May 22, 2013 world of men's style / fashion / grooming RSS
“Brooks Brothers”
05/10/13
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Sale-ing

The Weekend Sales Report Card

Sales

We’ve filtered through all of the online sale noise and graded your best options out there, should you feel inclined to do any menswear browsing this weekend, …

For That Movie Release Party: Just in time, Brooks Brothers is offering 25% off all merchandise—including their entire Gatsby-inspired collection—with the code FNFBB6.
Discount: A-
Sizes Available: A
Selection: A

For a Little Style and Substance: Save 20% on all regularly-priced merchandise at Chicago-based menswear purveyor Haberdash, with the code MAY20.
Discount: B+
Sizes Available: A
Selection: A-

For a Last Minute Mother’s Day: Enter the code SPEEDYDELIVERY at steven alan by 4:59PM today, and get free messenger service in Manhattan for purchases over $150. Trust us, Mom will appreciate it.
Discount: A
Sizes Available: N/A
Selection: N/A

More of the good stuff on sale after the jump.»
 

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05/02/13
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Bad Idea/Good Idea

Head to Toe: Seersucker

Seersucker

Around Derby weekend, the seersucker suit gets all the attention.

But the fabric itself is so versatile—and cooling, with its uneven weave lifting the cotton off your skin and leaving hundreds of tiny pockets of air to cool you. So, in the event you’d like to outfit another part of your body with seersucker—say, your neck, or your feet—we’ve gone ahead and found enough gear to swathe you from head to toe in the legendarily cooling fabric. Now, we’re not saying you should try wearing every single piece here at once…

But we’re not not saying that either.»
 

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04/29/13
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Good Idea

All the Shirts Your Summer Requires

Shirts

By now you’ve already begun the monumental wardrobe shift into summer—but your most important move: summer-izing your shirts.

Once the temps start climbing past 70 degrees, it’s a whole new world of chambray, gingham, seersucker, madras and festive summer prints. And, as always, we’re here to help guide you through it with:

All of the handsome shirts your summer requires.»
 

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03/07/13
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What's What

What Your Rainwear Says About You

Raingear

With spring showers beginning to sprinkle over the northern hemisphere, it’s more than likely you’ll be reaching for a raincoat sometime soon—or looking for a new one. And in 2013, there’s a dizzying array of options to choose from. But before you head out into the damp unknown in your finest waterproof jacketry, you should know what your choice in gear says about you.

So, without further ado: what your rainwear says about you, according to Kempt.»
 

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03/01/13
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Sale-ing

Introducing… The Sale Scorecard

Crew shirts

In this new weekly series, we filter through all of the online-sale noise and grade your best options for some weekend shopping…

For Your Spring Head Start: Brooks Brothers is getting you in on their spring action a day early online—before it lands in shops—and they’re knocking off up to $200 on your final tally.
Discount: C
Sizes Available: A
Selection: A

If You’re Looking for Luggage: Billy Kirk has knocked 60% off a decent number of their well-made bags—and one very tempting navy trilby.
Discount: A
Styles Available: B
Selection: B+

Some More Spring-Forward Incentive: For three days only, Club Monaco is knocking 20% off all of their new spring gear with the code “SPRING20.”
Discount: B+
Sizes Available: A
Selection: A

A Good Chance to Stock Up on Spring Basics: Gap is also getting in the spring spirit early with 25% off everything in shop with the code “GAP25”—but act fast, because it ends tomorrow.
Discount: A-
Sizes Available: A
Selection: B+

For Those Thinking Very, Very Far Ahead: Wittmore has finally slashed the rest of their winter sale down to 60% off. You won’t be able to wear most of it till it gets wintry again, but some good finds with a decent selection of sizes are still left here.
Discount: A
Sizes Available: B+
Selection: A-

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11/28/12
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LinkOut

Jessica Chastain Finds Your Klout Score Upsetting

Jessica Chastainvia GQ UK

Golden Fleecing: Richard Press tells the story of how Brooks Brothers shaped generations of preppiness—J. Press included. [Ivy Style]

No Cargo: Michael Jordan has been losing sartorial steam for some time—and now it’s getting him kicked out of places. [NY Post]

All the Leaves: A stunning time-lapse celebration of the vibrant autumnal foliage in Central Park. [The Atlantic]

Basel Tov: For those of you heading down to Miami for Art Basel next week, Bullett magazine has your 12-step game plan. [Bullett]

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10/30/12
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Well Pressed

The November Issues

It will be November by week’s end and that means one thing: a new crop of menswear magazines has just hit the shelves. And this month brings healthy doses of tweed, marled sweaters and general autumnal-ness. Not to mention some long-form pontification on the upcoming elections (from which we’ll spare you) and Mila Kunis in some very formfitting leather pants.

