Maggie's Farm

The relatively-recent Italian owner of Brooks Brothers is determined to keep the brand going strong. Traditional, but with necessary updates. Let's face it, if you wear a 15 year-old suit, you look out out to lunch. Men's clothing is trimmer now, and so are men.

This frivolous topic comes up because a friend teased me last night at a Christmas party about my shirt. Being sort of conservative types, we 3 guys devouring the sliced filet were all wearing Brooks shirts (and jolly ties and jackets, as befitting the event). Not Barney's shopper types, or Armani types.

We stupidly got on the topic of dress shirts, and the friend accused me of wearing a Milano. Guess what? Brooks now makes 5 fits of their classic dress shirts. 

It's about time. You could fit two people in my old Brooks shirts. Here's a related topic: They still have the classic cotton, but their big sellers are the no-iron ones.  The no-iron ones feel less comfortable to me but they do not wrinkle up in one day and save a lot on laundry bills.

Re Christmas, most women appreciate a Brooks silk blouse. Silk seems to feel good to female skin.

Founded in 1818 and still in the rag trade. A brief history of the brand.