New made in USA OCBD shirts from Brooks Brothers released

[adoucett]

A poster on the NavyBlazer reddit page came across a rather interesting discovery today.

In the new lineup of Spring items from Brooks, they appear to have released a new, perhaps much requested, line of oxford shirts

These are priced at $140, which is 40% more than the previous line of must-irons.

The description reads as follows:



"The shirt that started a revolution in menswear started at Brooks Brothers, and we've brought it back home along with authentic details. It's made from long-lasting oxford cloth that gets better over time, and we've restored the signature rolled collar, softening it along with the placket and cuffs for comfort. We've added genuine mother-of-pearl buttons as well as gussets along the side seams for durability. Each shirt is made in our North Carolina workrooms from American-grown Supima® cotton-just what you would expect from The Original American Brand. Machine wash."

"The Regent fit is a modern trim fit with chest and sleeves cut slimmer to the body. Also available in Madison and Milano fit."

The current color offerings:

• Green, purple, and yellow university stripe
• Solid white and blue
• Blue uni stripe
• Solid pink and purple

As a possibly more frightening note, the existing line of Made in USA must irons are all currently discounted to $79 -- possibly indicating they are getting rid of them in favor of the new, pricier shirts. Not a bad time to buy one, but I'd like to hear if anyone knows anything else about this.

With the phaseout of Black Fleece, these will fill the niche of USA must-irons with MOP buttons nicely at a lower cost, but I'd rather not see the current ones go away completely, especially at the sub-$100 price point.

Discuss!

[Duvel]

Nice! I haven't heard anything about this. I don't like the price jump, of course, but I do like the new offering. As I have a pretty good rotation of the sub-$100 shirts, I'll probably just add the new ones here and there when I feel I can afford one or two.

[SlideGuitarist]

Maybe aqua looks good against really fair complexions? But I would get the purple university stripe in a heartbeat. ADoucett, your first link is broken...but I fixed it for you! http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Regent...efault,pd.html

[my19]

When will we see the first "3 for $225" sale? That would be a happy day.

[Ensiferous]

"...we've restored the signature rolled collar, softening it..."

Interesting confession of an error, and surprisingly an admission of the correction of the misstep.

But the image doesn't show a collar any different than current Regent/132Q. (?)

[Duvel]

I do wonder how much difference there really is, that is, how much noticeable difference. In any case, it's sure not enough to make me go running for the Brooks card and ordering a bunch of shirts.

[FLCracka]

"...we've restored the signature rolled collar, softening it..."

Interesting confession of an error, and surprisingly an admission of the correction of the misstep.

But the image doesn't show a collar any different than current Regent/132Q. (?)

I agree. I don't see anything to warrant an additional $45 per shirt. I've been pretty darn pleased with the 132Q/133Q. The new colors are interesting, though. With the old OCBDs marked down to $79, it does look like they are phasing out the old OCBD and phasing in the new, more expensive one. Both are made in USA, so again, what are the changes worth a 47% price increase? A softer collar, placket, and cuff? Hmmm.

Either way, this is probably the biggest news to hit the Trad Forum since I've been here (OK, the Bills meltdown was a pretty big deal, too). Thanks for the heads up, adoucett.

[adoucett]

I do wonder how much difference there really is, that is, how much noticeable difference. In any case, it's sure not enough to make me go running for the Brooks card and ordering a bunch of shirts.

I'm hoping to do a side-by-side comparison soon, even if it's very unlikely I'll purchase one at full price. I have a friend who works in the BB store in Boston, so I'm going to ask if he can do some reconnaissance if/when they come in.

[Fading Fast]

Adoucett, thank you for the heads up - just grabbed the last blue on in my size and fit.

[CSG]

This is what I alluded to in a couple earlier threads. I'd spoken to a VP at BB after returning one of their must iron shirts and asking to speak to someone who could address my concerns. He called me a couple days later and confessed their sins on the current line of must iron USA shirts. He told me about the new shirts coming in mid-January but I promised to say nothing.

Honestly though, for that money, I would go elsewhere. $140 is too big a jump from the previous line, especially for an off the rack shirt. Maybe in June if they're half off...

[ROI]

These sound suspiciously like the "Own Make" oxfords (and a few other basic fabrics) from a couple years ago that turned out to be so slim that they inhabited the 50%-70% off bin for several seasons. Let's hope the Bros decide to offer them in the original full-cut configuration.

[Chillburgher]

Love the new colors. Do not love the new price. Glad I've stocked up on these in recent years.

[Duvel]

I have to say I have not been displeased with the shirts I've purchased in recent years. I'm not sure I agree there's a reason to change, even if it is for the supposedly elusive roll. In the meantime, I will continue to launder mine with care.

[HerrDavid]

I'm curious as to what "softening" means exactly. Unlined? If so, why not come out and say it explicitly?

