Brooks Brothers 200th Anniversary Book

[Fading Fast]

[Cross-post with the "What Are You Reading" Thread]

My copy of this just came today:



I have not read one word of text yet. All I did was open it up and flip through it quickly.

Based on that, the book has a ton of beautiful Trad / Ivy pictures (see below). Also, the cover shot looks incredible on the book itself; whereas, I was underwhelmed when I saw pictures of the cover on-line.

There are also many modern pictures with some of the more "fashionable" BB clothes of today, but the book is not dominated by that.

Hopefully, the text has something to offer, but if not, the Trad / Ivy pictures I saw made me glad I own it.


They snuck the cute shot of Audrey in under the guise of her wearing a Pink BB Oxford button down shirt (sure, that's the reason).

 

[Jaxenro]

Cool. They sent me a 200 year lapel pin will need to get the book also

 

[MondoFW]

Thanks for sharing! Brooks Brothers definitely has a lot of history, I hope you can share more from the BB Testament

 

[Fading Fast]

View attachment 102111 Cool. They sent me a 200 year lapel pin will need to get the book also

Hey, I didn't get sent a pin and I've spent enough at BB over the years that they should have sent me a book and the pin.

Thanks for sharing! Brooks Brothers definitely has a lot of history, I hope you can share more from the BB Testament

I'll post some comments and more pics after I've had a chance to read / flip through more of it.

 

[Jaxenro]

Thanks for spending there someone needs to pay my salary

Technically I am considered a 40 year employee of B.B. (in IT not the product side) but really I came in when Claudio bought B.B. from Marks and Spencer in 2001.

 

[Jaxenro]

I hope the above didn't sound flippant as I honestly do appreciate each and every B.B. customer.

I'm not here representing B.B., just myself, so don't take anything I say as a reflection on them. Like any company they have good and bad, hits and misses, but they have an amazing history and I know we do brand education for everyone, even us computer geeks, so we can understand something of the company and it's history.

 

[MondoFW]

I hope the above didn't sound flippant as I honestly do appreciate each and every B.B. customer.

I'm not here representing B.B., just myself, so don't take anything I say as a reflection on them. Like any company they have good and bad, hits and misses, but they have an amazing history and I know we do brand education for everyone, even us computer geeks, so we can understand something of the company and it's history.

Would you be willing to share some of the company's history?

 

[OldStrummer]

I worked for Brooks Brothers in the late 1960s in mens clothing (suits). I helped open the Tysons Corner (Virginia) store.

Brooks Brothers then and now, unless I miss my guess, is considered the gold standard for American men's clothing.

 

[tropicalbob]

I worked for Brooks Brothers in the late 1960s in mens clothing (suits). I helped open the Tysons Corner (Virginia) store.

Brooks Brothers then and now, unless I miss my guess, is considered the gold standard for American men's clothing.

I don't know if it was the gold standard so much as the standard. I was having lunch with my cousin one time at Delmonico's down by Wall Street. At the next table sat a young guy from Bensonhurst and a head-hunter (a finder of executive positions). We both clearly heard the HH say, "Vinnie, ya gotta get rid of the pompador. And the shiny Italian suit. And the jewelry. Ya look like a f****** pimp. I'm takin' you over to Brooks Brothers."

 

[Jaxenro]

Most of the history I know is the standard commonly known stories like how we made Teddy Roosevelt's rough rider uniform or that Lincoln was wearing a Brooks Brothers suit and overcoat the night he was shot (and Kennedy was wearing Brooks Brothers underwear when he was shot. I remember suggesting the slogan "More U.S. presidents have been shot wearing Brooks Brothers than any other brand" in a meeting once, must be why I don't work in marketing) U.S. Grant stopped by and ordered some uniforms after he was appointed commanding general of the Union armies during the civil war and Franklin Roosevelt's famous cape at Yalta came from Brooks as well. So far I think 40 of the 45 Presidents are known to have worn B.B. at one time or another.

Of course much more famous lately is the GQ cover with Jennifer Aniston wearing a Brooks Brothers tie

 

[MondoFW]

I have my father's Brooksgate peacoat, and apparently, correct me if I'm wrong, the Brooksgate line was released in the early 1970s and was intended for men of smaller stature.

What's funny is Nixon was an avid shopper of Brooksgate merchandise...

 

[Jaxenro]

I know Whitey Bulgers brother Billy stopped by our Boston store to get a new suit before his senate testimony when they were trying to find his brother. I don’t think Whitey ever shopped there though