Brooks Brothers has released their fall campaign for 2010, and overall, I am impressed. They are certainly targeting a younger demographic, and in some ways that is scary. However, they seem to be targeting them with preppy classics in updated fits. In addition, they seem to be branching out with their website and advertising. The videos on the brooksbrothers.com resemble the Ralph Lauren Rugby line videos on his website. Also, Brooks seems to be digging in the archives for old photos to promote their heritage and new clothing.
Though I am impressed to see oxford cloth button downs in J Press fashion with a button flap pocket, I am disappointed that they are only available in extra slim fit. In addition, I am disappointed to not see more sack suits and 3/2 rolls in their collection. Yes, there is a presence but not nearly enough. Though I still wear clothes from the Brethern, I do wish they would move away from this European skinny legs and super skinny shirts and suits thing they are promoting. Sure, I don't want to look like a potato sack, but sack suits don't have to fit like a potato sack. Anyway, I still give the Brethern kudos for their new collection.
12 comments:
the extra slim crap is ridiculous....not everyone weighs 150 pounds...however if younger guys started dressing like this the world would be a better place
The reason that it looks like "They are certainly targeting a younger demographic..." is that this isn't the main Brooks fall catalog. On the bottom of the front cover, it says, "Back to campus, back to town". This is their 'pre-college' and 'college' catalog (extra-slim fit, the Fitzgerald cut, etc.).
Please read the intro on page one which begins, "Early in the 1900s, the college campus was unchartered territory for retailers...." It's not aimed at you or fossils like me, but I'm sure that one will follow.
Richard, you are trying too hard with language today. The obnoxious wordplay (get it? brethren means brothers! hahaha) is compounded by misspelling the key word.
The shown shirt is a hair slimmer than I prefer. A slim-fitting shirts with a flap pocket always seems affected. 'We took the extra fabric to make this clunky detail.'
Also annoying: the end of a belt flapping around like an awkward protuberance. Use the belt loop.
Going sockless with inappropriate footwear and rolling up pant legs to flash some sexy ankle is fruitiness I blame on the Sartorialist.
I blame the unbuttoned collar on either Polo or the Style Forum sprezzatura notion.
I'm dubious as to whether we need another J. Crew or if this will cure their Buick-clientele problem, but the individual garments look okay.
I don't mind a more fitted look, but yes, extra slim fit is for Europe. I'm a very fit guy (I play ice hockey after all), but can't get my legs into extra slim fit.
What the "the Brethern"? I realize my vocabulary isn't the best, but the interwebs revealed that this is not really a word.
Brethern, is how us boys in the South would say it. So, I spelled it that way. No, mistake!
Us northreners are thankful for your Southren pronunciation lesson.
Is anonymous number one joking about people weighing over one hunderd fifty pounds? How many Big Macs must one consume to grow so much?
Anonymous No. 3 you are kidding right? I'm 220, a 44 tall and not carrying extra weight. 150? Did you not drink milk when you were a kid?
What's really scary is that Brooks is now run by its Italian owners, thus reflecting those tastes, while much of their merchandise is made in China, Mexico or other non-American places. I don't want to be too political here, but in the big picture these factors now influence almost every aspect of their business. Nothing against Armani and Versace (they are what they are), but Brooks has wandered a bit off the trail.
Brooks Brothers as interpreted by Italians who are, in fact, copying Polo, who was appropriating from the old stuff in the first place.
Ding, dong, you hear that? It's the death knell.
As someone who worked at 346 Madison Ave. while going to school in 1983 to 1987, BB has gone off track and disappoints with their Asian sourcing. I have been much more of a J. Press customer since the late-ninties (and Gitman for shirts), when BB made a weird, short-lived attempt to go Banana Republic modern and the quality dropped as well.
Re the Extra Slim Fit: I'm 26yrs, 5'10", and about 210lbs, and I have to say I was REALLY surprised at how much I liked the extra slim fit.
To explain, the fit wasn't slim over the belly, but it was wider at the chest and bottom edge than it was in the middle. It fit like a 16 1/2 should, but without extra billows of cloth where they're not needed. Also nice is that the arm holes sit much higher than on their regular fit, and give me a MUCH better range of movement when lifting my arm.
Just my two cents, but give the extra slim fit a try - you may be surprised. I was.
(For reference I purchased this shirt in green, 16 1/2 - 32, http://bit.ly/a0vnpv)
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