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RIP Brooks Brothers


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Last time I was in the office.

 

I'm a lawyer.

 

IMO Brooks Brothers died by failing to update their styles to anything close to current or stylish.

 

They have bene very bland, straight-up, traditional suits, of not particularly high quality, for a very long time.

 

 

Edited by Nextmanup
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Just now, teef said:

i like brooks brothers, but i never though it was worth the price.  on top of that, every time you walk int that store, and attendant is up your rectum. 

 

I always found it to be a ***** snobfest in there.  Little a-hole is making $11/hour and he's going to look down his nose at everyone who walks in the door?  Eff you, pal.

 

I haven't bought a suit in over a decade, but I was happy with my S&K suits and still wear them when the occasion calls for it.

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2 minutes ago, Gugny said:

 

I always found it to be a ***** snobfest in there.  Little a-hole is making $11/hour and he's going to look down his nose at everyone who walks in the door?  Eff you, pal.

 

I haven't bought a suit in over a decade, but I was happy with my S&K suits and still wear them when the occasion calls for it.

i wouldn't say they were snooty in the store by us, but they're a hard sell type store.  the last time i was in there the guy went from showing me what i was interested in, to trying to get me to buy a cashmere sweater for my wife for christmas.  that B word can dress herself.  

 

when i comes to suits, it's all about the fit.  you can get a great suit off the rack, but it usually needs a few alterations to make it perfect.  i had a couple of sport coats made once.  the cost was gross, and i have store bought coats that fit just as well.  they don't have my name monogrammed inside, but i'm over that stuff.

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1 minute ago, teef said:

i wouldn't say they were snooty in the store by us, but they're a hard sell type store.  the last time i was in there the guy went from showing me what i was interested in, to trying to get me to buy a cashmere sweater for my wife for christmas.  that B word can dress herself.  

 

when i comes to suits, it's all about the fit.  you can get a great suit off the rack, but it usually needs a few alterations to make it perfect.  i had a couple of sport coats made once.  the cost was gross, and i have store bought coats that fit just as well.  they don't have my name monogrammed inside, but i'm over that stuff.

 

When I bought my suits at S&K they had someone mark them up and they were sent to a tailor for alterations.  I was very pleased.  But I've only ever worn suits to wakes, funerals and weddings .. you know, all things associated with death.

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1 minute ago, Gugny said:

 

When I bought my suits at S&K they had someone mark them up and they were sent to a tailor for alterations.  I was very pleased.  But I've only ever worn suits to wakes, funerals and weddings .. you know, all things associated with death.

lol!  I almost never wear a suit either.  literally to only weddings.  my brother has to every day, and it seems like a hassle.  the dry cleaning alone makes me never want to own one.

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I got a suit for HS graduation from the Kleinhan's clothing store in Buffalo oh so many years (decades)  ago.

I still have the wood coat hanger but the suit has mysteriously shrunk over the years.

I erroneously wore a suit on my first day at work way back when  and

45 years later my last day in the lab  was in a tee shirt and jeans.

 

Edited by LewPort71
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4 hours ago, \GoBillsInDallas/ said:

https://apnews.com/e9a2197f5769f089d0055a9a314129d5

 

When was the last time you ever saw someone wear a suit to work?

 

March 12th, the last day before the lockdown.     The banking industry still hasn't gone completely casual, with front line sales and management folks still suited up 80% of the time. 

 

The problem with Brooks Brothers was a value/price imbalance.    Too expensive for what they offered in terms of quality.     And an inability to shift focus with changing times...

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Many years ago I traveled to NYC for a few days of meetings. The last day of meetings, I took my last dress shirt out of the dry cleaning bag. It had broken buttons and a huge iron scorch on it. Motherfather!

 

The meeting was at 11am or noon, so I went to a Brooks Brothers near the hotel and bought an overpriced shirt on the condition they iron (or steam) out the wrinkled. They were very accommodating. I was actually very impressed. That didn't last long as the collar started fraying on about the second or third wearing. I had a beard, but NONE of my other dress shirt collars every got frayed. That was my last BB purchase. 

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I picked up two suits for my son yesterday following alterations. He’s out of town, so I do the busy work. He’s applying for a new job soon, but can’t meet with anyone in person. Strange times.....

 

I got a few new suits a year or so ago, and took twice as many to Goodwill. I’ve worn one to a wedding, have our son’s wedding coming next month....and that’s about it. My wife asked if they still fit. Far more polite than “you are fatter than you used to be”. 

