awful lot comes with the tell tail ‘made for our outlets’ tag.

I do think that if Brooks had designs on being the new Ralph Lauren, which if they had half a business mind someone there would have done a long time ago, they’d have a long way to go.
While they’re rightly well known and respected for their shirts, dressing Presidents and those beautiful sacks of old, I don’t tend to even read anyone on here raving about their other basic core offerings; trousers, polos, knitwear.
Like most of their offerings or not, RL are all over every item (literally, unfortunately) Whether it’s a polo shirt, bed linen or fragrance, there’s a very well oiled machine behind it to tell and sell it’s story. They’ve always managed to stay current, not resting  particularly on past glories. And their perceived quality and prestige is very high indeed all around the world.
Brooks don’t need me to kick them while they’re down, but I’m afraid the average punter with average attention span, chancing across their webstore would see a very expensive Lands End or Gap. Or M&S. Which of course was half their problem.

Last edited by Spendthrift (2022-01-23 15:31:02)

On Brooks? Yes. And that Tiger?! They're playing to RL's strengths instead of their own. Even their wool herringbone sports coat which should be fairly untouchable and I'm sure has a great many regular loyal purchasers going back years, is modelled with the lapels turned up on floppy haired youths wearing hoodies underneath.

I would prefer a world without logos, but it clearly works for RL/Lacoste/Fred Perry etc. I never understood why groups like Matalan or Next went for it.

I'm tempted to say Brooks should have had more faith in their own product and not feel they have to stick a logo on it - But I've got a feeling they did rest on those laurels for a long time and look where that got them.

Last edited by Spendthrift (2022-01-24 04:44:48)

^ Should read 'if'.  Sod it.

The Brooks Brothers sheep logo has got to be one of the worst logos.

Hard being the new Ralph.
Ralph is too big now to home in on one thing.
You want cashmere hoodies for that Billions look, you want to look like prohibition era cowboy, a Winter Olympian, the Duke of Windsor, frat boy. Ralph has it all and usually overpriced.
Sadly Ralph is a mere shadow of what it used to be.
There's always be a few pieces in an ever increasing inventory. His seersucker shorts, madras shirts, and summer brights are always worth a look. Cashmere cable knits are superb. quality. The Ivy-ish jackets are his custom fit line. Too short and tight.
Brooks hasn't the same diversity.
In fact they are  reducing the number of styles/fits. No more three button/single vent jackets.No more Cordo loafers. No sumptous Terry bathrobes, No proper Shetlands. The list is endless.

I take it all back.  I encountered my former next door neighbour, a money-grubbing little Tory landlord, yesterday.  He was wearing a shirt with that damn pony on it.  Down the street came - half-walking, half-jogging - the soft Southern shandy drinking social work manager from a few doors up.  Also wearing a shirt with that damn pony.  I almost went indoors to begin bagging up my Ralphie clothing for a local charity shop.
They've almost certainly never heard of Brooks Brothers.

Used to go in the Brooks Brothers stores in Beverly Hills and Century City half a decade ago. Beverly Hills was large but every time I'd see something decent online they never had it in store, salesmen seemed more suited for J. Crew. Century City was much smaller but usually had a few things of interest and a knowledgable, enthusiastic, well-dressed employee.