[Ensiferous]

I've been pretty darn pleased with the 132Q/133Q. The new colors are interesting, though. With the old OCBDs marked down to $79, it does look like they are phasing out the old OCBD and phasing in the new, more expensive one. Both are made in USA, so again, what are the changes worth a 47% price increase? A softer collar, placket, and cuff? Hmmm.

Hmmm indeed. Want that lost, critical 1/4" of collar back? Give us an additional $50, please! I'm not bashing, I love those shirts, and look forward to their improvement/restoration, but not as a pretext for a large price increase.

When on the phone with BB recently, asking why such limited size availability of the 132Q/133Q, the rep said "Yeah, they are trying to clear those out." I replied "What?!" But brushed it off as the rep not knowing anything and just throwing out a guess. I think now that he knew something. A shirt conspiracy was afoot.

[Duvel]

Does this mean that in a couple of years our "old" 132/3Qs will become sought-after collector's items? "You know, I'm really nostalgic for that slightly shorter collar point."

Hmmm indeed. Want that lost, critical 1/4" of collar back? Give us an additional $50, please! I'm not bashing, I love those shirts, and look forward to their improvement/restoration, but not as a pretext for a large price increase.

When on the phone with BB recently, asking why such limited size availability of the 132Q/133Q, the rep said "Yeah, they are trying to clear those out." I replied "What?!" But brushed it off as the rep not knowing anything and just throwing out a guess. I think now that he knew something. A shirt conspiracy was afoot.

[HerrDavid]

[QUOTE=Ensiferous;1758673]Hmmm indeed. Want that lost, critical 1/4" of collar back? Give us an additional $50, please! I'm not bashing, I love those shirts, and look forward to their improvement/restoration, but not as a pretext for a large price increase./QUOTE]

Well, at least Mercer's can be considered an "inexpensive" option now!

[niv]

I give props to BB for constantly managing to bury new items on their website. I looked for new stuff there this morning and didn't find these shirts. I may go ahead and get one of these OCBD. I'm not a fan of their current OCBD offerings and I'm hoping they've seen the light.

[xcubbies]

Do you know if they offer those in a tapered look?

[adoucett]

Do you know if they offer those in a tapered look?

The regent (slim) and milano (extra slim) fits are offered.

[oxford cloth button down]

I knew a change was coming as I had said in a previous thread. They have not replenished sizes in months. What a time to be in need of a new rotation of OCBDs.

[Fading Fast]

From the new shirts description on the website: "...Each shirt is made in our North Carolina workrooms from American-grown Supima® cotton-just what you would expect from The Original American Brand. Machine wash."

Just what you would expect from the Original American Brand because "made in the USA" is a good marketing angle today; tomorrow, when it isn't as in vogue, we'll move it over seas, or change it in some other way.

I am not a Brooks hater, but I hate when a brand uses its legacy, its heritage as a marketing ploy when it suits it; when it acts like it is some core company value when, in truth, it's just an of-the-moment business decision.

The day their marketing team thinks a less-expensive, overseas version will be more profitable and not hurt sales too much, the "made in the USA" thing will quietly disappear.

It's obnoxious and insulting to its customers.

[FLCracka]

From the new shirts description on the website: "...Each shirt is made in our North Carolina workrooms from American-grown Supima® cotton-just what you would expect from The Original American Brand. Machine wash."

Just what you would expect from the Original American Brand because "made in the USA" is a good marketing angle today; tomorrow, when it isn't as in vogue, we'll move it over seas, or change it in some other way.

I am not a Brooks hater, but I hate when a brand uses its legacy, its heritage as a marketing ploy when it suits it; when it acts like it is some core company value when, in truth, it's just an of-the-moment business decision.

The day their marketing team thinks a less-expensive, overseas version will be more profitable and not hurt sales too much, the "made in the USA" thing will quietly disappear.

It's obnoxious and insulting to its customers.

FF, I get your point, but I think the most insulting part about it is that it's not new. It's just business as usual, with respect to its must-iron OCBD, but with a 47% higher price. That's what's insulting.

[Fading Fast]

FF, I get your point, but I think the most insulting part about it is that it's not new. It's just business as usual, with respect to its must-iron OCBD, but with a 47% higher price. That's what's insulting.

very good point

[SlideGuitarist]

FF, I get your point, but I think the most insulting part about it is that it's not new. It's just business as usual, with respect to its must-iron OCBD, but with a 47% higher price. That's what's insulting.

Maybe what I'm about to say is so self-evident that none of you needed to bother saying it, but Brooks Bros. has perhaps just figured out that these shirts appeal mostly to specialized customers. I had some trouble finding the classic must-iron poinpoints, whereas you'd think they'd foreground those. So they raise the price of the OCBDs, add some "features," and offer some sorely missed colors. I'd happily have continued buying a few of the current model every year, as I find them useful, durable, and attractive.

I guess at this point we need to compare them in terms of value to Mercer's offerings?