 

 I lived in a suit for decades in my banking days. Times have changed. Suits are not an every day thing the way they used to be, even in banking. 

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3 hours ago, The Dean said:

Many years ago I traveled to NYC for a few days of meetings. The last day of meetings, I took my last dress shirt out of the dry cleaning bag. It had broken buttons and a huge iron scorch on it. Motherfather!

 

The meeting was at 11am or noon, so I went to a Brooks Brothers near the hotel and bought an overpriced shirt on the condition they iron (or steam) out the wrinkled. They were very accommodating. I was actually very impressed. That didn't last long as the collar started fraying on about the second or third wearing. I had a beard, but NONE of my other dress shirt collars every got frayed. That was my last BB purchase. 


I had to do that once in NYC.  Work went till midnight so I got a hotel room nearby, toiletries kit and underwear at Duane Reade, and hit BB for a shirt the next morning.  Wore it right out of the store!

 

  

12 minutes ago, Augie said:

He’s applying for a new job soon, but can’t meet with anyone in person. Strange times.....


What kind of job?  In the old days you couldn’t overdress for an interview, but you can these days.

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17 hours ago, Nextmanup said:

Last time I was in the office.

 

I'm a lawyer.

 

IMO Brooks Brothers died by failing to update their styles to anything close to current or stylish.

 

They have bene very bland, straight-up, traditional suits, of not particularly high quality, for a very long time.

 

 


yeah, I never got the appeal of brooks brothers at their prices. You can get high quality custom suits cheaper at other places, even online places now like M Tailor. Or you can get decent quality and more stylish suits off the rack for a lot less cheaper at places like Macy’s or JOS Banks. 

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7 hours ago, KD in CA said:

Wore it right out of the store!

At a holiday party I attended, the husband of an associate did the same.  However as it was a Walmart shirt, he missed some cardboard and the creases were really bad.  Mr. Blackwell would not have been impressed.  ?

7 hours ago, Augie said:

I picked up two suits for my son yesterday following alterations. He’s out of town, so I do the busy work. He’s applying for a new job soon, but can’t meet with anyone in person.

Buy sport coats now (for the Zoom meetings).  Buy slacks later for the 'in person' interviews.  AND TELL HIM DON'T STAND UP!

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1 hour ago, JR in Pittsburgh said:

Or you can get decent quality and more stylish suits off the rack for a lot less cheaper at places like Macy’s or JOS Banks. 

I miss the JOS Banks mega-sales...the buy one, get three free.  Those days are gone.

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12 hours ago, The Dean said:

Many years ago I traveled to NYC for a few days of meetings. The last day of meetings, I took my last dress shirt out of the dry cleaning bag. It had broken buttons and a huge iron scorch on it. Motherfather!

 

The meeting was at 11am or noon, so I went to a Brooks Brothers near the hotel and bought an overpriced shirt on the condition they iron (or steam) out the wrinkled. They were very accommodating. I was actually very impressed. That didn't last long as the collar started fraying on about the second or third wearing. I had a beard, but NONE of my other dress shirt collars every got frayed. That was my last BB purchase. 

the one item i would buy from BB was their wrinkle free shirts.  you could ball those suckers up and not have a single crease after.  they were almost worth the money.

7 minutes ago, Ned Flanders said:

I miss the JOS Banks mega-sales...the buy one, get three free.  Those days are gone.

they don't do that anymore.

 

banana republic had nice fitting rack suits too.  the trick is to go when stuff is on sale.  i did that, opened a credit card to get a bigger discount, and i think the suit was $200 after all of that.

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7 minutes ago, teef said:

banana republic had nice fitting rack suits too.  the trick is to go when stuff is on sale.  i did that, opened a credit card to get a bigger discount, and i think the suit was $200 after all of that.

Nothing in the J.Peterman collections?  Concentrating on accessories (I.e., urban sombrero)?

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On 7/9/2020 at 12:50 AM, KD in CA said:



What kind of job?  In the old days you couldn’t overdress for an interview, but you can these days.

 

It’s an investment banking/corporate finance position. I’m not worried about him or his attire as he goes thru the process. He gets it, and he’s also getting married next month. Mom felt the need to stock his closet (again) with all levels of attire. Don’t forget the shoes!

