When I was last in Manhattan I had a little stop to see Susquehanna
Industrial Tool & Die Co. A great western swing band that I’ll
need a proper dance floor on which to dance the next time I see them.
In the midst of that excursion, I ran into the copywriter
for Brooks Brothers and we got into discussing shirts and how I was happy to
see the return of the unfused version of the button down collar for their Great
Gatsby collection. I wasn’t pleased to see that collection
leave so quickly.
Anywho, All of this led me to remembering that about a
decade ago, BB had released a line of shirts that were specifically called
their “Vintage Dress Shirt Collection”.
After seeing them in their catalog, I remember running to my local outlet in
Camarillo California. Knowing that these shirts weren't
quite what the masses were into, I found there what I expected and bought every
one that was in my size and continued back now and again to see them trickle
out onto their discount rack. Oh yeah... they had very long tails.
One was a beautiful blue and yellow multi stripe with a three
inch collar, longer than their current collar and it just had a more retro
flare that worked best with a collar bar.
Another one had a pink and blue striped body with off white
collar and French cuff. Just again, something that was specifically nuanced to
be a little more from the past than the tedious standards BB was putting on
their shelves at the time… before all the flare came back
into business menswear.
The third shirt in the line… maybe my favorite fabric
yet not my favorite collar was a blue green muted stripe.
That’s… just wanted to say I’ve
loved these shirts and I’m on my last set of them lest I
start replacing the collar and cuffs when these start to fray.
Oh yes, go see the Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co.
I’m hoping they make a stop in LA before I head back to
New York. They are a riot!