Let’s see how November is shaping up, according to the fashion rags, shall we…»
 

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10/15/12
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Object

It’s Tradmericana

Boots season is still going strong.

And here’s a good curious addition: the 4553 Tartan Panel Boot. It’s a collaboration between Red Wing Heritage and Brooks Brothers that replaces some leather with a plaid oilcloth panel—so you shouldn’t be sacrificing any waterproofing—and will land you somewhere on the boot spectrum between Americana and trad. (Perfect for the sort of boot wearer who leaves very long and personal comments on A Continuous Lean as well as Ivy Style.) It’s a limited-edition style only available in Brooks Brothers shops, so keep an eye out on your next stop in for some pinpoint button-down oxfords.

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06/13/12
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What's What

Kempt’s Guide to the Father’s Day Gift Guides of 2012

It’s become a time-honored tradition for a son to give his father a token of appreciation on the third Sunday of June.

In our experience, it really is the thought that counts—whether it’s a card, a bottle of fine cognac or a steak dinner (every dad likes to celebrate differently.) But should you be feeling an extraordinary urge to lavish dear old Dad this year, we cut through all the noise (and Nooks) to help you figure out where to focus your attention—ranging from the gents at GQ to the ladies at DailyCandy to the geeks at Wired. It’s enough gadgetry, machinery and sockery to need a guide just to get through all of these gift guides…

Introducing Kempt’s Guide to the Father’s Day Gift Guides of 2012 (in order of how endearing you plan on being).»
 

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05/09/12
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Sale-ing

To add to the stellar midseason sale-ing happening right now, Brooks Brothers just kicked off a friends & family sale—that’s 25% off your total (enter FNFBB3 at checkout) applicable to all of their stock (save for made-to-measure), including items already on sale. Now might be the right time to stock up for the upcoming summer wedding season with something from the collaboration with Social Primer or clambake season with this slim-fit oxford fun shirt, or to pounce on anything you’ve been eyeing lately.

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04/19/12
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Object

So Crazy It Just Might Work

It’s already happening. This unseasonably warm weather just keeps on getting more and more unseasonably warm. So we’ve already had to kick our yearly quest for the ultimate summer shirt into high gear.

Enter: this new Franken-shirt from Brooks Brothers—it’s part polo (with a knit collar and ribbed armbands) and part seersucker sports shirt. And it very well could be “the answer.”

Or “the shirt kept reserved for the golf course.”

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02/15/12
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Big Picture

The Perfect Tie Dimple

Spotted at the Brooks Brothers preview, this is what a tie dimple should look like. Deep, proud and ever so slightly asymmetrical.

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01/18/12
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Scene

Scenes From the Capsule Show

The trade show/blogger convention known as Capsule has come and gone, and apart from a few stand-outs (which you’ll be hearing about in the weeks to come), it was a blur of handsomeness: plaid after plaid, camo after camo, and more good ideas than we’ve ever seen in one place.

So we thought we’d pass on the menswear headrush in the best way we know how—lots and lots of photos.

Our favorite photos from Capsule, including Monitaly, Velardi and a certain vintage Brooks Brothers jockey helmet…»
 

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12/17/11
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LinkOut

Hayley Atwell is Stretching Thoroughly

Hayley Atwellvia GQ UK

A Man in Uniform: Ryan Plett breaks men’s style down to its simplest possible components for a daily uniform that’s always solid. Not a bad idea. [YHBTI]

To the Letter: Our favorite letter jacket so far—and it’s a crowded field. [Hypebeast]

The Lost Art of Leisure: Once upon a time, leisure meant actually not doing anything. It was a simpler time… [Mills Baker]

The Blowout Sale: Also, if you’re in a shopping mood, Brooks Brothers is having a pretty crazy clearance sale. [Brooks Brothers]

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09/29/11
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Good Idea

A Gentleman’s Guide to Sleepwear

As the weather slowly turns brisk, you may notice a particular morning chill hitting you the first moment you pull back the blanket. Before too long, you’re going to need to start wearing a few extra layers to bed. The only question is exactly how dapper those layers are going to be.

