A Brooks tie at over $2000 on Ebay. Plus a $60 shipping estimate.
I doubt if my entire Brooksian wardrobe once amounted to that.
It certainly doesn't now, having been scaled down to shirts, knitwear, a scarf and a raincoat.
Simply astonishing.
A very, very ancient Brooks piece on Ebay Com. at the moment.
But who would wear it?
So Made In China has become 'vintage' - at least on Ebay.
Pull the other one.
Just reflecting on Alvey's East Coast post, it amazes me now to think how great a quantity of Brooks USA-made items I bought on their Ebay site: shirts of course, at least three suits, jackets, overcoats, rainwear. No shoes that I recall but lots of other stuff.
Then I moved onto Press: mostly jackets. A lovely lambswool number in sage green, a tan cord jacket.
On the negative side, however, I never got on with Brooksgate blazers or duffle coats. Gloverall proved better than the latter - by far.
When I was last in Florida - April 2019 I thought Brooks was very good but not classically Ivy.
It's more an Ivy evolution.
Let me explain.
It was a good traditional store carrying everything fro. PJ's to work suits. There was fine range of argyle socks, belts in a variety of materials and Royall fragrances.
It felt like a proper menswear store.
The look was decidedly American in terms of great Summer shades ( that only the Americans have mastered) and slightly roomier fits than Euro designer brands. The clothes were more classic such as navy blazers and oxfords.
You could of spent a fortune in there and you'd look great. There was madras, seersucker and linen in abundance. Loafers and blousons. It was different from the heyday Brooks but time and fashion move on.
Probably most things were outsourced but that's the case now with the vast majority of American clothing.
Much earlier when I first visited Press in New York - might have been late Eighties it felt quite old fashioned and staid. Does anyone here remember Dunn and Co, if so you'll get the picture. Press obviously moved on. First to Soho and then to their current site that's a really nice store. In 2017 I visited their Washington store and was totally underwhelmed.
This is probably doing nothing more than repeating opinions elsewhere on 'Talk Ivy' but I can't warm to M&M shirts even if they are made in the USA. I don't want to sound too precious but are these the ones that have been turning up in some branches of TKMaxx?
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Re: The glory that was Brooks Brothers
This is probably doing nothing more than repeating opinions elsewhere on 'Talk Ivy' but I can't warm to M&M shirts even if they are made in the USA. I don't want to sound too precious but are these the ones that have been turning up in some branches of TKMaxx' ????
Finding that wonderful shirt on Ebay, dated by TRS to circa 1966-67, put new heart into me when it comes to Brooks. But will lightning strike twice?
Alvey. Yes remember Dunn&Co. I loved all that staid crap. Apt comparison to the Press vibe for a while. My timelines no doubt skewed and misremembered but that vibe lasted a long time until Mr Man became creative director. Brought back some of the weird. Like Reyn Spooner cloth jackets. Etc. Not everyone liked. But i kinda few to appreciate the fun of it. But latest incarnation is fantastic. They’ve really stepped up for the basic stuff. I don’t know any of the people there anymore. But Id go there for a lot of stuff now (and have) even suits by mail order with a local (and alas expensive tailor making the alterations).