 

Speaking of mom, she was recently interviewing people for Director of Marketing for a major company. They had about 40 good applicants and they narrowed it down to 3-4 for her to interview. One guy was clearly uptight and overdressed, but........that was better than the lady who wore a ratty old tee shirt, didn’t bother to fix her hair and looked like she just climbed out of bed. Neither were hired. Awesome backgrounds, but you need to know the times and nail the interview. The person chosen was just announced yesterday and my wife is thrilled to get that slot filled and off her plate. For the record, the wife had a nice top on to go with her yoga pants. Enough, but not too much. :) 

 

.

Edited by Augie
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Good riddance.  Ties and monkey ? suits are petri dishes.

21 hours ago, teef said:

lol!  I almost never wear a suit either.  literally to only weddings.  my brother has to every day, and it seems like a hassle.  the dry cleaning alone makes me never want to own one.

Just don't  dry clean  it. LoL... See above post.  ?  See, easy...

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2 hours ago, Joe in Winslow said:

I can't tell you the last time I wore a full suit. Probably when I sold my last medicare supplement policy. Which'd be about 8 years ago.

 

Though, I'm thinking of getting one. Every dude needs at least one suit.

 


Yup.....and make sure it’s one you like because you’ll be wearing it forever!

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4 hours ago, Ridgewaycynic2013 said:

At a holiday party I attended, the husband of an associate did the same.  However as it was a Walmart shirt, he missed some cardboard and the creases were really bad.  Mr. Blackwell would not have been impressed.  ?

 

 

 

Once on a business trip to Oklahoma City, my flight was seriously late---and my bags were missing. I had an early morning meeting, and all i had were the jeans and shirt I word on the flight. Not knowing if my bag would get there before the meeting, I asked the hotel if there was ANY store open where I might get some clean clothes. There was a 24 hour Walmart. This may have been my first trip to a Walmart, I believe. Long story short: It looked like I was going to go to the meeting looking like a grocery store stock boy.  Fortunately my bad arrived around 5AM.

 

I started traveling for business trips with a sport coat and khaki's, just in case, from then on.

 

I almost never have the need to wear a suit (or even long pants) these days. I go out of my way to actually dress up a couple times a year. I hate having to dress up but I like choosing to on occasion.

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Brooks Brothers in recent times failed to make a man feel like a million dollars wearing one of their suits.  Their salespeople became too obsessed with the result (the sale) instead of the process.  The older BB sales guys would give you a suit for you - not the most expensive one or perhaps the trendiest one, but a suit that fit your body and made you look amazing.

 

Same thing happened at Victoria Secret for women.  Once upon a time, Victoria Secret had knowledgeable employees who knew the product and more importantly, knew how to advise women on what to buy.  Women would shop Victoria Secret exclusively because they knew they could go there and get sound, and free, advice.  Then, VS started hiring your average teenage girl who probably wasn't wearing a properly fitted bra herself, and it just became another mediocre apparel store.  

 

 

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Brooks Brothers has the best shirts . . . especially the non-iron shirts.  

 

If you need a dress shirt, I thoroughly recommend them.  They periodically throughout the year have them for sale.

 

They currently have a sale on the shirts:

 

https://www.brooksbrothers.com/Dress-Shirts/men-shirt-clearance,default,sc.html?lid=topnav-menu

 

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Sad, Brooks was a client of mine - I know lots of good people in their IT department and I'm sad to think that they may all be looking for new jobs now. A few years ago one of their DC's had a roof collapse in CT due to snow and that really impacted their e-comm fulfillment business but they bounced back. Nothing is forever...

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On 7/8/2020 at 9:21 PM, The Dean said:

Many years ago I traveled to NYC for a few days of meetings. The last day of meetings, I took my last dress shirt out of the dry cleaning bag. It had broken buttons and a huge iron scorch on it. Motherfather!

You never told us about the next visit to that dry cleaner...

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4 hours ago, Ridgewaycynic2013 said:

You never told us about the next visit to that dry cleaner...

 

I never stepped foot in that dry cleaner again. Back then it was a constant war with dry cleaners. I FINALLY found a great cleaner in LA. Problem was, when I had to pay the bill I thought, why didn't I just buy new clothes?

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34 minutes ago, The Dean said:

 

I never stepped foot in that dry cleaner again. Back then it was a constant war with dry cleaners. I FINALLY found a great cleaner in LA. Problem was, when I had to pay the bill I thought, why didn't I just buy new clothes?


it’s good to know you are wearing clothes again.

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Right now? A tee shirt and underwear. I got class man. Plus I'm in the middle of doing laundry.

 

I'll slip on some shorts for my 9pm Zoom happy hour with the SF women. 

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