But don’t answer now. Let’s explore your options first…

The two choices before you»
 

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09/19/11
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Good Idea

The House Shoe

We love fall, but it has a few drawbacks. For instance, it may be too chilly to spend Sunday afternoon barefoot. It’s a shame…but nothing a well-chosen slipper can’t solve.

Specifically, the most decadent piece of footwear known to man: the house shoe. If you’re indulgent enough to pick one up, it’s likely to be the most comfortable item you own—for the simple fact that it will never venture outside your house.

And naturally, we’ve got a few favorites.

Our three favorite house shoes…»
 

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08/02/11
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Good Idea

The Contrast Button

Bolglioli

We’ll say this for summer: there’s always plenty of flair going around.

In particular, we’re seeing a lot of blazers and suits that have traded the usual buttons for something a bit more conspicuous. Most of them are coming from Italy (the one at left is from Bolglioli), but that’s just where the designers are into it. If you’re trying it yourself, it’ll work as well on a Brooks Brothers blazer as anything you might find on Yoox.

The classic combination is white mother-of-pearl buttons on a navy blazer (like this), but the only real guide is what looks good. It’s the semi-formal version of our shoelace experiment. The only difference is, you’ve got a lot more texture to work with—anything from wood to metal to opalescent synthetics.

And as always, we encourage tackling this yourself. You can test out colors by laying the buttons on the jacket, and an even dozen should be enough for the whole business. We’d be shocked if it costs you more than you spent on lunch—assuming you’re handy with a needle and thread.

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07/29/11
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LinkOut

Freida Pinto is Hungry Like the Wolf

Freida Pinto
via Interview

Cash, Money, Clothes: Jesse Thorn’s love of fine tailoring gets him in trouble with haters, forcing him to drop some science. [Put This On]

Borne Back Ceaselessly into Menswear: A style appreciation of F. Scott Fitzgerald. We’ll say it: the man could pull off a three-piece. [Apartment Therapy]

A Growing Demographic: Seven ruthlessly calculated pitches for TV ads to appeal to the stoner market. “Finish with a clip of a coconut being drunk through a straw by a monkey sitting next to a waterfall and four seconds of an MGMT song where they aren’t talking about trees.” [GOOD]

On the Case: The Brooks Brothers guide to your work bag. Whether you wear a suit to work turns out to be pretty important. [Rogues & Gentlemen]

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07/11/11
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Good Idea

The Gentleman’s Safari

blackfleecesafari

Here’s an unusually rugged look from the latest Black Fleece collection, combining the classic blue blazer with the YSL-approved safari jacket.

This gentleman happens to be emphasizing the jacket’s blazer-esque qualities by pairing it with gray wool trousers, but we could see it playing just as nicely with flannels or tieless button-downs—like an upscale version of the infamous shacket.

Of course, it won’t make it to stores for another few months—but we’ll be first in line when it does.

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06/30/11
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Sale-ing

The Tricolor

blackfleece

If the 4th of July weekend has reminded you just how few red-white-and-blue sweaters you own, we’ve got good news: Thom Browne’s Black Fleece is on sale through the 5th, with as much as 40% off in places. These are two of our favorites so far, but if you felt a sudden urge for a patriotic linen scarf, they could probably hook you up.

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06/06/11
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Labeled

Mime Noir

Black Fleece

It’s easy to forget just how cool Thom Browne can be when he gives it a go. These grainy snaps of Browne’s Black Fleece collection just popped up featuring the same high-water pants and newly high waistlines. And thanks to the black-and-white film, it comes off a lot more mysterious than we’re used to from Thom. Bogey would be proud.

