Brooks brothers

Since Parsons brought up the topic of Brooks Brothers in the last post, it reminded me to post this, which I'd been meaning to do for a while. What is everyones take on the quality, price, and look of thier clothes? Recently I bought a pair of flat front wrinkle free chinos there for my business casual waredrobe, and I was very impressed with the quality and price ($55). I know their clothes aren't the most fashion foward, but I think they have the best quality rice ratio for business wear. I wouldn't wear thier stuff to a club or to hang out, but for business I feel they are unparalleled for that price range. Certainly better than Men's Warehouse.

I think their clothes have a very nice look. While it may not be "fashion forward," the look is classic and a very good one for the business look. I found most of their pricing fine - some a little high, but overall, a good deal.

ah, Brooks Brothers....one of the great tragedies of the american retail business. once a great purveyor of style and american-classic elegance, it is only a shadow of its former self. that being said, i still never miss a trip there when in chicago or even in certain shopping malls (hey, you never know what you might dig up).

personally, i would only consider brooks for (as mentioned) business casual clothing, or for your 'first suit' and tie needed for a new job or interview. the style is conservative and businesslike (even the casualwear), and never really out of place.

the one item Brooks Brothers invented, but has degraded in quality due to mass production in the 3rd world, is the button down collar shirt. if anyone is considering buying this classic, skip brooks and get a good one from Ben Silver.

Brooks Brothers has undergone several ownership changes recently and also a significant image transformation in an attempt to grab a more youthful demographic; in my opinion, it's now less J. Press and more J. Crew.  The general consensus is that quality has gone downhill in the past several years.  That being said, I think it's fine for the business casual office and situations where more casual wear is called for (a summer pool party, for example).  While Brooks isn't "fashion forward," it isn't going to be out of style next season either.  It (not Ralph Lauren or Tommy Hilfiger) is the true guardian of the classic American preppy look.

I was just in a Brooks Brothers outlet/factory store here in one of the suburbs of Cleveland (yes, I know, not a fashion mecca by any means) and I would really suggest that avenue for some bus. cas. wear. I think the quality is still admirable and the look is classic and conservative, perfect for the stylish number-cruncher. I do consider their retail prices a bit high, but the outlets were much more fairly priced. Most polo's for about $20, and button downs were 3 for $99. You're not going to wow anyone with most of their line, but you will find a solid addition to your bus. cas. wardrobe for a very reasonable price.

jst:

I'd beg to differ on Cleveland being a fashion mecca. IMO there are more and better specialty store choices there per capita than anywhere else in the U.S. E-mail me if you'd like a list...

Steve B.

Was checking out the BB Spring 2011 preview on GQ and was pleasantly surprised with the shoes that were showcased. Including the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Love number 3. I don't see too many shoes in that color and its a freakiing longwing! Number 4 looks interesting. Black calf/scotchgrain? I spoke with a BB call center rep and she told me that the black cordovan longwing will not be reordered by BB. I bought the shoe during the holiday sale when it was $50 off plus 15 percent. Unfortunately its 1/2 size too big and my size is out of stock. Yeah, its an old thread but I didn't want to start a new one.

Originally Posted by The_Foxx

Click to expand...

the one item Brooks Brothers invented, but has degraded in quality due to mass production in the 3rd world, is the button down collar shirt. if anyone is considering buying this classic, skip brooks and get a good one from Ben Silver.

I find Ben Silver's BD shirts, and that company's shirts in general, to be a real mixed bag. Ben Silver's OCBDs in particular can be pretty crappy clothwise, especially when you consider the price point. The quality of the sewing is inconsistent, sometimes great ... sometimes amazingly mediocre. When they use beautiful fabrics and the sewing is good, they can be exquisite. At the price Ben Silver charges for a shirt, they should always be exquisite.

All things considered, the Brooks Brothers Classic Cotton OCBD ... which is made in the United States ... is a better shirt than Ben Silver's average OCBD, and can be bought at a fraction of the BS price. The BB collar roll is superior to BS as well. That said, Brooks quality doesn't come close to Ben Silver's best shirts no matter what the collar style. You just have to figure out which ones they are.

Originally Posted by Mike C.

Click to expand...

Since Parsons brought up the topic of Brooks Brothers in the last post, it reminded me to post this, which I'd been meaning to do for a while. What is everyones take on the quality, price, and look of thier clothes?

Recently I bought a pair of flat front wrinkle free chinos there for my business casual waredrobe, and I was very impressed with the quality and price ($55). I know their clothes aren't the most fashion foward,

They were never meant to be. They're basically somewhat "classic" clothes.

but I think they have the best quality

rice ratio for business wear. I wouldn't wear thier stuff to a club or to hang out,
It depends on the club. The 21 Club?

but for business I feel they are unparalleled for that price range. Certainly better than Men's Warehouse.
btw, I really don't know Men's Warehouse but I happened to be searching for an item I couldn't find. Oddly enough I found it on Men's Warehouse for 1/2 the price and no shipping charges. It's not something that 99% of the people would buy but it's odd that they just happened to have one in stock.

Originally Posted by NAMOR

Click to expand...

Was checking out the BB Spring 2011 preview on GQ and was pleasantly surprised with the shoes that were showcased. Including the following:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Love number 3. I don't see too many shoes in that color and its a freakiing longwing!

Number 4 looks interesting. Black calf/scotchgrain? I spoke with a BB call center rep and she told me that the black cordovan longwing will not be reordered by BB. I bought the shoe during the holiday sale when it was $50 off plus 15 percent. Unfortunately its 1/2 size too big and my size is out of stock.

Yeah, its an old thread but I didn't want to start a new one.

A bunch of wingtips?

Get some good slip ons. Even George Washington was wearing a Gucci type bespoke shoe with a silver buckle on it.
These lace up shoes are a leftover from the late Victorian uptight era.

I was in a BB for the first time a couple of weeks ago. My impression was that the cheaper stuff lacked appeal and the expensive such seemed a tad too much. No sale.

Originally Posted by NAMOR

Click to expand...

Was checking out the BB Spring 2011 preview on GQ and was pleasantly surprised with the shoes that were showcased. Including the following:

<snip>
3.

<snip>
Love number 3. I don't see too many shoes in that color and its a freakiing longwing!

<snip>


What size are those? They look a mile long.

This thread is confusing as ****.

i have a ton of stuff from bb, i like most of it but the quality is not consistent, my merino wool and camel hair sweaters are great so are the golden fleece shirts, but some of the non iron shirts are on the weak side. the list is longer but boring, you get the idea. also i dont know when i bought each item, the quality issues may stem from the ownership of the store at the time

Bumping a nine year old thread with only a few posts instead of starting a new one? Whaaaaa....?