"Brooks Brothers' darkest hour (that's probably a poor choice of words) came in the mid- and late '50s when a terrible thing happened to its line of men's clothing. It became popular.
Even though the economy was booming, men's clothing took a conservative tack that was almost funereal in cut and tone. The Ivy League. Everything was charcoal.
The narrow-lapeled, three-button suit with its unpadded shoulders and a buckle in the back of the trousers. Flaring button-down collars on oxford cloth shirts. Gleaming cordovan shoes and "old school" neckties in paisley prints and regimental stripes. Heavy woolen crew-neck sweaters worn under Shetland sportcoats. Even Chesterfield coats."
...
"Dull. No. Not really. Because I can't remember a time in my life when men's fashions looked any better. Maybe someday the Ivy look will return - maybe in a hundred years or so. In the meantime, I guess we can safely leave it in the custody of Brooks Brothers."
Source:
Tom Hritz, Pittsburgh Post Gazette - p. 3 - 6/30/83
Photo source:
The Trad - 11/16/08
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