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06/02/11
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LinkOut

Giada Tests Her Sauce the Old Fashioned Way

Giadavia Esquire

The Grand Man: GQ basks in the wisdom of Mr. Gay Talese, who apparently descends from a family of Italian tailors. Makes sense. [GQ UK]

First, Be Strong: A gentleman’s guide to Olympic-level weightlifting. Doesn’t seem so hard. [Art of Manliness]

Marc by Marc by Marc by Marc: Marc Jacobs gets the gushing profile treatment. Well deserved. [NYTimes]

A Man in Uniform: A spin through Brooks Brothers’ military heritage archives. [Por Homme]

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06/01/11
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Good Idea

In Praise of the Polo Shirt and Suit

Polo Shirt

The business suit is a powerful thing. Find one that fits, and it basically calls out for a crisp shirt, an expertly knotted tie and a briefcase full of important documents. (Strangely enough, the documents are the hardest thing to come by.)

But there’s more to the suit than point collars and ties. A prime example: this snap from Men of Habit, starring a Phineas Cole suit, a Brooks Brothers pique polo and a dangerously louche demeanor. It’s a pretty staid suit by itself, but throw a soft collar underneath it and all the starch goes out the window. If people dressed like this on casual Fridays, we might actually look forward to them.

You’ll want to accessorize with some kind of brown liquor…

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05/18/11
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Big Picture

Dress Whites

Brooks Brothersvia

This handsome snap comes from a Brooks Brothers ad circa 1987 (yes, 1987), demonstrating the proper form for the homecoming sailor. Coincidentally, it’s also one of the cheekier ways to pull off white jeans. The hat is optional.

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05/06/11
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Object

The Repp-Striped Wayfarer

Ray-Ban x Brooks Brothers

On the heels of yesterday’s sunglasses roundup, we came across this handsome repp-striped take on Tom Cruise’s favorite shade, courtesy of Brooks Brothers. Of course, the pattern in question will be invisible whenever you actually wear the things, but sometimes it’s enough to know it’s there.

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Style: some people have it, and some neighborhoods really have it. To show you what we mean, we’ve partnered with Cadillac to present Style Shifters—a five-part, in-depth look at what the hippest gents in some of the country’s coolest neighborhoods are wearing now. Our intrepid photographers have roamed the streets in search of the most stylish guys around. Herewith, a few photos of what they found...

New York

Brooklyn

Williamsburg

Williamsburg, Brooklyn is home to some of the country’s best bars, coolest restaurants and, of course, some of the best menswear shops in the world. Naturally, you’ll find more than a few stylish individuals perched outside those locations (and no, not all of them are Billyburg hipsters). See what we mean below...

On The Streets: Brooklyn

  • Carl Mateo, 32 Brand Ambassador for Silly Hats Company Lives: Greenpoint, Brooklyn
    What We Like Sed tempor tincidunt augue, nec faucibus mi mattis vitae. Donec urna massa, molestie eget facilisis nec, pellentesque a enim.

    Vivamus ipsum est, feugiat vitae commodo et, dignissim at orci. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Aliquam iaculis faucibus urna, sit amet pellentesque.
  • Michael Benin, 28 Frontend Developer of UrbanDaddy Lives: Greenpoint, Brooklyn
    What We Like Vivamus ipsum est, feugiat vitae commodo et, dignissim at orci. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Aliquam iaculis faucibus urna, sit amet pellentesque.

    Sed tempor tincidunt augue, nec faucibus mi mattis vitae. Donec urna massa, molestie eget facilisis nec, pellentesque a enim.
  • Michael Benin, 28 Frontend Developer of UrbanDaddy Lives: Greenpoint, Brooklyn
    What We Like Vivamus ipsum est, feugiat vitae commodo et, dignissim at orci. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Aliquam iaculis faucibus urna, sit amet pellentesque.

    Sed tempor tincidunt augue, nec faucibus mi mattis vitae. Donec urna massa, molestie eget facilisis nec, pellentesque a enim.
  • Michael Benin, 28 Frontend Developer of UrbanDaddy Lives: Greenpoint, Brooklyn
    What We Like Vivamus ipsum est, feugiat vitae commodo et, dignissim at orci. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Aliquam iaculis faucibus urna, sit amet pellentesque.

    Sed tempor tincidunt augue, nec faucibus mi mattis vitae. Donec urna massa, molestie eget facilisis nec, pellentesque a enim.
California

San Francisco

Mission District
May 1

Oh, and up next: we take a peak at another handsome-as-hell neighborhood, the Mission District in San Francisco. Stay tuned...

Kempt
Style Shifters
Cadillac