PEAKLIFE

Brooks brothers celebrated their 200th anniversary with their first-ever show at Palazzo Vecchio, which paid Tribute to the Founder, Henry Sands Brooks

The evening marked a special milestone in the history of Brooks Brothers, America’s oldest retailer. The company embarked on the celebration of its 200th anniversary, and the event was the first of many special moments taking place over the next year. Held in the famous Salone dei Cinquecento at Palazzo Vecchio the runway was designed in the signature colors that have always distinguished the brand: navy blue and gold.

The show was a deliberately modern interpretation of Brooks Brothers iconic style celebrating the disrupter. Youthful and cool but with many classic elements the collection illustrates how relevant these items, some invented over 100 years ago, still resonate.

Fifty-one models, 45 men’s and 8 women’s looks walked through a live performance by 53 members of the Italian Philharmonic playing an arrangement of contemporary music, notably and a reference to Brooks Brothers’ New York origins, Empire State of Mind by Alicia Keys.

Women’s looks were mixed throughout the show. The women’s collection is by Zac Posen, Creative Director of Brooks Brothers Womenswear, who was in attendance and seated next to Chairman & CEO, Claudio Del Vecchio, and his family.

The show’s looks included – suits which were sleek and sophisticated with some even tucked into the trousers; outerwear, an important category for Brooks Brothers as a leader in technical innovation, was shown simply over sweaters. The iconic camel polo coat was re-introduced and the navy blazer was shown in several combinations, a style more cool than collegiate; the Brooks Brothers iconic rep stripe tie was often worn like a belt in a reference to Fred Astaire, one of the brands famous customers. Many outwear looks included technical and performance fabrics. A trench coat was worn inside-out, highlighting its intricate construction. Women’s looks included an elegant tuxedo, a pajama set in burgundy silk satin and a Chucky graphic sweater layered over a tweed jacket.