After three years I recently visited the States. Whilst I was only in central Florida and this is a location where the flip flop is considered high fashion, I have noticed a sad demise in the the ability to buy the classic American menswear we all lust after.

My first stop was going to be a full priced Brooks Brothers store. I had seen a few items that I wanted to check out. Since my last trip Brooks have undergone several well publiced changes. As I knew fit was going to be an issue it was worthwhile seeing items in the flesh. To my surprise Brooks have pulled out of Florida, at full price, leaving only some outlet stores. To anyone who knows the area this is a significant development as it means they've closed quite a few stores in this State alone

The good news, or so I thought, was a factory outlet was pretty close to where I was staying. Again disappointment sets in. Firstly, the Regent fit now appears to represent the majority of their merchandise. It's far too tailored at a medium and the large shirts tend to gape at the neck.
Although there were a few interesting items in linen, madras and seersucker the inability to get the right size was an obvious deterrent. Secondly, the factory outlet polo shirts that have been both superb value and quality have been re-speced. Traditionally I am a small in these but in the new fit I'm now a large. Whilst I appreciate the quality of Mrs Singers hors d'oeuvres I am in no way a large.

Next up I looked into footwear. Whilst I have never seen Alden in central Florida there is a very nice Allen Edmunds store. Thankfully, that was still operating. They had a promotion on so I asked about their Cavanaugh loafers. These are now their nearest model to a classic loafer. Sadly they've been discontinued.

I also visited Florsheim to see the new model Berkeley loafers with a flex rubber sole. I had seen images of these and they looked very good.What a disappointment. They have taken the classic penny loafer and somehow managed to square off the toe box. On a more positive note that had some lovely bucks on offer.

There used to be couple of discount shoe stores I knew that sold Sperry and Bass. Sadly these have gone too.

Fruit of the Loom had disappeared from Walmart so there were no chances of restocking their fabulous pocket t shirts.

But all was not lost. On the final day of my holiday at a Brooks outlet store I met a young salesman who looked superb. Emerald green chinos, a seersucker shirt and navy blazer. We got chatting and he asked me to hang on whilst he got something out of the stock room. He reappeared carrying a pile of Madison fit, made in the USA OCBD's. Nobody wants these he informed me. Shame as they're only $25 dollars each. You can guess how this story ends...

My biggest take-out of the trip is this. The clothes that gave the US such a distinctive style aren't available at the levels you might expect or could find three years ago. Covid has put pay to a number of bricks and mortar stores that still stocked the stuff we like. Yes, you can buy online but where is the fun in that.

I must stress that this is a personal view based on changes in a relatively small area of the States. Some might argue that this is not the case nationwide - but I doubt it.

The new American travel uniform worn across the airports of Boston, Atlanta and Orlando consists of Under Armour everything, ill fitting pleated chinos worn with Surgical appliance trainers. Not a look to warm to.

I know lots of good American options still exist out there - Rancourt, Quoddy, Duck Head, Barons Hunter, Leatherman, LLBean, Alden, Good Wear, Bills - to name a but a few. Sadly, you now have to put in the effort and might have to resort to online.